User Reviews

With the homeowners away and the cat sleeping, two mice plot and execute a plan to steal a chunk of cheese from the refrigerator.

Frank Tashlin had just taken over Columbia's cartoon department and provided the script under his pen name of 'Tish Tash' and Art Davis, who had been working for Columbia's cartoon department for a decade -- and who would head off to Schlesinger's cartoon factory in a few more years -- is credited as director. But how much was his actual choice? Given the extreme point-of-view shots that populate this cartoon and the highly mobile camera -- both hallmarks of Tashlin's cartoon work -- it seems more likely that Davis took the role of lead animator after Tashlin had set up the basics.

Whoever actually was in charge, this is a pretty good cartoon with a well-timed series of cartoons forcing a frantic pace. Not a classic by any means, it is still a lot of fun.

How do you make something funny out of such a simple premise as two mice trying to snatch some cheese while avoiding a cat? The answer: restrict the concept down to its smallest form and go from there, cause that way, you'll end up making a far more charming comedic film than you thought. In the case of the Columbia Screen Gems cartoon from 1941, The Great Cheese Mystery, it was written by Looney Tunes and Martin & Lewis comedy film director Frank Tashlin, and directed by future Looney Tunes animator/director, Arthur Davis. With a combination like that, you know you'll be in for a treat, and what a treat it turned out to be.

The main premise of the cartoon itself, as stated before, revolves around two mice going over plans to snatch some cheese from a fridge, but they have to work around a ferocious cat. What makes the cartoon work from this otherwise basic premise is the simple yet brilliant contrast between the mice themselves. One is more focused and sophisticated in terms of following the plans exactly, and the other is more loose in the head and not as good as keeping up with the pace. The latter mouse also has a running sneeze gag which actually helps move the story forward instead of feeling a useless comic ploy. At a time when a lot of cartoon studios were trying and failing to capture the success of the Looney Tunes shorts and Tex Avery, this one stood out from the crowd as being made by people who actually knew a thing or two about how this form of slapstick banter humor works. It also helps that the cartoon knows when to keep the viewers on the edge of their seats if it needs to build up the necessary tension. You know you've succeeded as an entertainer when you can make us do more than just laugh.

From a technical point of view, the animation is just as squash and stretchy as any other slapstick cartoon at the time, but in addition, Art Davis and the animators behind the short add in some clever filmmaking touches here and there. From silhouettes, to boldly high and low layout angles to even some fast cuts for pacing purposes, the cartoon knows exactly how to have fun with itself in keeping the viewer's interest. One particular scene of the dim witted mouse slowly walking across a refrigerator shelf showcases a lot of thrilling suspense that is aided by a hysterical payoff without showing much and instead allowing the soundtrack to fill in any blanks. It's subtle moments such as that which make a film, let alone short film, all the more enjoyable to watch due to the outlandish silliness you'd have to imagine yourself. Also, Paul Worth's music can range from charmingly upbeat to disturbingly haunting whenever the scene calls for it. As this is a thriller comedy, it would only make sense that one would go in expecting both, and the filmmakers delivered wonderfully.

So all in all, while seemingly straightforward at first glance, Great Cheese Mystery is a great example of a small seed sprouting into something surprisingly funny and entertaining. Considering that Tashlin and Davis would go on to make even more delightful works at other studios, let alone Warner Bros, this short nicely demonstrates just how much imagination was just oozing out of them. It's a shame that a restored print of this cartoon has yet to see the light of day, because I can imagine it gaining a cult following amongst animation fans alike, so what's to stop us from starting now?