The Million Dollar Cat

The Million Dollar Cat
Tom and Jerry series

The Million Dollar Cat film poster
Directed by Bill Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Produced by Fred Quimby (unc. on original issue)
Voices by Harry E. Lang (uncredited)
Music by Scott Bradley
Animation by Irven Spence
Ken Muse
Pete Burness
Ray Patterson
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s)
  • May 6, 1944 (1944-05-06) (U.S.)
  • February 24, 1951 (1951-02-24) (Reissue)
Color process Technicolor
Running time 7:14
Language English
Preceded by The Zoot Cat
Followed by The Bodyguard

The Million Dollar Cat is a 1944 one-reel animated cartoon and is the 14th Tom and Jerry short. It was produced in Technicolor and released to theatres on May 6, 1944 by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer. It was reissued for re-release on February 24, 1951.

This short is the first of a few in which Tom emerges victorious over Jerry.

Plot

While Tom is throwing darts at an apple on Jerry's head à la William Tell (he even throws one between his legs while blindfolded), a telegram arrives. Though it is meant for his owner, Tom reads it himself and discovers that he has been left a million dollars in a will from his owner's eccentric aunt, making him ecstatic. Jerry also reads the letter and gets just as happy as Tom. Tom quickly learns why after he reads the telegram again, because the telegram has a condition: if Tom ever harms any living animal, "even a mouse", he is likely to lose everything.

The next day, news of Tom's inheritance quickly spreads and he moves into 1 Park Avenue. Although he at first enjoys the attention and wealth he is given, Jerry decides to use the telegram's condition against Tom as revenge for tormenting him. He continually follows Tom, despite the cat's best attempts to get rid of him, and proceeds to take advantage of his freedom through various means, including slapping Tom's dickey in his face, assaulting him in his limousine, eating his sundae, and even throwing him out of bed whilst still falling asleep.

The next morning, after Jerry steals his bathroom towel, Tom decides to get rid of Jerry. After a few ideas, he eventually decides on hanging a fire exit sign on the window. He strikes a match to start a fire in front of the bathroom door, and Jerry promptly jumps out of the window. The cat cheers before sitting down to enjoy his breakfast, but when he grabs his napkin, however, he uncovers Jerry, who posts the telegram on the table and eats Tom's breakfast. As a final insult, he attacks Tom yet again with the rest of the breakfast material, reminding him that as long as the "Even A Mouse" rule stands, he can do whatever he wants to Tom, then he once again slaps Tom's dickey in his face. This proves to be the final straw: Tom loses his temper, and the shocked Jerry realizes that he has pushed Tom too far. Tom furiously grabs the telegram, tears it into pieces, and even shoves the "Even A Mouse" proviso into Jerry's mouth, literally making and forcing him to eat his words. Jerry swallows it in horror at what is about to happen, as Tom leaps into the air with a frightening and insane scream before attacking Jerry with the crockery and broken breakfast tray. After a few seconds, he contemplates that what he is doing will cost him his fortune but he is still happy and satisfied, and continues attacking Jerry.

Production

Voice cast

Availability

DVD

External links

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