Geppetto, a woodcarver, intends to create a puppet so that he may earn a living as a touring entertainer. He names the puppet Pinocchio while carving him and discovers that the puppet is alive. When Pinocchio is completed, he dashes out of Geppetto's home and into the village. Geppetto catches Pinocchio and reprimands him, but he is mistaken for an abusive parent and arrested. Pinocchio returns home and meets a talking cricket, who annoys Pinocchio with his moralizing and is killed when Pinocchio tosses a hammer at him. Pinocchio goes hungry in Geppetto's absence and burns his feet off using a foot warmer. Geppetto is released from prison the following day and forgives Pinocchio upon seeing his suffering. After being repaired and clothed, Pinocchio promises to enroll in school and become a model son, and Geppetto sells his coat to afford a spelling book for him. On his way to school, Pinocchio is distracted by music emanating from a nearby puppet theatre and sells his spelling book to afford admission. The puppets onstage recognize Pinocchio and beckon him, and their jubilation disrupts the show. The angry Mangiafuoco prepares to use Pinocchio as firewood in retaliation, but is moved by compassion for Pinocchio's initial pleas and subsequent offer to take a fellow puppet's place in the fire, and he gives Pinocchio five gold pieces to alleviate Geppetto's poverty. On his way home, Pinocchio meets a fox and a cat who convince him that he can multiply his wealth if he plants his coins in the "Field of Miracles". They stop for dinner at an inn where they trick Pinocchio into paying for their meals and flee after telling the innkeeper to tell Pinocchio they would meet him at the Field of Miracles in the morning.
While searching for the Field of Miracles, Pinocchio encounters the ghost of the talking cricket, who futilely advises him to return home with his remaining gold. Pinocchio is attacked and pursued by the disguised fox and cat and discovers a large house owned by a fairy with dark blue hair. The fairy, punishing Pinocchio for his mischievousness and disobedience, declines him entry and allows him to be captured by the fox and cat, who hang Pinocchio from a tree and leave him there. The fairy, finally feeling pity for Pinocchio, frees him from the tree and nurses him back to health. The fairy offers Pinocchio a home in her house and informs him that Geppetto has been invited as well. As Pinocchio heads out to find Geppetto, he once again meets the fox and the cat, who remind him of the Field of Miracles, and he agrees to go with them and plant his gold. Once there, Pinocchio buries his coins and leaves to wait twenty minutes for it to grow, only for the fox and the cat dig up the coins and run away. Pinocchio discovers this trick and a nearby parrot mocks him for his foolishness. Following a series of unpleasant adventures, the discouraged Pinocchio attempts to return to the fairy's home to seek forgiveness, but despondently find the fairy's tombstone in its place. A giant dove appears and takes Pinocchio to the seashore, where Geppetto has set out in a violent storm in search of Pinocchio. Pinocchio dives into the sea in pursuit of him, but washes up on the Island of Busy Bees, where he reunites with the fairy. Pinocchio expresses his wish to become a real boy, and the fairy says that his wish may be granted if he can manage to change his ways. In his pursuit of humanity, Pinocchio becomes the top pupil in his class, but gets into a violent quarrel with a schoolmate and is pursued by the police bulldog Alidoro. When Pinocchio rescues Alidoro from drowning, the grateful bulldog subsequently rescues Pinocchio from an encounter with the Green Fisherman.
The fairy, pleased with Pinocchio's academic performance, decides to make him a real boy after an upcoming party that would be attended by Pinocchio's schoolmates. Pinocchio finds that one of his closest friends, Lucignolo, is departing for the country of Toyland, where children play all day and never work or study. Pinocchio goes along with him, and they have a wonderful time for the next four months. One day, Lucignolo and Pinocchio transform into donkeys and are sold in the marketplace; Lucignolo is sold to a farmer, while Pinocchio is sold to a circus where he is trained to do tricks. After an accident leaves Pinocchio lame, he is sold to a drum-maker who intends to drown and skin him. Underwater, the fairy transforms Pinocchio back into a puppet and he escapes to the sea, where he is swallowed by a sea monster. Inside, Pinocchio finds Geppetto, and the two escape and search for a new home. The two encounter the fox and cat, now impoverished invalids, but Pinocchio is unsympathetic to their plight and abandons them. Pinocchio and Geppetto eventually come across a cottage owned by the revived talking cricket and are granted a home there. To provide sustenance for Gepppetto, Pinocchio begins working for a farmer, who is looking to replace his terminally ill donkey. Pinocchio recognizes the donkey as Lucignolo and comforts him in his final moment. Pinocchio works for the farmer for many more months and eventually finds another profession in basket weaving, which allows him and Geppetto a decent living. One evening, the exhausted Pinocchio falls into a deep sleep, during which the fairy praises him for his efforts. Pinocchio awakes to find himself a real boy, the cottage turned into a fanciful house, and Geppetto restored to full vigor.
Cast
Original Italian version
Renato Rascel was chosen to serve as both the singer of the introductory song and as the narrator. He was permitted to occasionally ad lib in order to get the film's message across, and to give it a truly Italian feel.
In 1978, an English-dubbed version was released in the US by G.G. Communications directed by Jesse Vogel. It used British and Canadian actors, including Les Lye.[1]
Production
Development
The film was directed by Giuliano Cenci with assistance from his brother Renzo. During production, Carlo Collodi's grandchildren Mario and Antonio Lorenzini were consulted. The subtle movements made by fidgeting children whilst speaking or under scrutiny were incorporated into Pinocchio's movements, particularly when he lies to the Fairy with the Turquoise Hair over the fate of his gold coins. For the design of the Fairy, Italian portrayals of the Blessed Virgin Mary in art were used as starting points.[2]
Design
For the design of Pinocchio, the animators took inspiration to illustrations made by Attilio Mussino. The backgrounds were painted by Sicillian artist Alberto D'Angelo and Abramo Scortecci who both used tone styles evocative of early 20th-century Italian art with little focus on surrealism as in the Disney adaptation.
^Cenci, Giuliano, Un burattino di nome Pinocchio (Animation, Family, Fantasy), Lauro Gazzolo, Victor Jory, Roberta Paladini, Cartoons Cinematografica Italiana, retrieved 2023-08-08
