The Bowling Alley-Cat

For at least one reason, this was better than the rest of these 1942 Tom and Jerry cartoons: they got out of their house. With new surroundings - in this case, a bowling alley, - it allowed for different and better gags than the normal house scenes.

This starts off slowly, however, and I wondered if it was every going to produce some laughs, but it did, especially with Tom caught in the automatic pinsetter and then the caravan of bowling bowls was pictured as a train. Decent, overall, with the really clever stuff to come in a couple of years. This would have been much better, let's say, in 1945, with crazier stunts.

Nonetheless, this cartoons starts to set the stage for the really funny (and violent) material that also was to come.

The Bowling Alley-Cat is the very first in a series of Tom and Jerry cartoons about sports. This cartoon is where I think, they finally really nail the pacing. The jokes flow naturally, the cartoon is constantly exciting, and the jokes are very good. The most entertaining was definitely when Tom runs to the lobby to try to catch the bowling ball. It is consistently entertaining, but this cartoon doesn't really have the artistry of some later entries. Despite lacking in that department, the cartoon is very consistent. It is able to overall remain funny throughout. I just don't like the color of Tom, and some jokes are just ok. Other than that, a very solid cartoon.

This "Tom and Jerry" short "The Bowling Alley-Cat" is one that has plenty of action and chase as the two continues their game this time it's in a bowling alley. The animation still is okay and the duo still entertain with their crazy ways as it's like an actual game of bowling when Tom gets pounded by some bowling balls! Overall different setting still a good early episode.

'The Bowling Alley-Cat (1942)' isn't complex. Its narrative plays on the most basic dynamic its two stars can possibly have, which is perhaps only natural considering that it's one of the earliest shorts starring the now-famous pair. The classic game of cat-and-mouse is made more interesting by the setting, however, which provides opportunity for some inventive, engaging and visually-stunning set-pieces. Indeed, the animation here is absolutely superb. It's probably the main reason why the piece is as entertaining as it is. It's peppered with satisfying sight-gags that seem so fluid you could almost swear they were real. The whole thing is just so well-accomplished. It's highly enjoyable and often funny, to boot. 8/10

This is one of the early Tom & Jerry cartoons and also one of the best. The animation is superb and extremely well done. The antics of both Tom and Jerry as they try to outwit each other are classic. The parts of Tom trying to bowl with a ball that's much too heavy for him are some of the most fluid and natural looking animation of the entire time period. This and another two other sports shorts they made (Tennis Chumps, 1949, and Cue Ball Cat, 1950) have to be on list of top Tom & Jerry cartoons ever. Definitely one of my all-time favorites.