| Pizzicato Pussycat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | I. Freleng |
| Story by | Warren Foster |
| Produced by | Edward Selzer |
| Starring | Mel Blanc Marian Richman Norman Nesbitt |
| Narrated by | Norman Nesbitt |
| Edited by | Treg Brown |
| Music by | Milt Franklyn |
| Animation by | Virgil Ross Manuel Perez |
| Layouts by | Hawley Pratt |
| Backgrounds by | Richard H. Thomas |
| Color process | Color |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 7:20 |
| Language | English |
Pizzicato Pussycat is a 1955Warner Bros.Merrie Melodies animated short directed byFriz Freleng.[1] The short was released on January 1, 1955.[2]
Mr. and Mrs. Jones, a suburban couple, are puzzled by mysterious piano music in their home, long after their daughter's toy piano vanished. The music is revealed to come from the toy piano, played by a mouse. The Joneses' pet cat initially wants to prey on the mouse, but the mouse strikes a deal with the cat, promising a piano performance in exchange for his life. The cat hides the mouse and toy piano in the real piano while she pretends to play, deceiving the Joneses. Mrs. Jones calls the press, and media frenzy ensues, with scientists baffled by the cat's musical talent despite scans revealing her brain to be peanut-sized. Contracts are signed for public performances, culminating in a disastrous show atCarnegie Hall when the cat presses one of the piano's keys leading to the piano hammer inadvertently breaking the mouse's glasses, thus hindering his ability to read the notes. Exposed as a fraud, the cat and mouse revert to their usual antics until they bond over jazz music with the cat realizing that she is talented with the drums, and the mouse being inspired to play the piano with her as a duet. Upon seeing the recent events, Mrs. Jones decides to call the press again, but Mr. Jones objects, unwilling to go through the same hassle again. The couple keep the extraordinary animals a secret and enjoy the music to themselves.