DVD Review: Tom and Jerry’s Greatest Chases Vol. 3

Recently, Warner Bros. began re-releasing all of their class cartoons on DVD. The latest incantation animated classic to come to DVD is “Tom and Jerry’s Greatest Chases” Volume 3.

The DVD release is about as bare bones as DVD releases go. The first thing you’ll notice is that the sound has not gone through any cleanup at all. From the sound to the visuals the cartoon feels exactly the same way it did when it was originally aired in the 60s, before eventually being syndicated throughout the basic cable 80s. Unlike Warner Bros. recent 70th Anniversary “Wizard of Oz” release, it is immediately apparent that the studio did not think this release justified the time and money necessary in making an audio-visual upgrade. This is unfortunate in the case of “Tom and Jerry” because so much of the story is told through the sound design and over-the-top, yet subtle, character expressions.

There are no bonus features on this DVD release. This is another one of those quick one-disc releases that should have just been released as a “Greatest Chases Complete Set.”

Despite the lack of modernism in this release, the cartoon still holds up as a fun tale of cat and mouse. Over forty years after the legendary duo made its appearance on broadcast television, Tom and Jerry continues to make audiences laugh. If you’re a fan of the original series, you’ll enjoy the fourteen episodes collected on this volume. Just don’t expect the sound to be optimized for your 5.1 or beyond sound system.

Cartoons Featured:
- Cat Napping
- The Flying Cat
- The Two Mouseketeers
- Smitten Kitten
- Baby Butch
- Designs on Jerry
- Pecos Pest
- Touche, Pussy Cat!
- The Flying Sorceress
- Blue Cat Blues
- The Night Before Christmas
- The Bowling Alley-Cat
- Fine Feathered Friend
- Puttin’ on the Dog