Pinocchio
Year: 1940
Directed by: Hamilton Luske & Ben Sharpsteen
Starring: Cliff Edwards, Dick Jones & Christian Rubb
Runtime: 88 mins
BBFC: U
Published: 11/01/21
Directed by: Hamilton Luske & Ben Sharpsteen
Starring: Cliff Edwards, Dick Jones & Christian Rubb
Runtime: 88 mins
BBFC: U
Published: 11/01/21
As I’ve already covered in my series of Disney Animated Classics reviews, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was a monumental success both critically and commercially, so it only made sense for Walt Disney to follow the film up with another animated fairy tale. This time around though rather than princesses, princes, and evil Queen’s, audiences would get a wood carver, a cat, and a puppet who dreams of being a real boy.
Geppetto (Christian Rub) is an Italian wood carver who despite the company of his cat Figaro and goldfish Cleo desires nothing more than to have a son. One night a fairy grants his wish whilst he sleeps and brings to life one of Geppetto’s wooden creations, a puppet named Pinocchio (Dick Jones). Entrusted with being the boy’s conscience and moral compass, Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards) promises Geppetto that he will ensure Pinocchio attends school and learns right from wrong.
However, when Pinocchio is led astray by two street hustlers and kidnapped, he and Jiminy must journey back to Geppetto who himself has endangered his life in search for his son.
Geppetto (Christian Rub) is an Italian wood carver who despite the company of his cat Figaro and goldfish Cleo desires nothing more than to have a son. One night a fairy grants his wish whilst he sleeps and brings to life one of Geppetto’s wooden creations, a puppet named Pinocchio (Dick Jones). Entrusted with being the boy’s conscience and moral compass, Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards) promises Geppetto that he will ensure Pinocchio attends school and learns right from wrong.
However, when Pinocchio is led astray by two street hustlers and kidnapped, he and Jiminy must journey back to Geppetto who himself has endangered his life in search for his son.
Pinocchio is a story I feel like every child is exposed to at some point and in some way. It’s the tale old as time of don’t talk to strangers, always do what your parents tell you, and don’t do something just because everybody else is. Watching Pinocchio as an adult it at times infuriated me as to just how oblivious Pinocchio is to the world around him, but then I remind myself about what I was like as a child and how my parents reacted to some of the situations I got myself into.
I may get some flak for saying this as he is a beloved character but Jiminy is a terrible guardian and conscience for Pinocchio. When Pinocchio doesn’t listen to what he has to say, rather than trying to educate Pinocchio as to why he shouldn’t do something he instead just gets annoyed and lets him do it anyway. Sure, some lessons people need to learn for themselves but when the results of these disagreements often lead to Pinocchio getting kidnapped or enslaved, I feel like Jiminy should actually try to do something about it because it’s fairly obvious to the audience and Jiminy that something terrible will happen if Pinocchio agrees to do something he shouldn’t.
My favourite aspect to Pinocchio though is the gorgeous animation. Continuing the trend from Snow White Pinocchio has gorgeous painted backdrops where the characters seamlessly blend into it. Many of the scenes in Pinocchio look like they could be framed and hung on a wall, particularly shots of the Italian streets, or shots of the waves out at sea towards the end of the film.
The songs aren’t quite as catchy or memorable as those in Snow White but they’re sure to stick in your head for quite some time nonetheless, particularly ‘An Actors Life for Me’ performed by Honest John.
I don’t have an awful lot to say about Pinocchio, but then again what more needs to be said. It’s a classic for a reason and whilst I feel like Jiminy’s stubbornness is what causes all the problems in the film rather than Pinocchio’s curiosity, it’s a timeless classic that can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of whether they’re three or one hundred and three. I also dread to see what Disney plans on doing to this film for the planned live action remake, I don’t think I can stomach seeing boys turned into donkeys for real!
I may get some flak for saying this as he is a beloved character but Jiminy is a terrible guardian and conscience for Pinocchio. When Pinocchio doesn’t listen to what he has to say, rather than trying to educate Pinocchio as to why he shouldn’t do something he instead just gets annoyed and lets him do it anyway. Sure, some lessons people need to learn for themselves but when the results of these disagreements often lead to Pinocchio getting kidnapped or enslaved, I feel like Jiminy should actually try to do something about it because it’s fairly obvious to the audience and Jiminy that something terrible will happen if Pinocchio agrees to do something he shouldn’t.
My favourite aspect to Pinocchio though is the gorgeous animation. Continuing the trend from Snow White Pinocchio has gorgeous painted backdrops where the characters seamlessly blend into it. Many of the scenes in Pinocchio look like they could be framed and hung on a wall, particularly shots of the Italian streets, or shots of the waves out at sea towards the end of the film.
The songs aren’t quite as catchy or memorable as those in Snow White but they’re sure to stick in your head for quite some time nonetheless, particularly ‘An Actors Life for Me’ performed by Honest John.
I don’t have an awful lot to say about Pinocchio, but then again what more needs to be said. It’s a classic for a reason and whilst I feel like Jiminy’s stubbornness is what causes all the problems in the film rather than Pinocchio’s curiosity, it’s a timeless classic that can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of whether they’re three or one hundred and three. I also dread to see what Disney plans on doing to this film for the planned live action remake, I don’t think I can stomach seeing boys turned into donkeys for real!