Tom and Jerry Golden Collection

Differences with Spotlight Collection

Warner Home Video had previously released the majority of the original 114 Hanna-Barbera-directed shorts in the Spotlight Collection over three volumes. The primary differences between the Spotlight Collection and the Golden Collection is that the latter was intended to feature the shorts in chronological order and completely uncensored. Also, because most of the original pre-1951 MGM cartoon negatives were destroyed in the 1967 MGM Vault fire, the Golden Collection features new, restored transfers from CRI negative elements, as opposed to the Turner broadcast television prints previously used. The Golden Collection is being released on both DVD and Blu-ray (the latter restored to HD quality), whereas the Spotlight Collection was only available on DVD.

Lastly, according to animation historian Jerry Beck on his March 2012 appearance on Stu's Show, the Golden Collection series will feature the later, 1960s shorts directed by Gene Deitch and Chuck Jones in addition to the Hanna-Barbera shorts. Although the shorts are presented digitally restored (just like how it was shown in theaters), however, because many of the original pre-1951 MGM cartoon negatives are destroyed in the vault fire in 1967, not all the pre-1951 Tom and Jerry cartoons could be presented in pristine condition. In the first volume, a handful of shorts appear with washed out colors and grainy picture although digitally remastered; Puss n' Toots, The Bowling Alley Cat, Sufferin' Cats!, The Lonesome Mouse, The Zoot Cat, The Million Dollar Cat, Puttin' on the Dog, Mouse Trouble, Quiet Please!, and The Milky Waif.

Controversy

It had been announced that Mouse Cleaning would be available on the Tom and Jerry Golden Collection - Volume 2 on DVD and Blu-ray, with the short being presented uncut, uncensored, remastered, and restored from its original nitrate elements that had been recently discovered. The set was originally scheduled to be released on June 11, 2013. However, on February 6, 2013, it was announced by TVShowsOnDVD.com that Mouse Cleaning was not a part of the list of cartoons set to be on the release, as well as the cartoon Casanova Cat, which was also skipped over on the Spotlight Collection, Volume 3 DVD release in 2007 (both cartoons are accused of featuring controversial content, specifically allegedly racial stereotypes of the time in which they were originally produced). Many collectors and fans proceeded to post negative reviews of the product on Amazon and other various websites in protest.

In addition, Jerry Beck, who already wrote liner notes for both shorts for the release, was shocked to hear about the omissions, saying that he wrote notes for both cartoons and that they were supposed to be included on the set. When asked for an interview request, a Warner Bros. spokesperson said “The company felt that certain content would be exceedingly inappropriate for the intended audience and therefore excluded several shorts." However, on April 1, 2013, as a result of the complaints and controversies from fans and collectors, the second set was confirmed to be delayed indefinitely.

Golden Collection, Vol. 1

Volume One was released on October 25, 2011 in the US and in France on November 23, 2011. All of the shorts are shown in their original 1.37:1 aspect ratio.

Disc 1

1. Puss Gets the Boot (already remastered for Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection DVD set)
2. The Midnight Snack (already remastered for Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection DVD set)
3. The Night Before Christmas (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
4. Fraidy Cat (already remastered for Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection DVD set)
5. Dog Trouble (already remastered for Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection DVD set)
6. Puss n' Toots (already remastered for Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection DVD set)
7. The Bowling Alley Cat
8. Fine Feathered Friend
9. Sufferin' Cats!
10. The Lonesome Mouse
11. The Yankee Doodle Mouse (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
12. Baby Puss
13. The Zoot Cat
14. The Million Dollar Cat
15. The Bodyguard
16. Puttin' on the Dog
17. Mouse Trouble (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
18. The Mouse Comes to Dinner
19. Mouse in Manhattan
20. Tee for Two

Special features

1. Mark Kausler on Puss Gets the Boot
2. Nicole Parker and Earl Kress on Puss Gets the Boot
3. Michael Mallory on The Night Before Christmas
4. Nicole Parker and Earl Kress on The Night Before Christmas
5. Michael Mallory on The Yankee Doodle Mouse
6. Jerry Beck on The Zoot Cat
7. Michael Mallory on Mouse Trouble

Disc 2

1. Flirty Birdy
2. Quiet Please! (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
3. Springtime for Thomas
4. The Milky Waif
5. Trap Happy
6. Solid Serenade
7. Cat Fishin'
8. Part Time Pal
9. The Cat Concerto (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
10. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
11. Salt Water Tabby
12. A Mouse in the House
13. The Invisible Mouse
14. Kitty Foiled
15. The Truce Hurts
16. Old Rockin' Chair Tom
17. Professor Tom

Special features

1. Mark Kausler on Quiet Please!
2. Eric Goldberg on The Cat Concerto
3. Michael Mallory on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse
4. Nicole Parker and Earl Kress on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse
5. Jerry Beck on Kitty Foiled

Golden Collection, Vol. 2

Volume Two was scheduled for release on June 11, 2013 before being postponed indefinitely (and possibly canceled) by Warner Home Video.

Disc 1

1. Mouse Cleaning
2. Polka-Dot Puss
3. The Little Orphan (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
4. Hatch Up Your Troubles (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
5. Heavenly Puss
6. The Cat and the Mermouse
7. Love That Pup
8. Jerry's Diary
9. Tennis Chumps
10. Little Quacker (the original opening titles have been restored replacing the reissue titles from 1950's)
11. Saturday Evening Puss
12. Texas Tom
13. Jerry and the Lion (already remastered for Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers)
14. Safety Second
15. Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl
16. The Framed Cat
17. Cue Ball Cat
18. Casanova Cat
19. Jerry and the Goldfish (already remastered for Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers)
20. Jerry's Cousin (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
21. Sleepy-Time Tom

Disc 2

1. His Mouse Friday
2. Slicked-up Pup
3. Nit-Witty Kitty
4. Cat Napping
5. The Flying Cat (already remastered for Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers)
6. The Duck Doctor
7. The Two Mouseketeers (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
8. Smitten Kitten
9. Triplet Trouble
10. Little Runaway (already remastered for Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers)
11. Fit to Be Tied
12. Push-Button Kitty
13. Cruise Cat (already remastered for Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers)
14. The Dog House
15. The Missing Mouse
16. Jerry and Jumbo (already remastered for Tom and Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers)
17. Johann Mouse (already remastered for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection DVD set)
18. That's My Pup!
19. Just Ducky
20. Two Little Indians
21. Life with Tom (already remastered for Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection DVD set)

Special features