Cue Ball Cat (1950) User Reviews

Entertaining, But Be Warned: It's Ultra-Violent

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 15 July 2007]

This is the first time I've seen Jerry get all this physical abuse, at least for the first three minutes of the cartoon. Why he chose to live inside a pool table in a pool hall in the first place is puzzling. What happened to his normal "house" inside the wall the house where he and Tom live?

Whatever, he starts taking a pounding the first time a billiard ball goes into a pocket and winds up crashing on top of his little bed. When he comes out of the corner pocket, Tom spots him and really abuses him, even using him at the end of his pool cue. He takes a number of beating from the balls on the table. It's brutal but rare to see the mouse get it like this.

However, enough is enough and he starts to fight back At that point, Tom gets brutalized but Jerry still gets it, too.

This might be the most violent Tom and Jerry cartoon I've seen. Being a fan of this series, I am used to it and know it's only cartoon and much of the slapstick- violence is funny. However, some of things here are unbelievable, like Tom getting the entire cue shoved down his throat and Jerry getting an eight-ball rammed into his butt. For anyone who is a little leery of too much violence in cartoons, for either them or their kids, you are forewarned.

Violent but very well done

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 30 March 2010]

I really like Cue Ball Cat. The violence admittedly is excessive, that I am used to, but there are one or two parts that are rather unbelievable. Yes I am talking about Jerry getting an 8 ball rammed into his bottom(ouch!). Still it is hugely enjoyable, thanks to the fast delivery of the gags, the beautiful animation and the fun music, three elements that I expect to make a Tom and Jerry cartoon work.

Tom is funny, there have been cartoons where he is a little stupid but I love him for it, and Jerry is sweet, dastardly yes but sweet. The cartoon is delivered at a breakneck pace, that can be a problem sometimes but I didn't mind it that much here.

Overall, violent but as I have said, very well done. 9/10 Bethany Cox

A game of pool unlike any other!

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 21 July 2012]

This short opens with Tom approaching a pool table in a pool hall and taking a few shots; he isn't very good so has to cheat; tilting the table and even moving the pocket to ensure he pots the balls. This third ball goes into one of the corner pockets; which unbeknownst to him is where Jerry is sleeping. Not happy about being disturbed, and squashed by the ball, Jerry climbs out of one of the pockets only to find himself at the wrong end of Tom's cue. Tom suddenly becomes much better and plays a remarkable array of physics defying trick shots all of which batter poor Jerry. It isn't until three minutes in that Jerry turns the tables and it is Tom's turn to get battered.

In typical 'Tom and Jerry' fashion this short is a series of violent gags that will either have you laughing at how funny it all is or shocked that such violent cartoons were ever made; I suspect most people will fall in the former category though; children are bound to enjoy the slapstick and adults are likely to enjoy them, partly for the same reason as children and partly for the nostalgia of watching something they grew up with. The gags may be fairly violent but there is no denying their inventiveness! Just one example of many; at one point Tom tries to force Jerry out of a pocket by japing a cue down it, the cue emerges from the next hole just inches from Tom's backside... Jerry ties a needle to it as Tom gives one last hard jab with inevitable results!

Cue hilarity

[movieman_kev · 9/10 · 3 June 2005]

Tom is playing a round of pool, and cheating if I might add, not knowing that Jerry is sleeping in one of the pockets, when Tom sinks a ball into said pocket crushing Jerry, a game of hilarious cat and mouse antics begin once again. This animated short has a great setup, funny gags, and a superb ending. What more could one really ask for from the comedic duo? Highly recommended for fans of Tom and Jerry both old and new. You are sure to be delighted by the wacky hijinks. I guarantee it. This cartoon can be found on disc two of the Spotlight collection DVD of "Tom & Jerry"

My Grade: A

Cue the laughter.

[BA_Harrison · 8/10 · 28 October 2014]

Tom is in a pool hall after hours practising his game when he accidentally disturbs Jerry's sleep, the stupid mouse having unwisely set up home in one of the pool table's pockets. Jerry isn't very happy at being woken up, and starts causing the cat trouble. This simple set-up allows for loads of pool-related high jinks, the animators going all out with the violence in their quest for laughs.

With a cool setting that allows for lots of inventive gags, decent pacing, great animation (love the bit where Tom runs around all of the pool tables), and both characters experiencing their fair share of extreme pain, this Tom and Jerry caper is among my favourites. Funniest moments include Tom getting an 8-ball embedded in his face, a massive and very sharp pin in the backside, and a cue catapulted down his throat (I take it back: Tom seems to get the worst of it!).

This cartoon's right on cue!

[Antzy88 · 9 August 2001]

Tom is playing pool in a pool hall, not realising that Jerry is sleeping in the depths of the table he is playing on, and the little mouse gets up to his usual tricks in turning the tables on Tom.

This cartoon is hugely entertaining and very funny! Oh, how I laughed when I first watched it!

Billiards is much more fun if Tom and Jerry are at the party!

[Kalashnikovin · 10/10 · 27 August 2022]

Most Tom and Jerry Cartoons from the 1950s are classics, Some are Infamous like His Mouse Friday for showing Indigenous stereotypes and others are Remembered like The Two Mousekeeters for being excellent, Cue Ball Cat falls into the Perfect Category, Perfection always makes an appearance in this Abysmally Violent Cartoon.

The violence is at its maximum splendor, Jerry is beaten and tormented in a thousand and one ways and in the end Tom receives what he deserves, although the truth is that Tom causes much more damage than he received, but equally, it is a great caricature with a simple idea It gives us a lot of laughs!.

The Animation is still at the Top, it looks glorious as well as the beautifully detailed Backgrounds, the Movements are Flawless as are the character designs, this truly is Tom and Jerry at its Best moment.

The Music, as is not to be expected, is Fun and great, as there are many chases in this short, the Music always offers an important role in terms of Fun, and of course, in laughter too!.

Cue Ball Cat is a Great Cartoon, a plot so simple was turned into a 7-Minute Audiovisual wonder, although quite violent, it does not reach the degree of cruelty of the Gene Deitch Era, here the Violence is Cartoonish and although used excessively, is what characterizes Tom and Jerry and that's what makes them great!.

In itself, one of my Tom and Jerry Favorites and an Animation Jewel of the 50s, This is Tom and Jerry at its Best and at the same time, one of its best shorts! Without thinking I would place this in my Top 20 favorites of the series.

For everything I said above, Cue Ball Cat gets a 10.