The Adventures of Pinocchio
Release: July 26, 1996

Set in the 18th century, 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, lightning 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-theater owner 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 from 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 monster and dived into the river. The boys run form the valley together and freed the other donkeys, 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 a monstrous whale. Based on Pepe's observation of the inside smelling like "rotten chili peppers", Pinocchio presumes the whale to be Lorenzini. 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. Pinocchio's nose snapped as they made their escape, leaving his nose lodged within Lorenzini's throat, presumably killing him eventually. They make it back to shore, where Gepetto apologizes for giving Pinocchio away and tells him he loves him, while Pinocchio apologizes for not being the real boy his father wanted him to be. Gepetto, who has fully accepted his son as he is, tells him that he's "real to 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.

Trailers
Posters
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload Dismiss