Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "Dog Trouble" is an American cartoon from 1942, so this one has its 75th anniversary this year and as it is a Hanna Barbera production, you probably guessed correct already that it is another Tom & Jerry film. At 8 minutes, it is minimally longer than most of what Warner Bros and Disney offered back then during the days of World War II. And even if this is not one of the Oscar-winning T&J short films, it is still among their most known today. This may have to do with the story slightly differing from the usual cat-mouse routine. For over half of the film, the main antagonist was the big dog that got accidentally woken up by Tom's shenanigans in pursuit of Jerry. If you have seen other films starring Spike, you know perhaps that he always has it for Tom, but here he is so angry that he got disturbed that he also wouldn't mind eating Jerry. Luckily Tom helps the little mouse as the duo unites to get rid of the brutal canine. This is still one of the early T&J cartoons and you can see that especially by the way Tom was animated, but also like I previously mentioned by Spike's behavior. It was an okay watch. At times a very action-packed little film, but then again also all about the preparation, like towards the end when Jerry sets up the trap for Spike. Of course, after succeeding with their collaboration, Tom and Jerry cannot stay friends for long and the chase continues and this is also an indicator of many more T&J cartoons being released in the years/decades after this one here.

Michael_Elliott Dog Trouble (1942) *** (out of 4) Tom and Jerry are once again fighting, chasing each other and causing all sorts of trouble but their problems get a lot bigger when Tom accidentally crashes into a large dog. Soon the dog is chasing not only Tom but also Jerry so the two must form a bond to try and take care of the dog. Once again there's a lot of nice imagination on display here from Hanna and Barbara and as you'd expect the animation is extremely good. When one watches a short from Tom and Jerry you expect laughs and action and we get plenty of both here. The highlight is certainly the scene where Tom finds himself on top a clock tricking the dog into jumping after him while Jerry sets up their plan. The "woof" sounds from the dog are also great. If you're a fan of the series then this here is another winner.

ccthemovieman-1 Tom and Jerry on the same side? It didn't happen often but it happens in this early Tom and Jerry cartoon. This is the one the big bulldog is first introduced. "Spike," as we know him, is bigger and scarier than he was in future cartoons, although he never was a slouch in the "scare" department. However, he's like a roaring lion in this one, going after both Tom and Jerry after the latter two were going at each other. This cartoon is so-so, at best, however. Most Tom and Jerry cartoons, in my opinion, in the first year or two were weak in comparison to the rest of the way. The humor isn't as clever in here and the chase routines are just that: routine. Frankly, I never laughed at anything in here. This one had historical value, and little else.

Mary-18 Sigh... Why can't cartoons be made like this anymore? The plot line is so simple -- an angry dog (soon to be known as "Spike") is after both Tom and Jerry, who have to learn to work together to get the better of him. The pacing is perfect--not too frantic, but never dull. It's a little disconcerting to see a more crudely drawn Spike lacking the personality he would later have, but he does act much more like a real dog in this cartoon. I especially like the soundtrack of "Dog Trouble." Jerry's musical "laugh" is adorable, and Tom's jazzy trombone motif is classy and catchy. So many cartoons today feel hyper and disorienting. The classic era of Tom and Jerry couldn't be more different than this. I feel like I could easily find my way around the T&J house, and I even have a good idea of the furniture and dishes I might find there. This careful use of physical space, quality music, and even pacing creates a cartoon that is pleasing and entertaining for any age viewer.