Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases
Classic cartoon fans will delight in the bevy of classicTom and Jerryanimated shorts, each of which  ends in the proclamation "Made in Hollywood, U.S.A.," and most of which are from the '40s. Fifteen episodes (totaling more  than an hour) are featured. Included are: "The Cat Concerto," "Johann Mouse," "The Little Orphan," "Yankee  Doodle Mouse," "Salt Water Tabby," "Tee for Two," "Solid Serenade," "Zoot Cat," "Johann Mouse," "Dr. Jekyll" and  Mr. Mouse," "Mouse in Manhattan," "Kitty Foiled," "The Little Orphan," and  "Jerry's Diary." It might surprise  more mature viewers, with fond recollections of the adventures of the gray cat and the little mouse, how  relentlessly violent (albeit cartoon violence) the 'toons are. This video, a collection ofchase-centric  films, is notably chock full of head bangin', body bashing, poisoning, and all-around disorder.The absolute highlight are two shorts low on smashin' and high on entertainment: "The Cat  Concerto" and "Mouse in Manhattan," the first with Tom as the focus and the second with Jerry.  They both involve forays into entertainment, a great soundtrack, and a fun story. The DVD edition adds  "The Worry Song" fromAnchors Aweigh, the classic showcase of the amazing (and oft-copied)  duet of animation and live action, as Jerry dances with the wonderful  Gene Kelly. Contrasted with the  PC content of today's 'toons,Tom and Jerryis a literal blast from the past--a must for collectors,  and for parents comfortable with explaining that Tom isn't really burned to ashes, and Jerry hasn't been  beheaded.--N.F. Mendoza