The Adventures of Pinocchio is a 1996 fantasy family film, directed by Steve Barron and based on the original 1883 novel of the same name by Carlo Collodi. Barron collaborated with Sherry Mills, Tom Benedek and Barry Berman on the screenplay. The film was an American, British, French, Czech, and German venture produced by New Line Cinema, The Kushner-Locke Company, Savoy Pictures, Pangaea Holdings and Twin Continental Films. The film stars Martin Landau, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Rob Schneider, Udo Kier, Bebe Neuwirth, David Doyle and Geneviève Bujold. The film was both a critical and commercial failure although a direct to video sequel was made.

Plot
The film opens with the kindly Italian woodcarver, Geppetto, declaring his secret love for a woman named Leona by carving their initials in a heart on an old pine tree in the forest. Later, lightening strikes the tree. Many years later, Geppetto, now an old man living alone with his cat and his puppets, returns to the forest. A piece of wood from that tree, bearing the heart Gepetto carved, finds its way into his cart. Feeling a certain affinity for it, he decides to carve a puppet from it. When he finishes his work, he names his new creation Pinocchio, from the pine wood he made him from and for his magnificent eyes. Suddenly, the wooden boy comes to life and shocks the old puppet-maker. Although Gepetto tells Pinocchio that he is not his father, he seeks to protect the puppet, who damages himself while trying to imitate a pigeon leaping and running along the roofs of the city. Later, Pinocchio wanders off, following a child with a ball. He runs into Volpe and Felinet, who try to sell him to the puppet-maker Lorenzini. Although Lorenzini agrees to pay a great deal for Pinocchio, Geppetto declines.

Later, Pinocchio follows a group a schoolchildren and becomes fascinated by school and learning. But a rowdy boy named Lampwick (Corey Carrier) involves him in a violent prank. The teacher punishes Pinocchio harshly, and the puppet is forced to leave the company of the real boys. He then causes a great deal of mischief in a bakery. Gepetto is held responsible for the puppets actions and arrested. While Geppetto spends the night in a prison cell, Pinocchio returns home and meets 'the voice of truth' in the form of a wise and optimistic cricket named Pepe. Pepe promises to help Pinocchio to become a real boy, if he can promise to be good. 

The next day, Gepetto and Pinocchio stand before the judge, who rules that unless Gepetto can pay for the damage Pinocchio caused they will both be sent to prison. Lorenzini steps in and offers to pay off the debt, on the condition that Pinocchio be handed over to his custody. Gepetto strongly refuses but eventually gives in, believing that perhaps the puppet will be better off that way. Pinocchio is heartbroken and does not want to leave his "father", but Gepetto tells them that he cannot be his father since he is not a real boy. 

Pinocchio comes to enjoy the theatre and also comes to believe that Lorenzini loves him as much as his Papa did. Pepe tells him that Lorenzini is just using him to gain money and success. Pinocchio comes to realize this as he performs in Lorenzini's play, and manages to save several puppets from being burned by the cruel Lorenzini. As he escapes, he accidentally sets the theatre aflame. He floats away down the river, passing through the woodlands to a quiet church. Volpe and Felinet catch up with him and manage to swindle him out of the few pieces of gold that he still has by telling him that if he buries them in the ground they will grow and cause a miracle that will turn him into a real boy. Pepe scolds the puppet and proclaims: "Miracles don't grow on trees. Miracles are made in the heart!" 

Meanwhile, Geppetto and his friend (and secret love) Leona have begun searching the forest for Pinocchio. However, Pinocchio is enticed by Lampwick to join of wagon-load of other boys who are being taken to Terra Magica, a hidden fun-fair for boys where they are encouraged to perform all sorts of cruel and naughty deeds. While riding on a roller-coaster, Lampwick and some others are turned into donkeys by the enchanted water of a huge fountain. They are then rounded up by Lorenzini, who runs the place and intends to sell the donkeys as work animals. Pinocchio, half-transformed himself, frees the donkeys form their pen. Chased by Lorenzini and his henchmen, Pinocchio attempts to warn the others. No one believes him until Lampwick strikes out with his hooves and knocks Lorenzini into the fountain, where he turns into a sea monster. The boys run form the valley together, leaving Pinocchio and the donkey Lampwick to journey alone.

Geppetto and Leona arrive and find Pinocchio's hat, believing him to be lost at sea. Before striking out in a rowboat to search for the puppet, Geppetto finally declares his love for Leona. She angrily cries that she (who was married to his deceased brother for many years) is done waiting for him. However, when Pinocchio arrives she is still there, and takes care of Lampwick while reluctantly allowing Pinocchio to follow Gepetto. The puppet is swallowed by Lorenzini (now a monstrous whale). Inside the creature's stomach, Pinocchio is finally reunited with his Papa. In order to escape, Pinocchio tells Gepetto that he hates him. The lie causes Pinocchio's nose to lengthen and push the whale's throat open wider. They make it back to shore, where Geppetto apologizes for giving Pinocchio away and tells him he loves him. Pinocchio begins to cry tears and turns into a real boy. He proclaims: "Miracles are made in the heart, Papa,". Pepe leaves Pinocchio temporarily to go on a much needed vacation. On the way home, Pinocchio runs into Volpe and Felinet. He tricks them into drinking from the fountain where he and the other boys were turned into donkeys. The two swindlers are transformed into a fox and a cat, which results in them being captured by a farmer as new pets. Pinocchio returns to live life as a real boy with his Papa, Leona and his best friend Lampwick, who changed back by becoming good.

Cast[edit]

Cast

Live action
 Martin Landau as Geppetto, an impoverished Italian puppet maker who accidentally gives Pinocchio life after carving him from an enchanted log.
 Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Pinocchio, the eponymous character and main protagonist of the film. He seeks to learn about right and wrong so that one day he will become a real boy.
 Geneviève Bujold as Leona, a friend of Geppetto with whom he is secretly in love.
 Udo Kier as Lorenzini, a puppeteer who takes custody of Pinocchio. He later turns into a sea monster.
 Bebe Neuwirth as Felinet, a scheming con artist always looking for the next profit. She is based on the Cat from the original novel.
 Rob Schneider as Volpe, Felinet's dim-witted partner and sidekick. He is based on the Fox from the original novel.
 Corey Carrier as Lampwick.
 Dawn French as the Baker's Wife.
 Richard Claxton as Saleo, Lampwick's companion and friend who kicks Pinocchio in class at school.
 John Sessions as the Professor, an irritable teacher who Pinocchio inadvertently annoys while attending one of his classes.
 Jerry Hadley as the Judge, a court official who threatens to send Geppetto to a debtors' prison for Pinocchio's irresponsible behavior.
 Jean-Claude Dreyfus as the Foreman

Voice cast
 Gary Martin as the Giant's voice
 David Doyle as the voice of Pepe, a talking cricket who serves as Pinocchio's conscience.

Pinocchio Puppeteers
 Mak Wilson (principal puppeteer and puppet performance coordinator)
 Robert Tygner (principal puppeteer)
 Michelan Sisti (principal puppeteer)
 Bruce Lanoil (principal puppeteer)
 William Todd-Jones (principal puppeteer)
 Ian Tregonning (principal puppeteer)
 Peter Hurst (assistant puppeteer)
 Gillie Robic (assistant puppeteer)
 Susan Dacre (assistant puppeteer)
 Phil Woodfine (assistant puppeteer)

Reception
Critically, the film received a 35% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 26 reviews with the consensus: "The Adventures of Pinocchio is an admirably faithful adaptation of the source material, but it may be too frightening for younger viewers - and too dull for older ones."

On the television review series Siskel & Ebert, Roger Ebert expressed disappointment with the film, while Gene Siskel praised the special effects, and remarked that he believed the film to be a faithful adaptation of the book, as opposed to Disney's interpretation, which strayed significantly from it. Ebert gave the film a two out of four stars and said, "The story is told with visual grace, but lacks excitement. Even Pinocchio's little cricket friend seems more like a philosopher than a ringmaster. Smaller children may be caught up by the wonder of it all, but older children may find the movie slow and old-fashioned." Joe Leydon of Variety gave the film a mostly positive review, writing "The Adventures of Pinocchio is a well-crafted and gently charming version of the classic 1883 novel by Carlo Collodi. Unfortunately, this live-action, non-musical adaptation must compete with vivid (and, in many cases, video-enhanced) memories of Disney's beloved 1940 animated feature."

In her seminar "The Persistent Puppet: Pinocchio's Heirs in Contemporary Fiction and Film", Rebecca West found The Adventures of Pinocchio to be relatively faithful to the original novel, although she noted major differences, such as the replacement of the Blue Fairy by the character of Leona. Lawrence Van Gelder of The New York Times, gave the film a negative review, writing "Despite the interesting differences between the latest Pinocchio, which mixes animated and live characters, and the wholly animated Disney version, the new film simply doesn't generate much magical enchantment."

Soundtrack

Sequel
A sequel was released in 1999 called The New Adventures of Pinocchio. Landau reprised his role as Geppetto, while Kier was recast as Lorenzini's estranged wife, Madame Flambeau. Gabriel Thomson played the title role, replacing Jonathan Taylor Thomas. It was shot in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.

References

External links

 
 
 
 

1996 animated films
1996 films
1996 children's films
1990s children's fantasy films
1990s fantasy adventure films
American children's fantasy films
American fantasy adventure films
British children's fantasy films
British fantasy adventure films
Czech fantasy adventure films
Czech children's films
1990s English-language films
English-language Czech films
English-language French films
English-language German films
Puppet films
Films scored by Rachel Portman
Films directed by Steve Barron
Films set in Italy
Films set in the 19th century
French children's fantasy films
French fantasy adventure films
German children's fantasy films
German fantasy adventure films
Pinocchio films
Savoy Pictures films
New Line Cinema films
Warner Bros. films
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment films
The Kushner-Locke Company films
CineVox films
1990s American films
1990s British films
1990s French films
1990s German films