Solid Serenade is a 1946 Tom and Jerry cartoon directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera.
Plot[]
Eager to impress Toodles, Tom smuggles a double bass into the courtyard below for a serenade. In order to trap Spike (labeled as "Killer" on his doghouse), he makes fun of him, luring him out so he can be subdued and tied down. Tom does his best rendition of Louis Jordan's "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" for Toodles, using Spike as one of the musical instruments.
Down in the basement, Jerry is awakened by a thumping bass solo, he makes his way into the kitchen to get revenge on Tom by throwing a Cream pie with an iron and jelly plate at him. His mood ruined, Tom chases Jerry around the kitchen, but is tricked into diving into a sink full of plates, and gets trapped in a window.
Jerry finds Spike and unties him just as Tom catches up. Spike trades his regular teeth for a more dangerous set, and goes after Tom. Tom avoids getting mauled, hides outside the courtyard wall holding a brick to bash Spike with, but the wall is too short, Spike notices the brick, and peeks down at Tom. Tom looks up at Spike and knocks him out with the brick. Tom chases Jerry again, but loses track enough for Jerry to find Spike again. Jerry whips Spike awake with a 2x4 and promptly passes it to the now-present Tom. Thinking quickly, Tom uses the 2x4 to play 'fetch' with Spike. Spike, following his canine instincts, barks playfully and rushes after the 2x4. he is about to pick it up, only to realize Tom had tricked him, turning into a "jackass" for a moment. Furious, Spike returned the attention to Tom.
While Spike continues to chase Tom, Tom sneaks some romantic moments with Toodles. Spike catches on the side action and takes Toodles' spot. Unaware, Tom makes out with Spike. Tom realizes that Toodles is watching, and that he is holding Spike- he slams him into the ground and runs away.
Tom ditches Spike at a corner, bumping into Jerry again. Jerry is chased into Spike's doghouse, and Tom signals the advantage with an ominous Dracula laugh. Jerry reappears safe at the entry, with Spike in tow. Spike backs into his house, giving the same ominous Dracula laugh and his final whipping at Tom as the whole doghouse thrashes around. Tom tries to flee but Spike grabs him and forcing Tom to have is will.
Toodles is serenaded again, but this time with Spike, who has Tom tied down to the double bass. Jerry gives a fiddling flourish using Tom's whiskers.
Music Cues[]
- Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet - Gene de Paul (Tom ties up Spike)
- Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? - Billy Austin, Louis Jordan (sung by Tom)
- You Were Meant for Me - Nacio Herb Brown (Tom kissing Toodles)
- Funeral March - Frédéric Chopin (Tom writing his last will)
Availability[]
- (1991) LaserDisc - Tom & Jerry Classics
- (1993) LaserDisc - The Art of Tom & Jerry: Volume I
- (2004) DVD - Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection: Volume 1
- (2006) DVD - Ziegfeld Follies
- (2011) DVD - Tom and Jerry Golden Collection: Volume 1 (restored)
Notes[]
- This is the 26th Tom and Jerry cartoon to be released.
- Tom's dialogue when holding Spike is reused from The Zoot Cat.
- Excerpts from this cartoon are also shown in Jerry's Diary, Smitten Kitten, and Smarty Cat, all three of which are "wrap-around" cartoons as part of the plot.
- This is the first MGM cartoon to feature the fully red MGM Cartoon logo in its opening titles; there were two versions of the logo. From 1946 to 1948, the logo displayed the text 'In Technicolor' below it. It was subsequently revised to 'Color by Technicolor,' which remained in use until the logo's final appearance in 1952.
Gallery[]
