The Van Beuren Tom and Jerry (as said already not the famous cat and mouse, this is a human duo that lasted for just under 30 cartoons, 29 if memory serves correct, between 1931 and 1933) series was interesting but uneven and not easy to rate as an overall whole. At the series' best, the cartoons were good, very good in a few cases. At its worst, they were really bad.
Don't agree personally that 'A Swiss Trick' is one of the worst Tom and Jerry cartoons. It's not particularly good let alone great, but it has its good moments and is a step from the previous cartoon 'Jungle Jam'. There are good things, the best thing about it is the music score which is the high point of even the worst cartoons and is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The Swiss setting is nice in detail and there is some reasonably good synchronisation with the music in some of the movements, more with Tom and Jerry themselves.
Great moments are too far and between, but the image of the Swiss cheese on a leash is priceless. The highlight though is the ending, which is not just a strong contender for the most bizarre ending of a Tom and Jerry cartoon but it is also one of the most absurdist gags of the series. Seeing as the humour in the series is all about absurdist bizarreness, this is meant in a good way.
However, once again, most of the animation didn't do it for me. There are worse-looking cartoons in the series, at least the backgrounds and some of the synchronisation was decent, but it is not one of the most visually interesting ones like their debut 'Wot a Night'. Too much of it is crude and simplistic with a fair share of static moments, particularly in the drawing of the stereotypical supporting characters. There are certainly far worse and more offensive supporting character stereotypes, but the ones in 'A Swiss Trick' are neither interesting or particularly funny.
It's a paper thin cartoon in story once again, basically song and dance interludes strung together with the only glimpses of a story being towards the end, and there are not enough gags that work in comic timing or imagination in order to not make that matter. Likewise with any inventive tricks, except the cheese on the leash. The absurdist bizarreness is certainly here and when it does appear it's good fun, there's just not quite enough. Tom and Jerry are a little bland.
All in all, watchable enough and nowhere near among the worst of the Tom and Jerry cartoons (neither is it one of the best) but less than great. 5/10 Bethany Cox
Don't agree personally that 'A Swiss Trick' is one of the worst Tom and Jerry cartoons. It's not particularly good let alone great, but it has its good moments and is a step from the previous cartoon 'Jungle Jam'. There are good things, the best thing about it is the music score which is the high point of even the worst cartoons and is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The Swiss setting is nice in detail and there is some reasonably good synchronisation with the music in some of the movements, more with Tom and Jerry themselves.
Great moments are too far and between, but the image of the Swiss cheese on a leash is priceless. The highlight though is the ending, which is not just a strong contender for the most bizarre ending of a Tom and Jerry cartoon but it is also one of the most absurdist gags of the series. Seeing as the humour in the series is all about absurdist bizarreness, this is meant in a good way.
However, once again, most of the animation didn't do it for me. There are worse-looking cartoons in the series, at least the backgrounds and some of the synchronisation was decent, but it is not one of the most visually interesting ones like their debut 'Wot a Night'. Too much of it is crude and simplistic with a fair share of static moments, particularly in the drawing of the stereotypical supporting characters. There are certainly far worse and more offensive supporting character stereotypes, but the ones in 'A Swiss Trick' are neither interesting or particularly funny.
It's a paper thin cartoon in story once again, basically song and dance interludes strung together with the only glimpses of a story being towards the end, and there are not enough gags that work in comic timing or imagination in order to not make that matter. Likewise with any inventive tricks, except the cheese on the leash. The absurdist bizarreness is certainly here and when it does appear it's good fun, there's just not quite enough. Tom and Jerry are a little bland.
All in all, watchable enough and nowhere near among the worst of the Tom and Jerry cartoons (neither is it one of the best) but less than great. 5/10 Bethany Cox
