The Van Beuren Tom and Jerry (as said already not the famous cat and mouse, this is a human duo that lasted for just under 30 cartoons, 29 if memory serves correct, between 1931 and 1933) series was interesting but uneven and not easy to rate as an overall whole. At the series' best, the cartoons were good, very good in a few cases. At its worst, they were really bad.
My review refers to 'Redskin Blues' succeeding one of the series' worst cartoons 'Plane Dumb'. That cartoon was very poor and one that had a lot more wrong to it than it being racially offensive. 'Redskin Blues' is slight in story and contains as ever for the series primitive animation, particularly in the character designs, that looks simplistic and static throughout. Otherwise, it's well done and entertaining with many delightful elements, of the Tom and Jerry cartoons it's one of the better ones.
As to be expected, the music is outstanding, the bluesy style infectiously catchy. Even in the worst Tom and Jerry cartoons it was the best asset. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
'Redskin Blues' is one of the more inventive and funniest Tom and Jerry cartoons. The increasing absurdity is a good thing because that's the basic style of humour the series strives for, and when the cartoons succeed (like here) and make the most of it it's great fun. The stagecoach part is a good example of this, while the dancing sequence contains delightful little things (like with the squaws) and the escape scene is one of the series' most inspired.
It's also one of the most action-packed cartoons with plenty of gags, non-stop liveliness and fast timing. The Native Indians are stereotypical but you are having too much fun with them and their interaction with Tom and Jerry, who carry the cartoon much more compellingly than most of their cartoons, to be bothered by this. This aspect is far more offensive and overt in other cartoons of theirs, the most notorious example of course being 'Plane Dumb'.
On the whole, one of the best Tom and Jerry cartoons. 8/10 Bethany Cox