8mm Forum: Jerry-Go-Round

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Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on February 11, 2018, 05:03 AM:

Jerry-Go-Round is a Tom & Jerry cartoon from 1965. The Super 8 print is from the German company of Piccolo. This print is on Eastman color, however, the colour is still quite acceptable, not perfect, but acceptable.

There is no dialogue and the MGM intro and the main English title have been replaced. The starting title (in German) says that the film is not to have public exhibition even if the entry is free of charge. The original MGM intro sound is played over this, and also over the next title which is the Piccolo trademark. Then to the original Tom and Jerry intro which is followed by its German title "..... und der Kleine Elefant". (and the Baby Elephant). Then, to all the remaining English titles intros.

Tom is chasing Jerry who hides in a Circus enclosure, here he helps an elephant who has a tack in its foot. Jerry heaves and pulls it out. The elephant is very grateful (lots of love hearts float around). Tom finds them but now the Elephant who loves little Jerry is not going to let anything nasty happen to the new found friend.

The fun is fast and furious and ends with a circus street parade led by Jerry and the Elephant. Tom is in a man-hole and lays out a stick of dynamite and the "plunger" obviously hoping that the elephant will step on the plunger. As he begins to pull the cover back over him the dynamite rolls into the hole. The lid clicks into position. The elephant comes along, steps on the plunger. A very loud explosion occurs under the cover. A stick comes out through a small hole, a flag waves with the words "The End". Iris out. Title "ENDE".

In 1957 MGM shut down their cartoon division, but four years later in 1961 they decided that Tom & Jerry might still be viable so Gene Deitch was signed to produce thirteen new cartoons. Deitch had moved to Prague but his Czechoslovakian animators had only a few original cartoons as samples. By using these they were able to re-create the familiar figures but the new story lines were often far from the original feud between Tom and Jerry. When the cartoons were completed Deitch's contract was not extended.

In 1963 Warner Brothers closed down their cartoons and MGM offered Chuck Jones the chance to produce new Tom & Jerry cartoons. But Jones remodelled them in his own style and those which he directed show the characters in an unfamiliar style. However, he did produce 34 cartoons, the last being in 1967.

The film here under review was very fortunately directed by veteran Abe Levitow who had started in 1939 working for Leon Schlesinger, and it certainly shows with this film. Tom and Jerry still look like our favourites. It's full of gags in its relatively short six minutes. (Actually 6:22).

The title in typical Chuck Jones style is not really a relevant one. Jerry-Go-Round is a reference to Merry-Go-Round but they are found in a fair, not a circus. In fact, the German title is more to the point.

I really enjoyed this film and can thoroughly recommend it.

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on February 11, 2018, 05:59 AM:

Nice review! Thanks for the history on the different directors there...I was aware of their names but not some of the details. I don't much care for the Chuck Jones Tom and Jerry cartoons. I am interested in seeing the one you have reviewed now. [Smile]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on February 16, 2018, 11:31 AM:

Good review ...

I always liked Chuck Jones rendering of these characters. My personal favoerite of the Jones run, (and I don't know if it exists on super 8, but I'd LOVE to find it if possible), is "The Cat Above and the Mouse Below", which was a remake of Jones' own Bug's Bunny cartoon, "Fair Haired Hare", which worked well with the Tom and Jerry stars!! [Smile]

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