Tom & Jerry Spotlight Collection Questions...

[Pasta67]

Hey guys. It's been a while! The reason I'm making this thread is because I've been seriously thinking about getting the Tom & Jerry Spotlight Collections, but I just want to double-check some things first. I try to make sure I know everything about a DVD before investing in it, and from what I've read in my research, these sets are full of problems.

I've searched this entire forum, as well as numerous others (in addition to DVD reviews, but casual DVD reviewers are never much help), and I've got a pretty good idea of what to expect, but again, I just want to double-check the info I've found with you guys to make sure these are worth getting or not.

Okay, so here we go. These questions apply to all three collections.

1.) So from what I'm hearing, aside from the CinemaScope toons and the first few shorts on Volume 2, none of the cartoons have been given any real remastering treatment. Is that true? It's not really a huge concern for me, and having the shorts un-restored is certainly better than giving them the DVNR Droopy treatment, but I just want to be sure.

2.) This next question concerns censorship. Okay, this is a huge deal for me. From what I've read, there are three shorts on volume one and four shorts on volume two that have been censored in one way or another. But, Warner set up a disc replacement program for everybody looking for unedited/uncut shorts, correct? So, if I buy the first two volumes and they turn out to be censored/cut, I can just call Warner Home Video and get the whole thing fixed, right? So technically, any and all potential problems with volumes one and two can be easily fixed with a phone call, right?

3.) This question concerns volume three. I know that two shorts have been omitted, and that's a huge shame, but are the remaining cartoons on the third volume uncut and unedited? If not, has Warner set up a replacement program for this set as well?

4.) Since the first two sets came out years ago, does anybody know if sets featuring correct discs with the uncensored shorts have reached stores yet? Or am I going to have to call up Warner Home Video and ask for replacement discs no matter what?

Thanks in advance for answering, guys. I really appreciate it.

[MK Sharp]

Here's some (hopefully helpful) answers:

1. I think there's been some restoration work done on the Spotlight Collection films. My casual observation is that the films generally look cleaner on the R1 Spotlights than they do on the R2 (British) releases. But you've got to remember that MGM lost a lot of negatives in a vault accident, so for many of these films a Treasures or Looney Tunes Golden Collection type restoration from the original elements isn't possible.

2. Yes.

3. As far as has been ascertained, there were no cuts on Vol 3. The two omitted shorts are available on the British releases, and appear to be uncut there.

4. I purchased the first two Spotlight Collections from Amazon in June last year and they were the corrected discs. I think you've got good odds of getting the corrected discs if you purchase now.

Just to demonstrate the general cussedness of the universe, it's no good trying to go down the path of buying only the UK (or Australian) releases in the hope of getting a complete set, because (a) they're also missing two films (Million Dollar Cat and Busy Buddies), and (b) some of the films are edited/censored. On the other hand they do include all the Gene Deitch and Chuck Jones T&Js - I leave that to you to determine whether that's a plus or a minus.

[Pasta67]

Thanks very much for the help.

I read somewhere that on volume three, "His Mouse Friday" is edited. Apparently, around the 6:20 mark, the picture is zoomed in to crop out a blackface native pointing a spear at Jerry. So, is that a false claim?

Thanks again for the answers. I'll be surely picking up at least the first two volumes.

[blaing]

Yep, that is exactly what happened.

And on Disc 2, in the Cinemascope cartoon "Pup on a Picnic" was supposedly in the scope format, but it was the P&S version

A real dogs (pun intended) breakfast of a release, indeed.

[MK Sharp]

I read somewhere that on volume three, "His Mouse Friday" is edited. Apparently, around the 6:20 mark, the picture is zoomed in to crop out a blackface native pointing a spear at Jerry. So, is that a false claim?

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about that. To be honest, it's pretty minor in the grand scheme of things; although I can't see the point of it myself, as you can still see the little native in the very next shot as he races off after Jerry.

And on Disc 2, in the Cinemascope cartoon "Pup on a Picnic" was supposedly in the scope format, but it was the P&S version

Well at least it's presented in 16:9, so you're not losing too much of the frame. On the UK disc it's in 4:3!