The Yankee Doodle Mouse (1943)

I must admit to feeling just a little more sorry for “Tom” than usual here as he is constantly being bested by “Jerry” in this wartime-themed comedy. The mouse lives in his cellar, under siege from “Tom” and his fairly hefty supply of dynamite. As ever, though, no matter how superior the armoury against him is, “Jerry” still manages to make sure it explodes in his nemesis’s lap, or under his tail, or between his ears - or even thrusting the poor moggy up into space. It’s end to end stuff with rapid-fire antics from start to finish as the two engage in a battle of wits with flour, some “hen grenades” and even a banana thrown in too. All the while, we have some jolly tunes to remind the audience of the underpinning patriotism and it’s full steam ahead.