Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

Discuss North American DVDs, Blu-rays, UHDs, and related topics
Message
Author
User avatar
therewillbeblus
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:40 pm

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#51 Post by therewillbeblus »

Finch wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:00 pm I did enjoy a handful as a kid and still do but the majority of these cartoons are just too repetitive and I got bored, even watching them days apart instead of binge watching them.
Finch, are you planning to stick it out and watch the whole set, or did you give up at a certain point? I've got three discs left and my commitment is withering
User avatar
domino harvey
Dot Com Dom
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:42 pm

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#52 Post by domino harvey »

therewillbeblus wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:01 pm I remember liking Rocky and Bullwinkle, but I'm afraid to revisit it as most of these cartoons from childhood haven't held up well at all!
It holds up great!
User avatar
therewillbeblus
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:40 pm

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#53 Post by therewillbeblus »

domino harvey wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:17 pm
therewillbeblus wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:01 pm I remember liking Rocky and Bullwinkle, but I'm afraid to revisit it as most of these cartoons from childhood haven't held up well at all!
It holds up great!
Good to hear! Now why can't that show get a blu-ray release..
Zot!
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:09 am

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#54 Post by Zot! »

therewillbeblus wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:29 pm
domino harvey wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:17 pm
therewillbeblus wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:01 pm I remember liking Rocky and Bullwinkle, but I'm afraid to revisit it as most of these cartoons from childhood haven't held up well at all!
It holds up great!
Good to hear! Now why can't that show get a blu-ray release..
Ha, I got you pegged, you bougie moose cognoscenti.
User avatar
TechnicolorAcid
Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2023 11:43 pm

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#55 Post by TechnicolorAcid »

domino harvey wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:17 pm
therewillbeblus wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:01 pm I remember liking Rocky and Bullwinkle, but I'm afraid to revisit it as most of these cartoons from childhood haven't held up well at all!
It holds up great!
For someone who’s only seen the movie (which I’m in the minority for liking but I digress), could I ask why you like it so much? I don’t doubt that it’s good but I can’t help imagining as a cheap and corny Hanna Barbara style show.
User avatar
domino harvey
Dot Com Dom
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:42 pm

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#56 Post by domino harvey »

Because the animation isn’t the point, it’s basically a radio show. The nearest equivalent is the Simpsons though, in its mix of jokes that are references and satirical barbs aimed at older viewers plus silly cliffhanger adventures and goofy humor. And Edward Everett Horton of course makes everything better
User avatar
Finch
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:09 pm
Location: United States

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#57 Post by Finch »

therewillbeblus wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:10 pm
Finch wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:00 pm I did enjoy a handful as a kid and still do but the majority of these cartoons are just too repetitive and I got bored, even watching them days apart instead of binge watching them.
Finch, are you planning to stick it out and watch the whole set, or did you give up at a certain point? I've got three discs left and my commitment is withering
I watched about half of the set and really don't feel like continuing. I think I've sampled enough. My copy is going to Orbit for trade.
User avatar
therewillbeblus
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:40 pm

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#58 Post by therewillbeblus »

domino harvey wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:53 pm Because the animation isn’t the point, it’s basically a radio show. The nearest equivalent is the Simpsons though, in its mix of jokes that are references and satirical barbs aimed at older viewers plus silly cliffhanger adventures and goofy humor. And Edward Everett Horton of course makes everything better
Well said. Is there a preferable complete DVD set you'd recommend? I see a few
User avatar
hearthesilence
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 8:22 am
Location: NYC

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#59 Post by hearthesilence »

therewillbeblus wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 4:34 pm
Never Cursed wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 4:32 pm
therewillbeblus wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 3:31 pm in adulthood it struck me as exceptionally dark (a particular hinted reason for death, and upon who, in the first act's 'heaven' portion is very grim) and the brief narrative is far less predictable than the shorts normally are.
I assume you're referring to
Spoiler
the kittens in the sack?
I actually remember having a nightmare about that when I first watched the short at the age of, like, six.
Yes, and the gatekeeper's nonchalant response to it is even creepier
This was a detail I had in mind as well.

I have a vague memory of an animated short that began with this…
Spoiler
…a car swerves by a river, maybe over a bridge, and throws a tied up sack into the water. The short’s hero sees this, retrieves the bag and indeed saves several kittens or puppies, forgot which.
This would’ve been one of the major studio shorts like Tom & Jerry or Looney Tunes but I can’t remember which one.

Ah nm, it’s Puppy Tale which I already mentioned in this thread.
Last edited by hearthesilence on Fri Jan 09, 2026 9:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
domino harvey
Dot Com Dom
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:42 pm

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#60 Post by domino harvey »

therewillbeblus wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 9:04 pm
domino harvey wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:53 pm Because the animation isn’t the point, it’s basically a radio show. The nearest equivalent is the Simpsons though, in its mix of jokes that are references and satirical barbs aimed at older viewers plus silly cliffhanger adventures and goofy humor. And Edward Everett Horton of course makes everything better
Well said. Is there a preferable complete DVD set you'd recommend? I see a few
I have the one with the blue packaging which just puts everything in a giant jewel case, but it’s preferable to the first set (yellow, Complete Bull) that had everything getting scratched in slots
User avatar
TechnicolorAcid
Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2023 11:43 pm

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#61 Post by TechnicolorAcid »

domino harvey wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 8:53 pm Because the animation isn’t the point, it’s basically a radio show. The nearest equivalent is the Simpsons though, in its mix of jokes that are references and satirical barbs aimed at older viewers plus silly cliffhanger adventures and goofy humor. And Edward Everett Horton of course makes everything better
Thanks Dom! I’ll try and check those out when I can, they definitely seem like a fun time!
User avatar
therewillbeblus
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:40 pm

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#62 Post by therewillbeblus »

I just watched a pretty good Tom and Jerry, "Saturday Evening Puss," where Tom invites all his friends over to make a ruckus and Jerry tries to shut the party down. It's a nice break from the normal dynamic and relatable to coping with noisy neighbors!
User avatar
Matt
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:58 pm

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#63 Post by Matt »

I'll concur that Rocky and Bullwinkle holds up magnificently. As domino mentioned, there are lots of sophisticated, rapid-fire jokes and references aimed at adults. The character design and animation has a strong mid-century modern aesthetic that's gone from cool to corny then back to cool again.
User avatar
Michael Kerpan
Spelling Bee Champeen
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 5:20 pm
Location: New England
Contact:

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#64 Post by Michael Kerpan »

Never got tired of Rocky and Bullwinkle -- and out sons all loved this as well. (Ditto Pinky and the Brain)
User avatar
therewillbeblus
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 7:40 pm

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#65 Post by therewillbeblus »

I'm thrilled to dive back in, ordered the blue set!
User avatar
Noiretirc
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:04 pm
Location: VanIsle
Contact:

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#66 Post by Noiretirc »

I think we have come full circle then: Tom And Jerry - Itchy And Scratchy - Rocky And Bullwinkle.

(Are Beavis And Butthead waiting in the wings?)
User avatar
Matt
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:58 pm

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#67 Post by Matt »

I will go to bat for Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe as an extremely funny movie, far better than the first, ...Do America
User avatar
hearthesilence
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 8:22 am
Location: NYC

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#68 Post by hearthesilence »

What about Universal's marquee character, Woody Woodpecker? That guy gets NO love compared to Bugs and Mickey.
User avatar
Finch
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:09 pm
Location: United States

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#69 Post by Finch »

I enjoyed Pinky and the Brain and even had the theme song as my cellphone alarm at one time.
User avatar
Noiretirc
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:04 pm
Location: VanIsle
Contact:

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#70 Post by Noiretirc »

Matt wrote: Sat Jan 10, 2026 8:08 am I will go to bat for Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe as an extremely funny movie, far better than the first, ...Do America
Sorry - I know we veered wildly off topic here - but how the hell did I miss this event? (I'll blame the pandemic.)
User avatar
Lowry_Sam
Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 7:35 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#71 Post by Lowry_Sam »

Just watched the promo trailer which ended with "streaming exclusively on Paramount+".
User avatar
Swift
Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2012 7:52 pm
Location: Calgary, Alberta

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#72 Post by Swift »

hearthesilence wrote: Sat Jan 10, 2026 8:35 am What about Universal's marquee character, Woody Woodpecker? That guy gets NO love compared to Bugs and Mickey.
Woody Woodpecker was my absolute favourite as a young child but you're right, he pretty much never gets mentioned in today's culture. That said I can't imagine his schtick holds up.
User avatar
Matt
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:58 pm

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#73 Post by Matt »

I also liked the Woody cartoons on TV as a kid, but he's kind of a dime store Bugs Bunny. This seems appropriate since he was co-created by Ben Hardaway, who created the prototype Bugs for Porky's Hare Hunt, and was originally voiced by Mel Blanc. But you can all find out how you feel with the Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection coming out from Universal on January 20.
User avatar
Michael Kerpan
Spelling Bee Champeen
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 5:20 pm
Location: New England
Contact:

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#74 Post by Michael Kerpan »

I think I can still do the Woody the Woodpecker call/laugh....
Orlac
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:29 am

Re: Tom & Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)

#75 Post by Orlac »

I was watching an episode of 80s animation Pingu the other day with my new-born daughter, and well, this song happened

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHJ5bMy ... rt_radio=1
Post Reply