Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

Back in 2022, I checked out and reviewed the Robert Zemeckis-directed live-action remake of ‘Pinocchio’, starring Tom Hanks. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that film, but I recall it not being that great, especially in terms of how its story ultimately concluded. 😐

Last Friday, my parents and I checked out the original 1940 Disney film version of ‘Pinocchio’ on Disney+. I recall seeing this film as a kid when growing up in the 1990s and having very fond memories of it. Seeing it again has brought back those happy memories.

It’s amazing to think that the 1940 film ‘Pinocchio’ was the second animated feature film to be made by Walt Disney, following ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’. From watching it, there’s more regarding its story and character development compared to ‘Snow White’.

This is especially concerning the relationship between Pinocchio, who wishes to become a real boy, and Jiminy Cricket, who acts as his friend and conscience. The film explores how Pinocchio must overcome temptation in order to be ‘brave, truthful and unselfish’.

If you don’t know the story, Pinocchio is first a wooden puppet created by an old woodcarver named Geppetto. He’s brought to life by a Blue Fairy when Geppetto wishes Pinocchio to be a real boy. Pinocchio must prove his worth and avoid any wrongdoings. 🙂

The film is very imaginative in terms of its animation style, and the characters are very memorable. As well as Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket, Geppetto and the Blue Fairy, there’s Figaro the black cat and Cleo the goldfish. Some characters go on to be in other films. 😀

After ‘Pinocchio’, Jiminy Cricket went on to be in ‘Fun and Fancy Free’, which contains two stories about ‘Bongo’ and ‘Mickey and the Beanstalk’. Cleo is in ‘Fun and Fancy Free’ too. And Figaro has been in ‘Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas’, where he’s Minnie’s pet cat.

There’s also Honest John Worthington Foulfellow, a talking red fox, who’s joined by Gideon the Cat. These two swindle Pinocchio into joining the theatre as well as joining some naughty boys on Pleasure Island where they become donkeys, which is frightening.

There’s Stromboli, a puppeteer who buys Pinocchio from Honest John and Gideon, and is very cruel to the talking boy puppet. I liked the Blue Fairy, who’s blonde, wears a blue dress and is voiced by Evelyn Venable. She came across as friendly and sweet in the film.

There’s the Coachman, who is the owner and operator of Pleasure Island that has the naughty boys kidnapped and taken to become donkeys. It’s not explained much as to why the Coachman wants the boys to end up being donkeys, but he’s still terrifying as a villain.

There are some very frightening moments in ‘Pinocchio’. As well as the naughty boys being turned into donkeys on Pleasure Island, there’s Monstro the giant whale who swallowed Gepetto, Figaro and Cleo on a boat and Pinocchio gets to go and rescue them.

As a kid watching this film back in the 1990s, I found Monstro terrifying, especially when he seemed to get very angry after being made to sneeze by Pinocchio in order for him and his family to escape his belly. I’m sure many kids found Monstro very frightening to watch.

I found the film very satisfying in terms of its ending when Pinocchio ended up becoming a real boy and Jiminy got his badge for helping Pinocchio in being his conscience. It’s certainly far more fulfilling compared to how the 2022 live-action remake film concluded.

I’m pleased to have revisited ‘Pinocchio’ on Disney+ recently. It’s certainly very good with its musical numbers accompanying it, including the likes of ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’, ‘Give a Little Whistle’, ‘Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee’ and ‘I’ve Got No Strings’, which I’ve enjoyed. 🙂

If you’re able to find time checking out the original 1940 Disney film ‘Pinocchio’, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. It’s got plenty of heart and laughs, and I found it very compelling in the journey that Pinocchio embarks on with wanting to be a real boy.

Incidentally, this should be a good advert to kids that they should never smoke, right? 😀

Thanks for reading!

Bye for now!

Tim 🙂