Solid Serenade is a 1946 Tom and Jerry cartoon directed by Hanna-Barbera.
One night, Tom sneaks into Toodles' backyard with an upright bass (which somehow is also used as a pogo stick!) to serenade her by singing "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby". While Toodles enjoys his singing, Jerry, who's trying to sleep, feels differently, and after his home is wrecked by Tom's music, he makes his displeasure clear in the form of a Pie in the Face (with an iron in it). This results in the usual chase, which is complicated when Jerry releases Spike, whom Tom had tied up.
Tropes:
- Cat Concerto: Tom does a variation of this by playing a bass and singing to Toodles. It has the usual effect, however, as not only is Jerry unable to sleep, but the vibrations ruin his home.
- Dead Man Writing: Just before Spike beats him to a pulp, Tom quickly tries to write out his will.
- Empty Swimming Pool Dive: A variation. While racing around the kitchen, Tom and Jerry use an ironing board as a diving board. After landing in the sink, Jerry immediately pulls the plug to let the water out, leaving Tom to crash headfirst into the dishes.
- Evil Laugh: Tom does one when he thinks he's got Jerry trapped inside Spike's doghouse. Then Spike leads Jerry out of his doghouse and slinks back inside with a wicked laugh of his own.
- False Teeth Tomfoolery: After being untied by Jerry, Spike goes to chase after Tom only to stop, take out his teeth, and replace them with a much larger and sharper set.
- Flowerpot Drop: Tom's serenading shakes up Jerry's home, causing a mouse sized flowerpot to fall on Jerry's head.
- Frame-Up: Jerry spanks unconscious Spike with a board of wood and then hands it to an ignorant Tom.
- Go Fetch: Tom does this tactic to Spike using a wooden board. It takes Spike a few moments to realize he'd been tricked.
- Handy Feet: While standing on his bass to flirt with Toodles, Tom manages to continue playing his bass with his feet.
- High-Pressure Emotion: Steam shoots out of Spike's ears just before he starts chasing Tom.
- Metaphoric Metamorphosis: When Tom tricks Spike into playing a game of 'fetch', Spike is about to pick up the stick when he realizes what he's doing and momentarily morphs into a "jackass".
- Mighty Roar: Spike roars like a bull (literally!) after Jerry unties him.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Spike beats the crap out of Tom at the end of the episode.
- Oh, Crap!: Tom when he sees Jerry about to untie Spike.
- Pie in the Face: Jerry hits Tom with a pie (but not before putting an iron inside it), then a cake.
- Serenade Your Lover: The short starts with Tom serenading Toodles. In the end, Spike and Jerry do the serenading, using Tom as the upright bass.
- Suddenly Speaking: Tom talks more here than in any other short except "The Zoot Cat". He sings "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby", and then romances Toodles (reusing dialogue from "Zoot Cat").
- Tap on the Head: While being chased by Spike, Tom tries to ambush him by hiding behind a wall while holding a brick. Spike sees through it, sneaks up, and peers over the wall at Tom. Tom still ends up striking him with the brick.
- This Means War!: After his home is wrecked thanks to Tom and his bass, Jerry decides he's had enough, stuffs an iron into a pie and hurls it at Tom. Once he follows it up with a cake, Tom retaliates.
- Tremor Trampoline: The vibrations from Tom's upright bass cause Jerry to bounce out of bed, and soon all of his furnishings have tumbled to the floor.
- Wait for Your Date: Averted and Played for Laughs. Toodles is putting on her makeup as Tom arrives to serenade her. When he starts playing, the kitty power-primps herself in less than five seconds, and emerges ever-so-elegantly onto her balcony to be serenaded. Particularly amusing as the song Tom is serenading her with is about a singer getting frustrated with how often his lover keeps him waiting.
