by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Newly arrived from Knockwurst-on-der-Rye, German mouse Hans visists his American cousin Willie. Their conversation soon turns to America's free-market capitalist system, leading to a lecture on the subject of mass production at Putnell University (Old PU), delivered by a professor-style mouse. Meanwhile, Sylvester the cat, refusing to enter into the spirit of things, tries to capture and consume the three economically savvy rodents. mice and lecturer. By Word of Mouse is the first of three Warner Bros. cartoons underwritten by the Alfred P. Sloan foundation, to educate filmgoers on the intricacies of capitalism (the other two titles are Heir Conditioned and Yankee Dood It).
