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Pinocchio
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Pinocchio (/pɪˈnoʊkioʊ/; [piˈnɔkkjo]), the name a variant of common "pinolo" (pine seed), is a fictional character and the protagonist of the children's novel The Adventures of Pinocchio (1883) by Italian writer Carlo Collodi. Carved by a woodcarver named Geppetto in a small Italian village near Florence, he was created as a wooden puppet but dreamed of becoming a real boy. He has also been used as a character who is prone to telling lies and fabricating stories for various reasons. The story has appeared in many adaptations in other media.Pinocchio has been called an icon of modern culture and one of the most re-imagined characters in the pantheon of children's literature.
Biography
Aspects of Pinocchio's character vary depending on the interpretation, although basic aspects such as his creation as a puppet by Geppetto and the size of his nose changing due to his lies or stress remain present across the various formats.Pinocchio is known for having a short nose that becomes longer when he is under stress (chapter 3), especially while lying. His clothes are made of flowered paper, his shoes are made of wood and his hat is made of bread (page 16 of Collodi's Le Avventure di Pinocchio). In this, the original tale, Collodi describes him as a “rascal,” “imp,” “scapegrace,” “disgrace,” “ragamuffin,” and “confirmed rogue,” with even his father, carpenter Geppetto, referring to him as a “wretched boy.” Upon being born, Pinocchio immediately laughs derisively in his creator’s face, whereupon he steals the old man’s wig.
Pinocchio’s bad behavior, rather than being charming or endearing, is meant to serve as a warning. Collodi originally intended the story, which was first published in 1881, to be a tragedy. It concluded with the puppet’s execution. Pinocchio’s enemies, the Fox and the Cat, bind his arms, pass a noose around his throat, and hang him from the branch of an oak tree.
…a tempestuous northerly wind began to blow and roar angrily, and it beat the poor puppet from side to side, making him swing violently, like the clatter of a bell ringing for a wedding. And the swinging gave him atrocious spasms….
His breath failed him and he could say no more. He shut his eyes, opened his mouth, stretched his legs, gave a long shudder, and hung stiff and insensible.
Clothing and character
Pinocchio is a marionette (a wooden puppet that is maneuvered with wires) and not a puppet (controlled from inside by the puppeteer's hand). But the piece of wood from which he is derived is animated, and so Pinocchio moves independently. Basically good, he often gets carried away by bad company and is prone to lying. Because of these characteristics he often finds himself in trouble, from which, however, he always manages to get out. In the course of the novel there are some transformation: after promising The Fairy with Turquoise Hair to stop being a puppet and he wants to become a real boy, flees with Candlewick in Land of Toys, and ends up becoming, after five months of plenty, in a donkey, finishing in a company of clowns. In the last chapter Pinocchio, out of the mouth of The Terrible Dogfish with Geppetto, finally stops being a puppet and becomes a real boy (thanks to the intervention of the Fairy in a dream).
In the novel, Pinocchio is often depicted with a pointy hat, a jacket and a pair of colored, knee-length pants. In the Disney version, the appearance is very different, and the character is dressed in Tyrolean style, with Lederhosen and a hat with a feather.
The nose
The best-known of Pinocchio's characteristics is his nose, which grows in length when he tells a lie: this appears in chapter XVI. It should be noted how Collodi himself, in Note gaie claims how "to hide the truth of a speculum animae (mirror of the soul) face [ ... ] is added to the true nose another papier-mache nose". There is an inconsistency, however, because his nose grows when it is first carved by Gepetto, without Pinocchio ever lying.
The nose only appears a couple times in the story, but it reveals the Blue Fairy's power over Pinocchio when he acts disobediently. After struggling and weeping over his deformed nose, the Blue Fairy summons woodpeckers to peck it back to normal.
Best films
Played by the actors
Filmography of Pinocchio (14 films)
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Pinocchio (2012)
, 1h15Directed by Enzo D'Alò
Origin Italie
Genres Fantasy, Animation
Themes Films about children, Jeu, Films about magic and magicians, Adaptations de Pinocchio, Films about toys, Children's films
Actors Robert Naylor, Paolo Ruffini, Rocco Papaleo, Maurizio Micheli, Pino Quartullo, Massimo Corvo
Rating60%
In a small village in Tuscany, the poor carpenter Geppetto decides to fabricate a wooden puppet with socket because he feels himself alone. The puppet is called Pinocchio, and that magically comes to life and begins to make jokes of all kinds to Geppetto and the villagers. Soon Pinocchio escapes, although his father wants him to go to study in school like a normal child; the puppet is captured by the puppeter Mangiafoco, who wants to roast him, but Pinocchio moves him, and manages to save his life. Pinocchio runs into other adventures, encountering swindlers: the Cat and the Fox, then the good Fairy, who protects him, and at the end Lucignolo, a rascal who leads Pinocchio in the fantastic Wonderland.
Shrek Forever After (2010)
, 1h33Directed by Mike Mitchell
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Fantastic, Comedy, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about animals, Films about magic and magicians, Time travel films, Films about cats, Films about dragons, Children's films, Mise en scène d'un mammifère
Actors Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Walt Dohrn, Jon Hamm
Rating63%
Shrek has grown steadily tired of being a family man and celebrity among the local villagers, leading him to yearn for the days when he felt like a "real ogre". When he takes his family to Far Far Away to celebrate his children's first birthday, a series of mishaps further injure his ego, causing him to lose his temper and walk out in anger.
Scared Shrekless (2010)
, 30minutesDirected by Gary Trousdale, Raman Hui
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Horror, Animation
Themes Films about magic and magicians, Children's films
Actors Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Gabriel Basso III, Dean Edwards, Antonio Banderas, Cody Cameron
Rating66%
It is Halloween night, and Shrek's family is celebrating by scaring trick-or-treaters. Inside their house, Donkey, Puss, Pinocchio, the Three Little Pigs, Big Bad Wolf, and Gingy fail to scare the ogres, and Shrek claims that nothing can scare an ogre because ogres are "the kings of Halloween". To prove him wrong, Donkey proposes a challenge to see who can tell the scariest story, but Shrek amps it up by choosing to hold their contest in Lord Farquaad's abandoned castle Duloc.
Happily N'Ever After 2 (2009)
, 1h15Directed by Steven E. Gordon
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure, Animation
Themes Political films, Children's films, Films about royalty
Actors Cam Clarke, Wallace Shawn, Kirk Thornton, Mickey Rooney, Cindy Robinson, Tom Kenny
Rating37%
Snow White and her family Queen Grace and King Cole were having a peaceful time waving at people. Queen Grace shows young Snow White how to act like a kind ruler. In her room, Queen Grace quotes "Remember, the mirror tells half the story" as "beauty is given by helping peasants". Queen Grace coughs and the king realises that Queen Grace is ill.Day by day it grew worse until one sad day, Queen Grace dies.
Pinocchio (2008)
, 3h20Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Musical theatre, Fantasy, Adventure
Themes Films about children, Jeu, Films about magic and magicians, Adaptations de Pinocchio, Films about toys, Children's films
Actors Robbie Kay, Bob Hoskins, Joss Ackland, Alessandro Gassmann, Violante Placido, Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Rating56%
C’est dans un village de Toscane que l’histoire d'un écrivain se réalise par magie : en effet, le pantin de bois, réalisé par le vieux menuisier Geppetto, devient vivant par l'entremise de la fée. Afin de gagner un véritable cœur, Pinocchio devra agir pour le bien. Geppetto découvre la naïveté de l'enfant dès les premières sorties.
Shrek 2 (2004)
, 1h33Directed by Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon, Andrew Adamson
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Comedy, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Animation, Romance
Themes Films about animals, Films about magic and magicians, Films about cats, Films about dragons, Children's films, Mise en scène d'un mammifère
Actors Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, John Cleese
Rating72%
Shrek and Fiona return from their honeymoon to find they have been invited by Fiona's parents to a royal ball to celebrate their marriage, an event Shrek is reluctant to participate in. Fiona talks him into it, and along with Donkey, they travel to the kingdom of Far Far Away. They meet Fiona's parents, King Harold and Queen Lillian, who are surprised to see their daughter as an ogre, with Harold particularly upset. At dinner, Shrek and Harold get into a heated argument over how Shrek and Fiona will raise their family, and Fiona, disgusted at Shrek's behavior, locks herself away in her room that evening. Shrek worries that he has lost his true love, particularly after finding her childhood diary and reading that she was once infatuated with Prince Charming.
Pinocchio (2002)
, 1h46Directed by Roberto Benigni
Origin France
Genres Science fiction, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Fantasy
Themes Films about children, Jeu, Films about magic and magicians, Les fées, Adaptations de Pinocchio, Films about toys, Children's films
Actors Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Kim Rossi Stuart, Carlo Giuffrè, Breckin Meyer, David Suchet
Rating44%
A magical log falls off a wagon and rolls through an Italian town causing considerable damage and some injuries. It comes to rest in front of the house of Geppetto, a poor wood carver who carves a puppet named Pinocchio from it. To Geppetto's surprise, the puppet comes to life and to his dismay, it becomes very mischievous. Geppetto sells his only coat to provide schoolbooks for Pinocchio. However, the rambunctious puppet goes on several adventures, dreading school.
, 1h5Directed by Burny Mattinson, Roberts Gannaway
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Animation
Themes Films about animals, Christmas films, Films about birds, Mise en scène d'un rongeur, Mise en scène d'une souris, Children's films, Mise en scène d'un mammifère
Actors Wayne Allwine, Tony Anselmo, Carlos Alazraqui, Bill Farmer, Jeff Bennett, Russi Taylor
Rating67%
A snowstorm leaves everyone in the House of Mouse stranded and "bah-humbug" Donald doesn't have any Christmas spirit. Mickey and all the other guests get hot chocolate and cookies to make Donald feel his Christmas spirit. The fun starts when Minnie gets the Christmas cartoons to watch. Their magical memories see to it that everyone has a holiday spirit, even Donald. At the end, everyone gets together and sings a musical number, "The Best Christmas of All".
, 1h34Directed by Michael Anderson
Origin USA
Themes Films about children, Jeu, Films about magic and magicians, Adaptations de Pinocchio, Films about toys
Actors Martin Landau, Udo Kier, Gabriel Thomson, Sarah Alexander, Warwick Davis, Simon Schatzberger
Rating51%
In July 1890, Pinocchio and his friend Lampwick skip school to go to a carnival. While there, they watch a presentation by the carnival's leader, Madame Flambeau. She gives a man with one shorter leg some of her Elixir, and his leg grows to the length of the other one. The carnival's dwarf then leads Pinocchio and Lampwick to "The Hall of Freaks", a place with a clown that washes his face, an albino who can blow fire from his mouth, a large fish tank that have fish with human faces, a woman with a beard, and a fairy called "Blue" who only Pinocchio can see. They then return to Pinocchio's house and find his father Geppetto, who is very sick. Pinocchio and Lampwick then return to the carnival to each buy some of Madame Flambeau's Elixir. Felinet and Volpe, a human-cat and human-fox respectively, lead them to Madame Flambeau. They don't have enough money for the Elixir, so they agree to work for her in the carnival. Lampwick drinks his Elixir and returns home, and Pinocchio gives his Elixir to Geppetto.
The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996)
, 1h36Directed by Steve Barron
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Musical, Animation
Themes Films about children, Jeu, Films about magic and magicians, Prison films, Adaptations de Pinocchio, Films about toys, Children's films
Actors Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Martin Landau, Geneviève Bujold, Udo Kier, Bebe Neuwirth, Rob Schneider
Rating52%
Mister Geppetto (Martin Landau) is an earnest woodcutter. Years ago, he carved the image of his heart into a pine tree for his secret love Leona (Geneviève Bujold), but lightning hit the pine tree. A few years later, Geppetto finds the pine tree again, but it splits in half and rolls down the bank, landing at his feet. Geppetto is intrigued upon his discovery and takes the log home. He discovers that the pine log refuses to be burned, and so he decides to carve the new puppet with it. His puppet named Pinocchio (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) is soon mysteriously animated by a somewhat sentient force after his creation. Pinocchio approaches the woodcutter, initially alarming him. After a chase throughout the town, Geppetto finally finds Pinocchio and starts teaching him about how to behave. While wandering through town, Pinocchio becomes involved with two thieves Volpe and Felinet (Rob Schneider and Bebe Neuwirth) who attempt to flatter Pinocchio. Geppetto comes to the rescue by getting Pinocchio away from Volpe and Felinet and warns Pinocchio to mix with the right people. Volpe and Felinet go to the puppet master Lorenzini (Udo Kier) who owns a luxurious puppet theatre. Felinet tells him about Pinocchio, and Lorenzini appears interested, so he visits Geppetto that afternoon to barter for Pinocchio. However, although Pinocchio is somewhat taken to Lorenzini, Geppetto refuses to sell Pinocchio and instead sells some of his own marionettes.
Pinocchio's Revenge (1996)
, 1h34Directed by Kevin Tenney
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Fantastic, Horror, Slasher
Themes Films about animals, Films about education, Films about children, Jeu, Films about magic and magicians, Medical-themed films, Prison films, Psychologie, Films about insects, Adaptations de Pinocchio, Serial killer films, L'enfance marginalisée, Films about toys, Films about psychiatry, Films about capital punishment, Children's films
Actors Rosalind Allen, Verne Troyer, Aaron Lustig, Ron Canada, Larry Cedar, Matisse
Rating41%
Despite the evidence presented by the district attorney (Larry Cedar), Jennifer Garrick (Rosalind Allen), the lawyer defending Vincent Gotto (Lewis Van Bergen), an accused child murderer on death row, believes her client is not guilty, and is hiding the identity of the real killer. A fellow attorney in her office (Ron Canada) explains the presence of a large Pinocchio doll sitting in her chair as belatedly delivered evidence which she had earlier requisitioned (the doll had been buried by her client in his son's grave). Intending to examine it in the hope of finding a clue which might prevent his execution, she brings it home and her emotionally fragile daughter Zoe (Brittany Alyse Smith) mistakes it for a birthday gift. She develops a relationship with the puppet and becomes unbalanced to an even greater degree.
, 1h27Directed by Hal Sutherland
Origin USA
Genres Fantasy, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about children, Jeu, Films about magic and magicians, Adaptations de Pinocchio, Films about toys, Children's films
Actors Scott Grimes, Tom Bosley, Edward Asnere, Frank Welker, Jonathan Harris, James Earl Jones
Rating62%
A bumblebee named Lieutenant Grumblebee is woken from his sleep by the arrival of a large sinister looking ship. A man named Puppetino remarks that this is the ideal spot for the carnival. Stakes and ropes fly from the ship and a circus tent forms. Grumblebee hastily leaves the area.
, 30minutesDirected by Fred Wolf
Origin USA
Genres Fantasy, Animation
Themes Films about animals, Films about dragons
Actors Burgess Meredith, Ike Eisenmann, Joan Gerber, Robert Ridgely
Rating74%
The film begins with Puff acting out the lies of a girl named Sandy, who has developed a persistent habit of making up absurd lies on most occasions, and shows how this has alienated most of her friends and leaving only her dog as a companion. Puff moves to intervene when she causes a household accident and falsely blames her innocent dog who is sent away as punishment.
Pinocchio (1940)
, 1h28Directed by Norman Ferguson, Thornton Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Luske, Jack Kinney, Bill Roberts
Origin USA
Genres Fantasy, Musical, Animation
Themes Films about animals, Films about children, Jeu, Films about magic and magicians, Seafaring films, Transport films, Cétacé, Films about cats, Films about insects, Les fées, Adaptations de Pinocchio, Musical films, Films about toys, Buddy films, Children's films, Mise en scène d'un cétacé, Mise en scène d'un mammifère
Actors Cliff Edwards, Dickie Jones, Christian Rub, Mel Blanc, Walter Catlett, Charles Judels
Rating74%
After singing the film's signature song "When You Wish Upon a Star", Jiminy Cricket explains that he is going to tell a story of a wish coming true. His story begins in the Tuscany workshop of a woodworker named Geppetto. Jiminy watches as Geppetto finishes work on a wooden marionette whom he names Pinocchio (a name his cat Figaro and fish Cleo both dislike). Before falling asleep, Geppetto makes a wish on a star that Pinocchio would be a real boy. During the night, a Blue Fairy visits the workshop and brings Pinocchio to life, although he still remains a puppet. She informs him that if he proves himself brave, truthful, and unselfish he will become a real boy and assigns Jiminy to be his conscience.