Various contemporary sources referred to the film as Tom & Jerry—The Movie and Tom & Jerry: The Movie.
       On 15 Dec 1978, DV announced that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) planned to adapt its successful series of Tom and Jerry short films into a live-action feature. Two years later, the 2 Jun 1980 LAHExam reported that screenwriter David Newman and producer Marty Erlichman were attached, but neither were involved in the final film. Chevy Chase and Dustin Hoffman were considered to voice the two leading roles, suggesting that MGM had ultimately decided the picture would be animated.
       Although several years passed, the 24 Jun 1987 Var indicated that the picture was still in development, with MGM expecting to spend $6 – $7 million. A 4 Aug 1987 HR news item announced that Turner Entertainment Co., owner of the MGM film library including 278 Tom and Jerry cartoons, agreed to finance the project with Hanna-Barbera Productions, marking Turner Entertainment’s first foray into the theatrical film market. However, on 1 Feb 1990, HR stated that the project had been put on hold due to conceptual issues creating a feature-length story about two characters that do not speak. Later that year, a 4 Oct 1990 DV article stated that the project went into turnaround while Hanna-Barbera underwent “management reevaluation.” As a result, Turner Entertainment negotiated a new financing deal with Germany’s Media Special International and the American animation firm, Film Roman. According to a 12 May 1992 HR article, Turner paid $320 million to absorb Hanna-Barbera and all its animated properties in Dec 1991, and upped the budget of Tom and Jerry—The Movie to $15 million. Four Season Entertainment, a Los Angeles, CA-based company partially owned by Media Special International, planned to spend a minimum of $5 million to market the film for domestic release on 29 Sep 1992.
       Although most of the animation was expected to be completed by Film Roman’s U.S. staff, filmmakers also considered farming out some of the production to international animation firms that would reflect Film Roman’s developing partnerships in Moscow, Russia and Madrid, Spain. Principal animation began 5 Nov 1990 in Los Angeles, as reported in a 4 Dec 1990 HR production chart.
       On 12 Aug 1991, Var reported that Carolco Pictures and Live Entertainment acquired domestic distribution rights, with theatrical release scheduled through Seven Arts Pictures, a distribution co-venture between Carolco and New Line Cinema. However, a 10 Sep 1992 DV story reported that Live Entertainment was “shopping” the property to eight major distributors for U.S. release while the film opened overseas.
       The 13 Oct 1992 HR indicated that Turner Entertainment hosted a gala premiere in Berlin, Germany, in early Oct 1992. The item named Jugendfilm’s Jurgen Wohlrabe as one of the film’s co-producers, but Wohlrabe is not credited onscreen. According to a 23 Nov 1992 HR item, Tom and Jerry – The Movie brought in roughly $3 million from theaters in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In light of its overseas success, a 25 Nov 1992 DV brief suggested that MGM had already begun plans for a sequel, although none of the subsequent Tom and Jerry features received a theatrical release.
       On 19 Mar 1993, Screen International announced that Miramax had purchased domestic distribution rights in a deal that was considered “atypical due to the unusual nature of the financing.” The film opened 30 Jul 1993 to mostly negative reviews.
       Although Tom and Jerry—The Movie was widely reported to be the first time Tom and Jerry were given voices, a 9 Nov 1992 Var item and undated HR brief pointed to previous instances in which the characters spoke, including Jerry’s appearance dancing alongside Gene Kelly in Anchors Aweigh (1945, see entry), and Tom’s rendition of the song, “Is You Or Is You Ain’t (My Baby)” in the 1946 animated short, Solid Serenade.
       Opening credits are superimposed over a black screen, accompanied by animation of “Tom” outwitting “Jerry” in a series of slapstick routines. End credits state: “Special Thanks to Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera, the original creators of Tom and Jerry.”