Naughty but Mice (1939)

Nov 23, 2020

Directed by: Charles Jones

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: In this Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon, Sniffles the mouse visits the drug store looking for a cold remedy.

Cartoon Cat: Sniffles finds a powerful cold syrup that is all alcohol and drinks a spoonful, getting drunk. He then befriends an electric razor with a cold and shares the remedy with him. As Sniffles stumbles around the store, a black and white cat starts following him.

Naughty but Mice - black and white cartoon cat peeking around corner

Sniffles falls off a counter into a Toy Steam Shovel machine. The cat reaches into his pocket and pulls out a nickel, trying to catch Sniffles.

Naughty but Mice - black and white cartoon cat reaching in pocket in front of toy steam shovel machine
Naughty but Mice - black and white cartoon cat trying to catch Sniffles mouse inside toy steam shovel machine

After a couple of tries, Sniffles finally notices the hungry cat outside the machine.

Naughty but Mice - black and white cartoon cat looking hungrily at Sniffles mouse inside toy steam shovel machine

At last the cat catches Sniffles and is about to feast.

Naughty but Mice - black and white cartoon cat about to eat Sniffles mouse in chute
Naughty but Mice - black and white cartoon cat about to eat Sniffles mouse in chute

The electric razor sees what is about to happen and leaps in to the rescue, giving the cat a close shave.

Naughty but Mice - electric razor attacking black and white cartoon cat
Naughty but Mice - electric razor attacking black and white cartoon cat

The cat finally surrenders, pulling out the last of his tail fur before jumping out the window.

Naughty but Mice - electric razor pausing as shaved black and white cartoon cat surrenders
Naughty but Mice - electric razor surprised as shaved black and white cartoon cat jumps out window

Some people refer to this cat as being an early version of Sylvester, but apart from being black and white the cat really bears no resemblence to the later character.

Naughty but Mice - black and white cartoon cat looking down from counter

Final Mewsings: You didn’t know cats had pockets, did you?

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