The Missing Mouse is a 1953 Tom and Jerry cartoon directed by Hanna-Barbera. It is noted for being the only T&J cartoon to not be composed by Scott Bradley, instead being done by Edward Plumb of Fantasia fame.
One night, Tom hears a radio news report about a white mouse who escaped from an experimental lab, having consumed a powerful explosive capable of demolishing the city. Jerry, who had gotten covered in white shoe polish in his latest clash with Tom, decides to take advantage of the situation by making Tom believe he's the escaped mouse and trying to blow himself up, resulting in Tom receiving a few Amusing Injuries. Unfortunately, things get complicated when the real white mouse shows up.
The Missing Mouse includes examples of:
- Escaped from the Lab: The white mouse. Even worse, he consumed enough of a new explosive to blow up the city if he's jarred.
- Everything Explodes Ending: By the end, a radio announcement declares that the mouse will not explode and Tom gives it a good kick out the window. It explodes anyway.
- Hair-Trigger Explosive: According to the announcer, the slightest jar is all it takes to set off the explosive in the white mouse. He's proven right at the end.
- No-Harm Requirement: Because the white mouse swallowed an experimental explosive, the radio announcer warns listeners not to harm it in any way. Jerry uses his accidental painting to his advantage and pretends to be the escaped mouse, so that Tom will drive himself crazy trying to prevent him from being harmed.
- Non-Fatal Explosions: Tom survives the explosion that ensues from him kicking the white mouse out of the house.
- Oh, Crap!: Tom, upon seeing Jerry in the window, realizes the mouse he's holding is the real white mouse and instantly feels like a feeble old cat.
- "Oh, Crap!" Smile: Upon seeing that the white shoe polish had washed off and that Tom had realized his trick, Jerry sheepishly giggles at his rival.
- Pie in the Face: Tom gives Jerry a two-fier as he crushes the mouse between two pies as he's trying to race off a counter.
- Rapid Aging: When he realizes he is holding the real explosive mouse, Tom suddenly starts looking like an old cat. He regains his young looks after the radio announces the mouse is no longer a danger.
- Ridiculously Potent Explosive: The amount of experimental explosive that can fill the belly of a mouse who is, tops, two inches tall turns out to be powerful enough to turn the house and an unknown amount of the surrounding neighborhood into rubble, the radio announcement warning the potential damage to be an entire city wide, when Tom kicks him.
- Shout-Out: Much like in Mouse Trouble where he intoned it before, Tom's eerie droning is one to the radio drama Don't You Believe It.
- Stop, or I Shoot Myself!: As the white mouse, Jerry tries to get himself hurt so Tom will have to stop him lest he explode.
- Suddenly Speaking: After the mouse exploded and the radio announcer repeats that the mouse will not explode, Tom emerges from the rubble and tells the audience "Don't you believe it!"
- What Happened to the Mouse?: The last time Jerry was seen was when he jumped out of the window before Tom was about to kick the white mouse. Could he be dead? Maybe. Could he be alive? Maybe.
