Disney Review Part 3: Pinocchio (Patreon)

Disney Review Part 3: Pinocchio

Pinocchio

By Walt Disney Studios

1940

INTRO:

Delving into the enchanting retelling of the classic Italian fairy tale, we have the 1940’s Walt Disney adaptation of Pinocchio. The start of this tale Geppetto, an elderly clockmaker desires for a child with their trade and the Blue Fairy hears their cries allowing the wooden doll to be alive. The focal point of the tale follows Jiminy Cricket tasked as the appointed consciousness of the wooden puppet, Pinocchio. The Blue Fairy tasks Pinocchio with journey of self discovery and what it means to be a real boy. However, the role of the film takes a deep dive onto the muses of humanities temptations and their tethers of good versus evil on a quest to become a real boy by the Blue Fairy. Pinocchio becomes ensnared in this tussle of temptations, and puts in center stage for the grueling task of consequences, with downfall and defeat as the story gives illustration to peer pressure, and leads him to a mysterious island of rule-free “FUN.” Through perseverance, self-sacrifice young Pinocchio presses to the climax of the tale overcoming their challenges to save his father from the mouth of a whale, Monstro. Thus fulfilling, Geppetto’s desire and the end of Pinocchio journey to become a real human boy.

Part 1: Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee its History for me

The events of the 1940’s was a downpour for Walt Disney enterprise for the Disney studio that failed to obtain Best Picture Oscar for Disney’s Snow White (1938), and instead earned a honorary Oscar for Technology. Unfortunately, due to the rising inflation of the dollar, and the world wide conflict of World War II resulted in theatrical releases of Pinocchio (1940) and Fantasia (1940) failure to launch upon their release. Moreover, at the time the revenue difference of power house of US economy was not as it was in today’s time, and with the European market made Disney to take a catastrophic hit to their pocket books. Furthermore, with the decline of moral of the company as whole, it is where Disney Strikes began to encapsulate the industry at the start of the early 1940’s. Impact of the events paved the way for the next two decades.

Though an events of World War II gripped the world, and multiple industries like Disney decline in performance did birth new talents and recognition of older ones. Fleischer Brothers, best known for Betty Boop, Popeye the Sailor Man, and the original Superman cartoons to name a few. In 1939 in response to the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, they release the film Gulliver’s Travels, to a good box office turnaround. With the success of Gulliver’s Travels, Paramount funded the Fleischers to make a second film, Mr. Bug Goes to Town set to be released around Christmas in short two years into 1941. Moreover, tragedy would over shadow the release of the December film by the bombing of Pearl Harbor two short days later. The acquisition prompted Paramount to push the release further back, leading to poor sales. This allowed paramount to force both of the Fleischer Brothers out of the company in 1942. Ending one of the first-ever animation studios, which would push Disney to consult other ways to push back from economic strife due to conflict of WWII, which the company was going to need to expand its horizons.

Part 2: When You Wish Upon a Review

Pinocchio has been a lot of people’s childhoods, including mine as a addition on my shelf collection of Disney movies. Upon deciding to pull the movie off the shelf, I couldn’t help but have fond memories of my own family dynamic of my own mother and sister all us watching the Pinocchio by Disney. The joke of my own childhood family home is referring to our house as ‘Geppetto’s Workshop,’ with as many collected clocks in the home. Moreover, fond memories as the familiar clocks constant tick’tok conjure fond memories as a whole before even submerging myself to give a honest review, but as the best say, ‘show must go on.”

The visuals of the film were very polished, as well as the transitions aged very well when Jimmy makes their appearance on screen. Upon rewatching the Disney interpretation of Pinocchio still amazes my exceptions, as being at times almost modern even for a movie made in 1930’s.

However, though Snow White and Pinocchio were both brilliant received animation quality wise, there still was notable roughness of the story concept upon less bracket to expand upon the story and cohesiveness. Moreover, there were points of Pinocchio was lightly shaped for its time, but still hindered due to the factor of decade and not having to prove anything in full-length animated movies and attempt to shape the story and dynamic tad bit more. However, notable roughness can still be exhibited upon viewership wise.

The classic Disney revision of the Italian Fairytale of Pinocchio verses that of Disney’s Snow White, as there were notable differences upon character interactive visuals to their environment. The notable protagonists of each telling, as Pinocchio childish actions verses that of Snow White being very reserved, timid and that times of freight drawn incredible lengths. Notable appearances in the story of Pinocchio film was Geppetto very expressive and one point takes the apple and shines it a bit, and playfully hands it to Pinocchio, showing he is a very playful and happy character. Moreover, moment in the story Pinocchio goes missing its Geppetto’s fatherly concern is noted in the visuals, as well as the sadness impacts hard. The Disney 1940’s Pinocchio is very of these kind of moments, as loud outspoken characters such as Honest John or young Pinocchio’s moment on film as he skips in the story.

Closer observation of the artistic animation of the character designs, especially for the time of the decade was splendid. Disney’s Pinocchio touched base with myself as a artist, and the classic films attention to details of the facial, background and expressive emotions of the facial features hit home. The concept of Geppetto, Honest John, and Jiminy Cricket were among my favorites, with less favorable was the Blue Fairy, but for the time can complement the translucency of the wings. Though this could be personal note the dated films time period, as a few character clothing choices played a factor in this Disney film. Taking note of Geppetto’s concept design has soft rounded features to him, this usually is used to portray a character who is kind and trustworthy. Whereas, Honest John, has a more triangular design, on top of the fact that he is a fox. Foxes in media are usually depicted as sly and untrustworthy. This does stem from foxes stealing livestock from farms in the historical past. Furthermore, he’s designed to be wearing a very tattered suit, leading us to think he’s upper class and sophisticated, yet he’s still wearing rags making this a false truth. As stated before, I feel the weakest design in this film is the Blue Fairy. She’s very reminiscent of Snow White where she looks like she’s supposed to be from the 1930s instead of late 1700s Italy. However, on the animations hand drawn sequences which still leave me perplexed of how the wings were translucent and nailed the concept that made the film whimsical. Notably we also see the return of the makeup trick upon the highlights of the main child character of Pinocchio’s hair and visual scenes with water of the sea depicted in the film.

Delving into the lyrical sense of the film and composure of the films soundtrack were astonishing for its time, even if it didn’t take off in theaters for the time. Disney’s Snow White had good tunes, but Pinocchio seems to have more foothold and catchy lyrics and songs. Personally the concept of the opening song for your films becomes the anthem for the Disney Studio for years, which is a smash in my book. Relistening to the soundtracks for these films both Snow White and Pinocchio for research, its Italian Fairy Tale retelling that seems to be more enjoyable and even incorporates the toy shop feel for certain soundtracks. Which the main composers were Leigh Harline and Edward H. Plumb, while performers were Cliff Edwards, Christan Rub, Dickie Jones, Walter Catlett, Dickie Jones, and Patrica Page. Elaborating the soundtrack for the Pinocchio’s songs such as: “When You Wish Upon a Star,” “Give a Little Whistle,” “I’ve Got No Strings,” and finally “Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee;” personally solidifies an aspect of twinge of today’s pop culture. As well as other songs that didn’t make the cut of the curd upon the film’s release in theaters, that have become available in special features behind the films creation and Disney Vault re-release onto DVD/BlueRay, etc decades later.

Part 3: Cultural Impact of I got no strings to hold me down

Previously stated, this film was going to difficult to elaborate without some note of admiration being as it was a small staple to my childhood. Overall, the Disney retelling of the classic Italian Fairy Tale of Pinocchio (1940), which decades later became a bigger impact for a future general cultural iconic animation as a brilliant classic. Though the iconic Disney classic re-telling had constrained pacing however was a good story in as a whole. They establish that long-form animation is viable and has opened a whole new way to present a long-form story. Finally, anyone who’s seen a Disney film has heard the opening theme for the company, and that song comes from this movie. It’s one of the most recognizable tunes in the film industry. Score-wise, Pinocchio sits at a strong 8/10 as my partner says “good story, the pacing is bad” and I agree, I think they’re starting to work on their storytelling skills and we’ll just have to see how the next few films develop. Next film review is going to be taking a deep dive into Fantasia (1940), and its musical journey into brilliant collaboration musical and touch of Walt’s dream of animation view and fine art form.

Side Note:

There wasn’t a lot to write about when it comes to the history of the Walt Disney Company at this time. We have a series of movies all coming out one right after the other. So I decided to give a quick history about the end of the Fleischer Studios, as I think everyone knows their characters, but don't have knowledge of the studio. I do hope this prompts you to look into the Fleischers, I think you’ll find they have a unique style.

Citation

Welcome to the Walt Disney Family Museum. The Walt Disney Family Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved February 20, 2022, from https://www.waltdisney.org/