User Reviews

. . . mouse-sized issues? THE LITTLE ORPHAN begins with Jerry pictured "reading" a miniature issue of Good Housekeeping. In Real Life, Good Housekeeping and reading are two of the least likely things to engage rodents' interest. These illiterate vermin are far more likely to EAT a magazine than to read it! When it comes to keeping a domicile as "neat as a pin," these clueless pests are whole-heartedly committed to chaos, carnage and disorder. No one who has crossed paths with these Plague carriers in Reality will believe for a minute the Groaning Fat Cat's effort to rehabilitate their reputation through anthropomorphic balderdash.

. . . Realism. At about the 3:16 mark, the title rodent takes three bites out of a red candle resting on a Thanksgiving Dinner table inexplicably set for the pets and critters infesting a home. Family legend has it that my Baptismal Candle was carelessly left out in the open next to the basement fax machine, and that one of the mice living in our cellar ate it all--except for the wick. I heard this story more than once, as I was diagnosed "failure to thrive" because my body's inability to absorb fat soon put me in the lowest dregs of the first percentile in terms of height and weight as a toddler. I was then subjected to ten years of semi-annual trips to a far-away research hospital, given all sorts of blood-draws, intestinal and bone biopsies and full-body X-rays. Being diagnosed with one rare syndrome after another, I was forced to take enzymes daily in the school office from Head Start through Seventh Grade. Discharged with a shrug and doctors admitting "We don't really know what was wrong," my Curse of the Candle Mouse lay dormant for a decade. Now, during the past three years, I'm back in the system, under the care of FIVE different specialists at the research hospital. I've studied my complete genome more than this entire quintet put together, but the whole thing is still one big puzzle. Maybe I should tell my physicians about the fax machine mouse, and screen THE LITTLE ORPHAN for them.

Thanksgiving Day. A rich of food table. Nibbles has an endless appetite and Jerry is taking care of him. See how Nibbles is a potential candidate for eating the whole table. However, his intentions didn't come true, because Tom wanted to join, but in his own manner, as a provocator... At first,Tom tries to get the mice individually, but when they prove to act together, he starts attacking both of them, and loses. Notice how Jerry takes care of Nibbles, but they both get into trouble twice. Nibbles might be naive and stupid, but he surely can destroy this table, as opposed to Jerry. We can see how both sides progress from a decorative gun to these burning things. We see Nibbles crossing the line way too far by burning Tom with a candle and rocketing the champagne, though Tom is no longer trying to eat the mice, he is scared, but Nibbles won't stop, he doesn't even look. Finally, Tom destroys the cupboard, and raises the white flag, being buried in the ruins. There's barely anything left of the food, except for the turkey they then want to share and some leftovers. When I am watching it, I first think about why is Tom trying to fight on the table that he is probably supposed to guard, then why Jerry is overreacting. When Nibbles goes crazy, I pity Tom... Notice how while Jerry is saying the prayers and Tom is listening, Nibbles is only concentrated on being the first to get to the interesting part. And yes, he gets it as soon as the other two only touch the cutlery. Who wins this fight? Nibbles, because he gets the prize, and he does so because that's all he cares about :) The cartoon ends with finally full and happy Nibbles. He is the winner, and what matters to him matters to everyone in the end. Poor unsung hero Jerry. Notice how the music changes and always "defends" the mice team. Poor loser Tom. To me this is a 1948 lesson from WW I/II explained in a way that is possible to understand as a child. That's how I understand it, and I think it deserves 10/10. I really enjoyed this.

This Oscar winning short opens with Jerry eating cheese that he picks off a mousetrap; he is disturbed when the bell rings. He investigates and finds that the orphan Nibbles has come to visit; an accompanying note warns of his prodigious appetite and indeed he soon wants food. Jerry searches the house but the cupboards are bare; there is only one thing for it; they fill have to go out and find some food in the house. After failing to steal Tom's milk they notice the Thanksgiving feast that Mammy Two Shoes has left on the table. Soon the two of them are wearing the hats taken from the 'pilgrim placeholders' and Nibbles is munching away but an accident with an orange wakes Tom. He dons a duster which looks like an Indian headdress. An inevitable fight ensues but Tom is no match for the two mice and it isn't long before he is battered and burnt waving a white flag.

If you aren't keen on cartoon violence or non-PC jokes then this short isn't for you but if you don't mind that you should have a good laugh. Nibbles is a good occasional character; it is fun watching Jerry constantly trying to save him from his own recklessness. There are plenty of great sight gags; my favourite being when Nibbles got on to the table by eating his way up a string of spaghetti. The gag where Tom is burnt black having been shot with a candle has apparently been cut from some versions which is a pity as it was a fairly funny gag... it is certainly less offensive than many blackface gags.