Tom and Jerry Golden Collection
Tom and Jerry Golden Collection is a series of two-disc DVD and Blu-ray sets, currently in production by Warner Home Video, collecting the theatrical Tom and Jerry cartoon shorts released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from the 1940s through the 1960s. The releases are expected to be uncut and in chronological order. The first volume was released on October 25, 2011, and features 37 shorts (roughly one-third of the 114 Tom and Jerry shorts directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera from 1940 to 1958).[1] The second volume, containing 42 shorts, was initially scheduled to be released on June 11, 2013, but was later postponed indefinitely.[2][3][4]
Differences with Spotlight Collection
Warner Home Video had previously released the majority of the original 114 Hanna-Barbera-directed shorts in the Spotlight Collection over three volumes. The primary differences between the Spotlight Collection and the Golden Collection is that the latter was intended to feature the shorts in chronological order and completely uncensored. Also, because most of the original pre-1951 MGM cartoon negatives were destroyed in the 1967 MGM Vault fire, the Golden Collection features new, restored transfers from CRI negative elements, as opposed to the Turner broadcast television prints previously used. The Golden Collection is being released on both DVD and Blu-ray (the latter restored to HD quality), whereas the Spotlight Collection was only available on DVD.
Lastly, according to animation historian Jerry Beck on his March 2012 appearance on Stu's Show, the Golden Collection series will feature the later, 1960s shorts directed by Gene Deitch and Chuck Jones in addition to the Hanna-Barbera shorts. Although the shorts are presented digitally restored (just like how it was shown in theaters), however, because many of the original pre-1951 MGM cartoon negatives are destroyed in the vault fire in 1967, not all the pre-1951 Tom and Jerry cartoons could be presented in pristine condition. In the first volume, a handful of shorts appear with washed out colors and grainy picture although digitally remastered; Puss n' Toots, The Bowling Alley Cat, Sufferin' Cats!, The Lonesome Mouse, The Zoot Cat, The Million Dollar Cat, Puttin' on the Dog, Mouse Trouble, Quiet Please!, and The Milky Waif.
Controversy
It had been announced that Mouse Cleaning would be available on the Tom and Jerry Golden Collection - Volume 2 on DVD and Blu-ray, with the short being presented uncut, uncensored, and restored from its original nitrate elements that had been recently discovered.[5] The set was originally scheduled to be released on June 11, 2013. However, on February 6, 2013, it was announced by TVShowsOnDVD.com that Mouse Cleaning was not a part of the list of cartoons set to be on the release, as well as the cartoon Casanova Cat, which was also skipped over on the Spotlight Collection, Volume 3 DVD release in 2007 (both cartoons are accused of featuring controversial content, specifically allegedly racial stereotypes of the time in which they were originally produced).[6] Many collectors and fans proceeded to post negative reviews of the product on Amazon and other various websites in protest.
In addition, Jerry Beck, who already wrote liner notes for both shorts for the release, was shocked to hear about the omissions, saying that he wrote notes for both cartoons and that they were supposed to be included on the set.[7] When asked for an interview request, a Warner Bros. spokesperson said “The company felt that certain content would be exceedingly inappropriate for the intended audience and therefore excluded several shorts."[8] However, on April 1, 2013, the second set was confirmed to be delayed indefinitely as a result of the fans' protests.[9]
Releases
Golden Collection, Vol. 1
![DVD release of Volume 1](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e3/Tom_and_Jerry_Golden_Collection_-_Volume_1.jpg/200px-Tom_and_Jerry_Golden_Collection_-_Volume_1.jpg)
Volume One was released on October 25, 2011. All of the shorts are shown in their original 1.37:1 aspect ratio.[1]
Disc 1
- Puss Gets the Boot (already remastered for Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection DVD set)
- The Midnight Snack (already remastered for Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection DVD set)
- The Night Before Christmas (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
- Fraidy Cat (already remastered for Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection DVD set)
- Dog Trouble (already remastered for Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection DVD set)
- Puss n' Toots
- The Bowling Alley Cat
- Fine Feathered Friend
- Sufferin' Cats!
- The Lonesome Mouse
- The Yankee Doodle Mouse (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
- Baby Puss
- The Zoot Cat
- The Million Dollar Cat
- The Bodyguard
- Puttin' on the Dog
- Mouse Trouble (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
- The Mouse Comes to Dinner
- Mouse in Manhattan
- Tee for Two
Special features
- The Midnight Snack pencil test
- Commentaries by Animators and Historians on five titles [10]
- Mark Kausler on Puss Gets the Boot
- Nicole Parker and Earl Kress on Puss Gets the Boot
- Michael Mallory on The Night Before Christmas
- Nicole Parker and Earl Kress on The Night Before Christmas
- Michael Mallory on The Yankee Doodle Mouse
- Jerry Beck on The Zoot Cat
- Michael Mallory on Mouse Trouble
Disc 2
- Flirty Birdy
- Quiet Please! (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
- Springtime for Thomas
- The Milky Waif
- Trap Happy
- Solid Serenade
- Cat Fishin'
- Part Time Pal
- The Cat Concerto (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
- Salt Water Tabby
- A Mouse in the House
- The Invisible Mouse
- Kitty Foiled
- The Truce Hurts
- Old Rockin' Chair Tom
- Professor Tom
Special features
- Vaudeville, Slapstick and Tom and Jerry featurette (HD quality) [11]
- How Bill and Joe Met Tom and Jerry featurette
- The Comedy Stylings of Tom and Jerry featurette
- Excerpt from Anchors Aweigh
- Commentaries by Animators and Historians on four titles [10]
- Mark Kausler on Quiet Please!
- Eric Goldberg on The Cat Concerto
- Michael Mallory on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse
- Nicole Parker and Earl Kress on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse
- Jerry Beck on Kitty Foiled
Golden Collection, Vol. 2
Volume Two was scheduled for release on June 11, 2013 before being postponed indefinitely, by Warner Home Video.
Disc 1
- Mouse Cleaning
- Polka-Dot Puss
- The Little Orphan (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
- Hatch Up Your Troubles (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
- Heavenly Puss
- The Cat and the Mermouse
- Love That Pup
- Jerry's Diary
- Tennis Chumps
- Little Quacker (the original opening titles have been restored replacing the reissue titles from 1950's)
- Saturday Evening Puss
- Texas Tom
- Jerry and the Lion (already remastered for Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers)
- Safety Second
- Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl
- The Framed Cat
- Cue Ball Cat
- Casanova Cat
- Jerry and the Goldfish (already remastered for Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers)
- Jerry's Cousin (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
- Sleepy-Time Tom
Disc 2
- His Mouse Friday
- Slicked-up Pup
- Nit-Witty Kitty
- Cat Napping
- The Flying Cat (already remastered for Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers)
- The Duck Doctor
- The Two Mouseketeers (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
- Smitten Kitten
- Triplet Trouble
- Little Runaway (already remastered for Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers)
- Fit to Be Tied
- Push-Button Kitty
- Cruise Cat (already remastered for Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers)
- The Dog House
- The Missing Mouse
- Jerry and Jumbo (already remastered for Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers)
- Johann Mouse (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
- That's My Pup!
- Just Ducky
- Two Little Indians
- Life with Tom (already remastered for Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection DVD set)
Special features
- Animal Hijinks: The Friends and Foes of Tom and Jerry featurette[3]
- Behind the Tunes: The MGM Orchestra featurette
- Animators as Actors featurette
- Cat and Mouse: The Tale of Tom and Jerry featurette
- Commentaries by Animators and Historians on Eight Cartoons
- Excerpt from Dangerous When Wet
References
- ^ a b TV Shows on DVD, posted by David Lambert on June 28, 2011
- ^ "Tom & Jerry: The Golden Collection Volume Two Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ^ a b Lambert, David. "Tom and Jerry - Blu-ray and DVD Releases Announced for 'Golden Collection Volume 2'". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ^ "Tom and Jerry DVD news: Postponement for Tom and Jerry - Golden Collection Volume 2 - TVShowsOnDVD.com". Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ http://www.cartoonbrew.com/classic/tom-jerry-on-blu-ray.html
- ^ Lambert, David. "Tom and Jerry - Episode List for 'Golden Collection Volume 2'...Guess What's Missing?". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
- ^ "Blu-ray Forum - View Single Post - Tom & Jerry: The Golden Collection, Vol. 2". Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ "Image-conscious studios play cat-and-mouse with film history". Star Tribune. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ Lambert, David. "Tom and Jerry - Blu-rays, DVDs Postponed for 'Golden Collection Volume 2'". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
- ^ a b Brown, Kenneth. "Tom & Jerry: The Golden Collection Volume One Blu-ray Review". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
- ^ Lambert, David. "Tom and Jerry - Official Press Release for 'Golden Collection Volume 1' on DVD and Blu". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved August 17, 2011.