Carmen Get It!

Infobox Hollywood cartoon
cartoon_name = Carmen Get It!
series = Tom and Jerry


caption =
director = Gene Deitch
story_artist = Gene Deitch
animator =
voice_actor =
musician = Steven Konichek
producer = William L. Snyder
distributor = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
release_date = flagicon|US December 1962
color_process = Metrocolor
runtime = 7'
movie_language = English
imdb_id = 0055829
preceded_by = "Buddies Thicker Than Water"
followed_by = "Pent-House Mouse"

"Carmen Get It!" was the thirteenth and final "Tom and Jerry" cartoon produced by William L. Snyder and directed by Gene Deitch, released in December 1962 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This short ended Deitch's contract with M-G-M, and Chuck Jones took over production of the "Tom and Jerry" cartoons soon afterwards.

Plot

Tom chases Jerry into the Metropolitan Opera House, where Georges Bizet's Carmen opera is being performed, but the cat is quickly thrown off the premises. Tom attempts to get in by disguising himself as a wealthy gent, but is tossed out once again. Tom tries once more, carrying a large string cello case. Tom makes his way towards the opera, and opens up the case to reveal a bass case, which is opened to reveal a viola case, and finally a viola. During the preparing of the orchestra, Tom opens up the viola, which contains a tape recorder inside. Tom lures Jerry by scraping the viola's bow with cheese, and while attacking Jerry with the bow, the mouse falls into the viola and rewinds the tape. The squeaking noise disturbs the conductor, who promptly breaks the viola over Tom's head. (The conductor is drawn to somewhat resemble celebrated real-life Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini, and the entire cartoon apparently spoofs Toscanini's reputed fiery temper.)

The conductor then resumes the music. Jerry runs up the conductor's leg, and when Tom chases Jerry, the conductor sees Tom and stomps on his head. However, Jerry soon starts crawling around the conductor's back. The conductor's gyrations cause the orchestra to start playing a rhythmic jazz score instead. Finally the movements cause Jerry to be flung out of the conductor's sleeve, and Tom (hiding in a tuba) reaches out to grab Jerry with a baseball glove. However, the tuba player begins a solo passage, and Tom is blown out of the tuba.

As the conductor has a glass of water to calm his nerves, Tom chases Jerry onto the conductor's score. The conductor slams the book shut, flattening Tom. Jerry, meanwhile, escapes into a break room, and lures some ants onto a blank page of the score. He then gets Tom's attention, and Tom is standing at the conductor's stand as the spotlight goes back on. Tom has no choice but to conduct the orchestra. However, Jerry causes the ants to continually change position, causing Tom to misconduct the music, such that it changes to "Yankee Doodle," "Dixie" and a big band march. Finally, the ants scatter and Tom sees Jerry. He screws Jerry into a light bulb socket, but at that moment, the conductor returns and chases Tom away.

The opera finally begins, and the singer playing Carmen walks onto the stage. She is just about to begin singing the "Habanera" when she suddenly screams because she sees Jerry dressed like a toreador and dancing at the front of the stage. Tom reaches onto the stage and finally catches Jerry, but the conductor sees this, gets onto the stage, and blocks Tom's way. Jerry gives Tom a red blanket and the enraged conductor starts to charge him like a raging bull. The dignified opera thus devolves into a farcical bullfight between Tom and the conductor while Jerry takes over the conducting duties. After the song finishes, Jerry bows down to the audience and the ants spell "The End" on the book pages.