A cat, large, grey and devilish, a Machiavellian glint in his yellow-irised eyes, and a mouse, small, brown, cherubic yet cheeky, chase each other around a kitchen, demolishing the ice box, ironing board, plate rail, a whole sink full of dishes and littering the floor with egg shells, dripping yolks and oozing jam.

Tom is a fiendish opportunist, always anxious to ingratiate himself with the powers that be, whether housekeeper, dog, or even, on occasion, mouse. All ways things of his stomach.

Small, brown, cherubic yet cheeky impish schemer, is happy minding his own business until cornered, piqued or generally provoked. All ways looks out for the other little guy. And this is Jerry. The kitchen battle wages on, its final outcome unknown to the participants. But to the people watching in the warm darkness of the theatre, there is little doubt as to the identity of the victor — it will be the little mouse.

For the cat and mouse are Tom and, and this, of course is a Tom & Jerry cartoon. The ever-duelling duo have chased each other from the Hollywood Bowl to Hungary to outer space and back, and 50 years after their movie debut, are still going strong. Vintage Tom & Jerry cartoons still play at the cinema, on television, and are packaged for sale or rental on video.

Born in Hollywood, Tom and Jerry have captured the delight, and the laughter, of audiences around the globe, garnered enough Academy Awards to make any movie star selfishly smug, and starred in motion pictures, television and comic books.

Friends and foes of Tom & Jerry

1. The Duckling: Cute, sensitive, and very, very childlike. Pure innocence is the best way to describe him. Friend to Jerry, appetiser for Tom

2. Toodles: Tom’s Girlfriends

3. Mammy Two-Shoes: Owner of Tom for most of the 1940s and a little of 50s

4.Tyke: Friend to Jerry, nuisance to Tom

5.Uncle Pecos: Jerry’s Uncle

6. Goldy The Goldfish: Jerry’s friend, Tom’s dinner

7. The White Mouse: No relationship with Tom or Jerry. None, just stumbled upon the home of Tom and Jerry.

8. Mother Hen: She considers both Tom and Jerry a nuisance to her eggs.

9. The Dancing Bear: Tom’s dancing partner.

10. Jumbo the Elephant: Friend of Jerry, hunting target for Tom

11.The Eagle: Appetite for Jerry, um… let’s just say he and Tom are close friends.

12. Butch: Friend/ enemy/ constant rival to both.

13. Spike: Friend to Jerry, not that fond of cats.