Pinocchio (1940) - Disney's Classic Tale of a Boy Gone Wrong

Pinocchio: Gepetto Teaches Some Tough Lessons

An original poster for "Pinocchio" (1940).

Following the smash hit that was "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," Walt Disney turned his attention to another classic fairy tale, "Pinocchio" (1940).  It was adapted from Carlo Collodi's "The Adventures of Pinocchio," and released by RKO on February 7, 1940.

Pinocchio is famous for his nose.

As usual in those days, everything at Disney was done by committee, so there are seven directors credited (Norman Ferguson, T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts and Ben Sharpsteen) and seven screenplay adapters: Ted Sears; Otto Englander; Webb Smith; William Cottrell; Joseph Sabo; Erdman Penner; and Aurelius Battaglia. Clearly, after "Snow White," Walt thought that seven was his lucky number.

The kindly old Gepetto hard at work.

The film opens with the Academy Award-winning song "When You Wish Upon a Star," sung by Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards). We meet the woodworker, Gepetto (Christian Rub), who lives with his cat Figaro and fish, Cleo.  Gepetto is working on a marionette which he names Pinocchio (Dickie Jones). Wishing "upon his star," Gepetto wants Pinocchio to become a real boy.

Somebody else is pulling the strings - at least at first.

The wish comes true during the night courtesy of the Blue Fairy (Evelyn Venable).  The guileless wooden boy goes off to school, where he falls in with Honest John and Gideon, who take advantage of him and send him to star in Stromboli's (Charles Judels) puppet show.

Pinocchio on stage.

Stromboli, realizing how much money Pinocchio would be worth to him, locks him in a birdcage.  The Blue Fairy returns to ask why he disobeyed Gepetto, and Pinocchio lies, causing his nose to grow.  As the Blue Fairy says, "a lie will keep growing and growing until it's as plain as the nose on your face."  She then takes pity on him and sets him free.

Dance for me. Dance!

Honest John and Gideon then meet Pinocchio and convince him that he is sick and that the only cure for him is to go to Pleasure Island (they will receive rewards from the evil Coachman (Judels) for doing so).

Pinocchio's nose grows when he tells a lie.

Pinocchio finds that the boys on the island smoke, gamble, get drunk and generally act like delinquents.  Jiminy Cricket learns that boys on the island turn into donkeys who are then sold to work in the Coachman's businesses.  Pinocchio escapes but is cursed with a donkey's ears and tail.

Doesn't Pinocchio look so innocent?

They return to Gepetto's workshop, where they learn that he has been swallowed by the whale "Monstro" (Thurl Ravenscroft) while looking for Pinocchio.  They go searching for and themselves get swallowed by the whale, and they must all find a way out.

"When you wish upon a star."

This obviously is a much darker tale than "Snow White," and even frightening in some ways.  Many parents did not want their children to see it for that reason.  The box office was below expectations.

Honest John practicing his reading.

It took years to recoup the film's cost, especially in light of the closure of many foreign markets due to World War II.  Reviews, however, were positive due to the wonderful effects animation of background items, and, over time and after multiple re-releases, the film became a financial bonanza.

A common theme in early Disney is innocents taken in by swindlers.

Today, "Pinocchio" is considered by many to be the top animated feature film ever made, though others consider "Pinocchio" to sit in second place behind "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." It is difficult to find anyone who dislikes "Pinocchio," though it tends to have a lower profile than many other classic Disney animated feature films. Rides and characters based on this film are centerpieces at Disney's theme parks around the world.

Pretty much everyone, of course, knows what it means for your nose to grow because you told a lie, and they know that comes from "Pinocchio." So, whether or not the film itself is watched a lot these days, it has entered the lexicon.

Pinocchio's nose comes in handy at times.

There even was a Disney on Ice show that ran for many years in the '80s and early '90s and which led to similar efforts for films like "Beauty and the Beast.  The film is voiced by top stars of the day, and even Mel Blanc manages to get in a hiccup or three.

We should all have a second chance in life.

The songs, a true highlight of the film, were composed by Leigh Harline, with lyrics by Ned Washington.  Harline and Paul J. Smith composed the background music.  Besides the classic "Star," other tunes that will stick in your head include "Give a Little Whistle" and I've Got No Strings."

Hide your head in shame!

Adults will enjoy this film as much as anyone. Where else are you going to see annoying kids literally transformed into jackasses? The songs should bring back childhood memories, while the story is engaging and unpredictable.

Jiminy Cricket is always a favorite.

After "Snow White," this is the film most people associate with Disney's early years.  It is well worth viewing today by even the smallest children for the awesome songs, visuals, and story. Some people think this is the greatest animated feature ever come out of Disney, and they make a strong case.

Jiminy Cricket is one of the enduring characters of "Pinocchio."

2020