The mice of a house prepare for war when their appeasement policy fails to end the menace of a cat.The mice of a house prepare for war when their appeasement policy fails to end the menace of a cat.The mice of a house prepare for war when their appeasement policy fails to end the menace of a cat.
- Director
- Writer
- Stars
Mel Blanc
- Dumb Mouse
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- …
Michael Maltese
- Various
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
The Sportsmen Quartet
- Vocalists
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAfter collaborating with the Cat, the Dumb Mouse is holding session with the other mice, and they are singing a song to the tune of Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol' Me). The song was first recorded by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra on 2 September 1941. The song subsequently was recorded by many others, including Woody Herman and His Orchestra, Big Joe Turner, and Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra.
- GoofsWhen the mice are serving the cat, the cat sits up and a mouse passes through his head.
- Quotes
Cat: ...Have you ever had the feeling you wanted something... but you didn't know what it was?
Dumb Mouse: ...Heheh, oh yeah! I always get that feeling, too!
- ConnectionsEdited into Bugs vs. Daffy: Battle of the Music Video Stars (1988)
- SoundtracksAin't We Got Fun
(uncredited)
Music by Richard A. Whiting
Lyrics by Ray Egan and Gus Kahn
Sung by the mice at the beginning
Featured review
War of the cat and mice
Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.
'The Fifth-Column Mouse' is not one of Friz Freleng's best cartoons by any stretch, in an uneven "still evolving" period of his long career, and he was yet to be in his full prime and not yet found his style properly. For a relatively early effort, 'The Fifth-Column Mouse' is solid and above average but not a Freleng classic, he would do much better later. It is never what one would call hilarious (but is never unfunny), Freleng's later efforts show more evenness and confidence in directing and the story is flimsy.
Being a World War II cartoon, there are references (often political) and while most are easy to get and suitably sharp others are very lacking in subtlety and may go over the heads of younger viewers.
However, the characters are fun and the chemistry lifts 'The Fifth-Column Mouse' in a way that's entertaining if not quite inventive.
The cartoon is amusing at times, goes at a lively pace and it's never dull.
Animation is excellent, it's fluid in movement, crisp in shading, vibrant in colour and very meticulous in detail. Carl Stalling's music is lovely on the ears, lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it.
Voice acting is terrific as usual, then again one can't expect less from Mel Blanc.
Overall, good cartoon if not a Freleng classic. 7/10 Bethany Cox
'The Fifth-Column Mouse' is not one of Friz Freleng's best cartoons by any stretch, in an uneven "still evolving" period of his long career, and he was yet to be in his full prime and not yet found his style properly. For a relatively early effort, 'The Fifth-Column Mouse' is solid and above average but not a Freleng classic, he would do much better later. It is never what one would call hilarious (but is never unfunny), Freleng's later efforts show more evenness and confidence in directing and the story is flimsy.
Being a World War II cartoon, there are references (often political) and while most are easy to get and suitably sharp others are very lacking in subtlety and may go over the heads of younger viewers.
However, the characters are fun and the chemistry lifts 'The Fifth-Column Mouse' in a way that's entertaining if not quite inventive.
The cartoon is amusing at times, goes at a lively pace and it's never dull.
Animation is excellent, it's fluid in movement, crisp in shading, vibrant in colour and very meticulous in detail. Carl Stalling's music is lovely on the ears, lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it.
Voice acting is terrific as usual, then again one can't expect less from Mel Blanc.
Overall, good cartoon if not a Freleng classic. 7/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•40
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 23, 2018
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Fifth Column Mouse
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime7 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
Top Gap
By what name was The Fifth-Column Mouse (1943) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer