Rocketeers (1932) User Reviews

Inspired and amusing non-children's cartoon

[The_Movie_Cat · 7/10 · 27 August 2005]

Arguably the most consistently inventive of all the Tom and Jerry cartoons, Rocketeers doesn't let up for a second, from a telescope that wants to rebel and an octopus band next to fishing skeletons.

Certainly not a children's cartoon, while it begins with the duo wanting to travel in space, it ends with them after far more libidinous pursuits. As the entire townsfolk jump in the sea in the hope of some mermaid... er, tail?... it must also be acknowledged the homo-erotic segment where T & J get so close they're literally singing with the same mouth. On the same lines, the Mae West caricature (a mandatory inclusion for cartoons of the period, it seems) also talks in a man's voice.

One problem with the series is the lack of genuine character the two "stars" have. I initially had it down to the primitive nature of the animation, which doesn't really afford them voices... but having said that, their infinitely more famous namesakes were virtually mute and had far more charisma. Biggest stand out here is the trumpet-voiced Mayor, who blows Tom and Jerry off the screen in just seconds.

Not much to recommend it until late in the cartoon.

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 28 October 2018]

Back in the early 1930s, there were a string of Tom & Jerry cartoons by Van Beuren Studios. These characters bore no similarity to the cat and mouse we're all familiar with today. Instead, they were two Mutt & Jeff-like characters with very little in the way of personality. In fact, after seeing about 6-10 of the cartoons, "Rocketeers" is the first with even an inkling of any personality! Mostly, their cartoons have abounded with singing and dancing.

The cartoon begins poorly. A bunch of scientists who talk like Punch n Judy were spewing nonsense words and launched what looked like a firecracker. The firecracker was a dud...only going a few feet and plunging into the sea. Then, Tom & Jerry step out and go exploring under the ocean...finding skeletons (huh??) and mermaids. Well, at least the mermaid portion was cute.

Singing, dancing and sub-standard animation....but at least the final joke is cute.

While the rocket may plummet, 'Rocketeers' quality actually gets better

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 13 November 2017]

The Van Beuren Tom and Jerry (as said already not the famous cat and mouse, this is a human duo that lasted for just under 30 cartoons, 29 if memory serves correct, between 1931 and 1933) series was interesting but uneven and not easy to rate as an overall whole. At the series' best, the cartoons were good, very good in a few cases. At its worst, they were really bad.

'Rocketeers' is one of the strangest Tom and Jerry cartoons, but there is the agreement that it is one of the best of the series too. It is not perfect, but after a rather too old-fashioned and exaggerated beginning the cartoon doesn't join the rocket as it plummets to the bottom of the sea. Instead the quality in 'Rocketeers' gets better, more inventive and more entertaining.

It as a cartoon could have been better. As always with Tom and Jerry, the story is very flimsy. Tom and Jerry are rather bland lead characters and a good deal of the animation is primitive (especially in the character designs of Tom and Jerry), being generally too static and simple. 'Rocketeers' as said is at its weakest content-wise at the beginning.

However, there is a huge amount to like about 'Rocketeers'. While the animation is not mind-blowing, generally it is actually one of the better-looking cartoons in the series. The backgrounds have some nice detail and actually for once the support characters are interestingly drawn, especially the mermaids. The supporting characters are a case too of making far more of an impression, especially the mayor and the mermaids.

After a slightly shaky start, 'Rocketeers' gets better and better. It gets increasingly absurdist and weird (including seeing skeletons under the sea) as the story takes increasingly unexpected turns (which one usually does not get with Tom and Jerry). Just in case anybody is wondering and thinking that this approach is a good thing or not, the style of humour in the series is intended to be absurdist and bizarre but has always varied in how well it's done. 'Rocketeers' is one of the better and more consistent examples of the series.

Even in the weakest cartoons, the music was always a bright spot. As ever it's outstanding in 'Rocketeers', it is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.

Overall, a pretty good Tom and Jerry cartoon that gets stronger. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Rocketeers!

[Movie Nuttball · 10/10 · 1 April 2005]

The animated television series of Rocketeers was very good and it was one of the most different animated shorts back in the old days. The animation was very good and clear. The voices were good for the characters and the characters were also very good and funny. The animation is similar like the other cartoons back then. The sound was good and the music was good and fit the cartoon especially back in the day. The stories in the cartoons were good. It was interesting and fun to watch. If you are able to watch this on television or on tape do so because this was one of the great animated shows of the 1930's in My opinion! I recommend it!

Rocketeers is one of the best Tom and Jerry (not that one!) cartoons

[tavm · 8/10 · 25 January 2007]

Another Tom and Jerry (the human Van Beuren ones from the thirties, not the cat and mouse team from MGM) cartoon and one of their best yet. They're in a parade where they're about to launch in a rocket. As one of the councilmen talks in a clarinet-note voice, the short one (Jerry) goes in the rocket joined by Tom (the tall one) as pushed by the councilman. The moon with a face says, "Uh-oh", but the rocket actually aims for the sea. Down there we see various sea animals in one-note gags before a male sounding mermaid host says, "Hello, suckers" as we now see a sea-animal band with the lead characters now embracing a couple of beautiful mermaids of their own. They then sing at the piano with their women now dancing. At this point, the councilmen pull Tom and Jerry up with their women who dive back down with T and J and the councilmen following them, hats now floating as we iris out...Not much personality of the lead characters or much of a story but good use of animation throughout with wonderful music especially the song at the end. Possibly available in various public domain collections on VHS or DVD. I saw this one on Google Video when I typed "Van Beuren" and saw other Tom and Jerry (again not the cat and mouse team) cartoons listed. Well worth seeking out.