Johann Mouse (1952)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Directors:

Joseph Barbera
William Hanna

Release Date:

1952 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Short | Animation | Comedy

Plot:

At the home of Viennese composer Johann Strauss, lived Johann Mouse. Whenever the composer played his waltzes...

Plot Keywords:

Voice Over Narration | Cat Versus Mouse | Vienna | Tom And Jerry | Recital

Awards:

Won Oscar.

Cast

Hans Conried

...

Narrator (voice)

Directed by
Joseph Barbera
William Hanna

Produced by
Fred Quimby	....	producer

Original Music by
Scott Bradley		(uncredited)

Animation Department
Ed Barge	....	animator
Robert Gentle	....	background artist
Kenneth Muse	....	animator
Ray Patterson	....	animator
Irven Spence	....	animator

Music Department
Scott Bradley	....	musical director

Other crew
Jakob Gimpel	....	piano arrangement and interpretation

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Runtime:

8 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

South Korea:All | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #16167)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Included in Warner Home Video's 2007 "Literary Classics Double Feature" DVD containing The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) and The Prisoner of Zenda (1952).

Movie Connections:

Followed by Life with Tom (1953)

Amazing!

"Johann Mouse" is a very special Tom & Jerry's cartoon, not just another one of these. It's one of the finest cartoons of Tom & Jerry.

This cartoon takes us to Vienna (Austria) and to the house of the viennese composer Johann Strauss II. In fact, this cartoon is inspired on his work. As such, it can also be seen as a tribute to the work of this famous austrian artist.

It's a very charming cartoon, a timeless classic. Put it simply, the artwork is beautiful: great attention to detail, quality of high standards, amazing backgrounds and nice old-fashioned decorations. At the same time, it is funny in a moderate way, without violent gags. It is brilliantly narrated by Hans Conried. I love the way he narrates this story.

In this story, Tom is Strauss's unnamed pet, while Jerry is the Johann Mouse of the title. Every time the musician plays, little Johann can't resist to the soft and sweet sound of the beautiful music and waltzes. Strauss's music has a deep and magical effect on Johann Mouse. And whenever he dances, the cat tries to get his hands on him. No matter how hard the cat tries, he always fails.

One day, the master goes away on a journey. Now the cat has a problem: without music, the mouse will not waltz. But the feline is as sly as a fox. He sees a manual "How To Play The Waltz In Six Easy Lessons by Johann Strauss". So he decides to take piano lessons, which he learns really fast.

Soon, the servants find out about this and get amazed. It doesn't take long until everyone in Vienna knows about these great news. A cat that could play and a mouse that could waltz? Good heavens! They are actually invited to perform at the palace - which they do in all their glory.

Conclusion: an irresistible and excellent cartoon. A small masterpiece. A winner and a classic by its own right.