User Reviews

The funniest part of this politically-incorrect cartoon, I thought, was Jerry's voice. He's on an island, a la "Robinson Crusoe," minding his own business when a starving Tom is washed ashore on his raft.

Tom sees Jerry only as a steak, or a leg of chicken, a hot dog or whatever. The poor cat is dying of hunger and would eat about anything. However, Jerry isn't ready to sacrifice himself. He winds up painting himself dark brown, putting a bone on top of his head and brandishing a big spear - yes, a racist stereotype - and ordering Tom around. It's Jerry gruff voice, imitating this rough African native, that should make you laugh. He speaks gibberish for awhile and then English, telling Tom what to do, as he tries to make a vegetable stew out of him.

It's amazing how dumb Tom is at times, as he goes along with this! Can you picture someone sitting in a big tub under a fire and being made into stew....all the while tasting the "soup" and adding a little salt here and there so you taste better?

If you aren't offended at Jerry's savage-native appearance, it's got some good humor, a cute ending and you should enjoy this. Overall, however, the cartoon is entertaining....nothing super, but worth watching.

This isn't one of Tom and Jerry's best cartoons, as it just isn't as funny or violent as the typical film from this era. However, if you simply look at the film from a technical point of view, it is superb, as the animation style and quality is as good as you'll find--and even better than the great animation from MGM toons from the 1940s.

Now I understand that this cartoon has been pulled from circulation because it's seen as politically incorrect due to it being an insensitive depiction of cannibals. While it is very true that Jerry puts on black powder to make himself look Black and he puts a bone on top of his head, I am sure that some might be offended by this (after all, minstrel shows and black-face comedy are sad things from our past). Some might also NOT be offended because the creators of this cartoon are saying nothing directly derogatory about anyone but cannibals, and I for one, do not particularly like cannibals and don't mind offending them. It's probably not a terrible thing that this one was pulled, but it always worries me when people do this as we are losing an important part of our history, as even the ugly stuff should be remembered. After all, how can you know how far you've come unless you've seen where you've been?

A shipwrecked Tom is washed up on a tropical island where he is terrorised by what he believes to be a cannibalistic pygmy, but which in reality is only cheeky Jerry mouse in disguise.

Woah! Tom and Jerry cartoons from the '40s and '50s featured quite a lot of gags that might be considered racially offensive these days, but His Mouse Friday has got to be most controversial of them all so far, with Jerry blacking up and pretending to be a cannibalistic savage (complete with grass skirt, bone on his head and 'Ooga Booga' dialogue!). The cartoon also stars a whole tribe of equally offensive, racially stereotypical natives who turn up for the fun.

Personally, I find such historically awkward, socially unacceptable entertainment absolutely fascinating—a snapshot of an era gone by when political correctness simply didn't exist. Technically, the cartoon is as accomplished as one might expect, with great animation, well timed gags, wonderful music, and superb direction.

During the 50s, Tom and Jerry were at the height of their success, competing with Disney and Warner Brothers, and even their Shorts are rated higher than Disney's Silly Symphonies! But like Warner Brothers, this Cartoon was not spared. Contain Racial stereotypes, examples are Many, Casanova Cat (1950), The Little Orphan (1949) and The Truce Hurts (1948), Although those cartoons were great, Stereotypes are still a bad quality.

In 1951 His Mouse Friday was released, a Cartoon where Tom experiences a Shipwreck and finds himself without Food (Even to end his Hunger he had to Eat his Own Shoe), but he sees an Island in the Distance, so a Wave with Shape of Hand Throws it there, right there it tries to look for food but fails in the attempt, then Jerry appears and that's where the fun begins!.

As in The Million Dollar Cat (1944), Mouse In Manhattan (1945) or Salt Water Tabby (1947) We explore a different environment, in this case a Desert Island in the middle of Nowhere (possibly located in Oceania) The Island It was very well Represented and Drawn we see some beautiful Places and a Little of the Wild Fauna, although its environment is not very well used, it is enjoyable to see the duo in a Different Location.

The Animation is Glorious, MGM in its Pure state really, the Colors are Really Beautiful and the Landscape is perfectly drawn, Both Tom and Jerry (as well as the Turtle and the Indians) are well drawn and although in the case of the Indians they look too Offensive, certainly its Design is not as Monstrous as the African Americans in "Scrub me Mama with a Boogie Beat", The detail is everywhere, I am impressed by the visual Quality of the Cartoon, it is certainly Excellent and the Movements are So Fluid that They make my Eyes Shine with Impression.

Scott Bradley does not disappoint here, His Music (especially the one at the beginning) is Certainly Depressing but then he picks up a Little Better Rhythm, becomes Frantic and fun as always, Of course, It is Well Implemented and plays well with the Sound and the Animation.

His Mouse Friday can be considered Racist, and obviously it is, but I really feel that this cartoon is very Underrated, It has funny scenes and the Pacing is decent, the Biggest Problem is the Indigenous People Obviously, but other than that it is a Decent Cartoon of the Duo.

In itself, His Mouse Friday is a Good Cartoon of the Duo, it has good Gags (especially the Pan) and the Animation and Music play in its favor, the Detail is everywhere and it is Impossible Not to Marvel at the Animation and Backgrounds , has some stereotypes but if you ignore them it is impossible not to laugh at the cartoon, the environment also plays in its favor making it not feel so repetitive, of course, it was wasted but what they did in it was more than interesting.

In itself, Despite being Clearly Racist, I thought it was decent enough to rate it an 8.

From a very early age, I have been a huge fan of Tom and Jerry. His Mouse Friday is not one of their best though, and I can definitely see why people will not be totally enamoured by it. The story is rather slight and has a going-by-the-motions quality to it, while there are moments that will be seen as not just stereotypical but also politically incorrect and somewhat insensitive(though I will say I was not offended by it, others might though). Apart from a cute ending and a priceless scene with Tom and a big soup bowl, there isn't much of note that one would deem as particularly funny. This said, it is crisply paced and is interesting in that Jerry's voice is to be heard to be really believed. The animation is still wonderful with lots of detail and beautiful colouring, and the music is as catchy, cleverly orchestrated and action-enhancing as ever. Jerry is sweet and cunning, and while Tom is dumber than usual he maintains his likability. Overall, decent but not one of Tom and Jerry's finest hours. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Banned cartoon in which Tom is stranded on what appears to be a desert island. But it's not long before he finds Jerry, and he's bound to be Tom's diner.

But things complicate as there's a tribe on the island, and Jerry dresses up like one of them to scare Tom and have him for HIS dinner. Best moment: when Tom has to slice up the vegetables for the 'cat-soup' and throws away the onion. Love that expression on his face.

Off course the real tribe come in the picture as well as both Tom and Jerry have to run for their lives, before the cartoon comes to a sudden stop and we don't really know how things end.

Apart from that one scene with Tom in the huge soup bowl there isn't much to enjoy here. Not that offensive either, if that's what you're looking for. 3/10.