Jerry and the Lion is a 1950 one-reel animated cartoon and is the 50th Tom and Jerry short. It was produced in Technicolor and released to theatres on April 8, 1950 by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer.
Plot
The cartoon opens with Tom relaxing and listening to the radio. Then he hears a crash from the kitchen. Tom sees Jerry stealing food from the refrigerator to his mouse hole by way of an assembly line. Tom tries to stop Jerry and when he does Jerry squeezes a tomato in his face. Jerry then runs toward his mouse hole but Tom stops him by closing a door. But Tom forgets that there is a mouse hole door for Jerry and he runs through it. Tom looks into the mouse hole and Jerry squeezes another tomato in Tom's face.
Tom then returns to his chair and his radio. Then a news bulletin comes on: Attention! Attention everyone. We interrupt this program to bring you this warning. A ferocious lion has just escaped from the circus. I repeat, a ferocious lion has just escaped from the circus. You are advised to bar your windows and doors immediately.
Jerry and the Lion get to know each other. Tom then frantically closes all the windows, puts a couch in front of the door, grabs a rifle and pith helmet from above the fire place and he defends himself. Jerry then comes out of hiding in a teapot and he screams when he sees a pair of eyes hiding in the shadows. He tries to run away but the runaway lion pounces and grabs him. He tells Jerry, "Don't give me away, pal. Don't let'em catch me. If they take me back to that circus, I'll go crazy. I can't stand that corny music or that crackle, crackle, crackle, of them popcorn bags. Say you'll help me get back to the jungle, please!" with a big toothy smile. Jerry nods as the lion continues, "Gee, thanks, pal! Thanks! There's just one more little thing. I'm hungry." while pointing at his open mouth.
Jerry and the lion then sneak over the kitchen. Jerry sneaks a large ham for the lion and Tom spots them. Tom stops Jerry with his rifle and takes the ham away from him. Tom then catches Jerry by his tail and Tom holds the ham behind him. The lion, who is hiding behind a curtain, eats the ham in one bite. Tom then goes to take a bite into the ham but realizes there's nothing there. Then he hears crunching noises from behind the curtain. Tom then gets scared and points the rifle at the curtain. Jerry then raises the gun and it goes off, hitting the ceiling. Jerry then starts acting if he had been shot and he hits the ground. Tom sees this and runs away. Jerry and the lion run away in the other direction. Tom returns with a first aid kit but Jerry is nowhere to be found. Tom then looks for the lion, but finds Jerry in another room and the lion is perched on top of the lamp. Tom points the rifle in Jerry's face and Jerry starts to throw punches. Tom grabs Jerry and sticks out his chin as if to say, "Go ahead. Hit me with your best shot." Jerry looks up at the lion, who smacks Tom in the chin with his paw, sending him flying halfway across the room. Tom crashes into the chimney and has bricks land on his head. Jerry and the lion then run and hide into an umbrella holder. Tom grabs the umbrella, opens it, and the lion falls on top of Tom. They run off and they both hide in a closet. Tom then closes the door on the closet, gives an evil laugh, and locks the door from the outside. Then a lot of fighting sounds are heard and Tom is flattened against the door and sent across the room again.
Jerry then comes out and gives Tom a mean look. Intimidated, Tom crashes through the wall, and runs away. Jerry and the lion (who was presumably the one who actually beat up Tom) then shake hands.
Jerry is then shown helping the lion stowaway on to the S.S. Africa. The boat sails away and the lion bids Jerry goodbye with a tear falling from his eye. The boat sails further away and Jerry waves goodbye with a handkerchief, along with an instrumental theme of Auld Lang Syne. Jerry cries a little bit to see a new friend go away, but he is happy that he helped.