“PINOCCHIO”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1940, Page 8

“PINOCCHIO”

STRANGE ARRAY OF CHARACTERS. Walt Disney’s magic medium brings to the screen a strange array of new characters for “Pinocchio " the second full-length Disney production in Techhicolour. Humans, animals who mighi well be human and a live puppet without strings rub elbows in an exciting series of adventures. Gcppetto, an old toy maker, is just like any lovable old -man you mighi know. He is no end startled when he finds that, the puppet he lias created lias come to life overnight. The puppet, I whom Gcppetto has named Pinocchio has been vivified by the Blue Fairy in answer to Geppetto’s wish that he might have a son. The Blue Fairy herself is a character only to be believed when seen in the medium, of animation, for she materialises from the wishing star in a dazzling flood of golden light, and -ther winds up in another part of the picture as a white- dove. The- Fox and the Cat, the most amusing of five “villians” in the piece, retain their animal appearance, whicl makes the fact that they deport themselves and talk as humans all the funnier. Dressed in shabby elegance, the} posture about the countryside am manage to involve poor Pinocchio if. a couple of neat jams. Geppetto’s pets are typical Disney characters. Figaro is a round, mischievous little kitten, and Cleo is ; fluttcry female goldfish. Although nei the talks, both Figaro and Cleo an. capable of human reasoning, and show it. clearly in their actions. Mcnstro, the whale, is easily the biggest actor ever to appear on a screen After all. when you reach the proportions of a three-story building you’re not to be sneezed at. And incidentally, it’s some sneezing on Monstro’f part that leads up to the exciting climax of the picture. Jiminy Cricket, who is at the opposite end of the pole for size, is anothei character who definitely demonstrate’ the wonders of the animated picture for little Mr Cricket, no bigger than r thumb-nail, wears clothes, talks, singrand dances. As a matter of fact, the Blue Fairy appoints Jiminy as Pinocchio's conscience, with the result that Jiminy is led on a merry chase, which includes the floor of the ocean.