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| Pinocchio (Disney Gold Classic Collection) | 
 enlarge | Directors: Hamilton Luske, Ben Sharpsteen
Actors: Marion Darlington, Cliff Edwards, Walter Catlett, Don Brodie, Charles Judels
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $16.45
You Save: $13.54 (45%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $16.45
Avg. Customer Rating:  (139 reviews)
Sales Rank: 3444
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc, Thx
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 88 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Academy Ratio
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
ISBN: 0788819283
UPC: 717951005793
EAN: 9780788819285
ASIN: B00001QEE9
Release Date: October 26, 1999
Theatrical Release Date: 1940
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 one of the great disney films August 21, 2006
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Made back when Disney made truely great animated films. I love the old Disney stuff and Pinocchio is one of the best. Disney was and is the king of this film genre, especially back when this one was made. NO animation done today rivals the Disney cartoons of the era this film was made. Warner Brothers, Dreamworks, Pixar and any of the other animation studios of today will never touch the quality and imagination of early Disney films. I don't like computer animation, so maybe I'm biased in that respect. This film is pure art.
The Jewel of the Disney Animated Crown August 7, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Mary Poppins is the greatest Disney film ever made, but if your looking for Uncle Walt's greatest animated classic, this is the film. Pinnochio is superbly written, animated and designed. It's an exiting, dark and detailed picture with charming characters and wonderful lessons.
It's a shame that Disney has not decided to make this part of their "Platnium Edition" collection. It surely has more merit than The Lion King. It's a great film!
A classic second chance July 24, 2006
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
We just happened to have a VHS copy of this tape when we adopted our son at age four from a foreign country. In his first weeks at home, he watched the story over and over, seemingly endlessly.
This should have been no surprise, I suppose. When you think about it, Pinocchio is really an adoption story--the tale of an elderly man who has crafted a new life from his profound wish to have a child.
Adopted children are not crafted, of course. They are a great gift from their birth families, who have sacrificed the child, usually (I think) because they know they cannot provide him or her with adequate care. And yet, the child does in fact become "real" when he or she accepts the adoptive family as his own, and accordingly finds a real place in the world.
For our son, Pinocchio provided the perfect metaphor at the perfect time and place. Here was a boy who awoke one morning in a strange environment he did not recognize, who was unable to attach to those who loved him, or even to tell right from wrong, or why telling the truth is an essential trait for all. Here was a boy who had so little self-respect, he could feel "at home" anywhere.
Pinocchio finds himself at Geppetto's home, replete with other puppets on strings, who unlike him, cannot move or speak, not to mention the music boxes, coo coo clocks, Figaro the cat and Cleo, in a fish bowl. Eventually, as most grown-ups know, Pinocchio learns the lessons of love and the importance of family, bringing all his wishes true.
For all children, this is a wonderful tale. But for adoptive children, it is especially poignant, for Pinocchio got a second chance, as do all adoptive children.
Pinocchio deserves the platinum treatment! July 17, 2006
As a child one of my earliest memories of going to the movies was going to see Pinocchio. I have seen many Disney films since then, but Pinocchio is still one of my favorites.
For me at least what makes this movie stand above so many other animated movies is the story, and the characters. The simple Italian fairytale of Pinocchio is really taken to the next level in this movie as we see the rich animation paint beautiful images across the screen. From Gepetto's wood shop with all the clocks to Pleasure Island, all parts of the animation really surpass anything anyone could have expected.
The characters are all interesting and well developed. From Pinocchio to Monstro you get a real understanding of their personlities as well as their struggles.
The Story though is what makes the film. For a Disney film this is really a dark story. I'm sure that Disney had a little pressure to comprimise the story to make it more "kid friendly" but the fact that he stayed true to what he envisioned for this film really pays off in the end.
In all the Disney animated movies made I would personally put Pinocchio in the top 3 just behind, The Lion King and Peter Pan.
I think is would be a great movie for theater classes as it shows the perfect example of character and story development, and flawless animation perfection.
Pinocchio for some reason hasn't really received the praise it rightfully deserves from Disney. It isn't released that often and when it is, it's not to the same fanfare as other more recent Disney films, and that is unfortunate. If you can pick this one up you should.
A Great Animated Classic March 12, 2006
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This animated Disney movie is a timeless classic that contains all the elements of a great story. The characters are incredibly well animated and sympathetic. Pinocchio finds himself routinely, and often naively, getting into trouble even when he tries to keep out of trouble. This classic has action, excitement and cleverly hidden morals to delight all family members.
Lonely woodcarver Geppetto (voiced by the late veteran actor Christian Rub) carves a wooden boy that he names Pinocchio. Geppetto longs for the family he never had, most particularly, a child. The Blue Fairy (voiced by Evelyn Venable, who has a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame) hears and feels Geppetto's longing, and gives the wooden boy life. The Blue Fairy also promises that Pinocchio will have an opportunity to become a real boy. The Blue Fairy also gives Pinocchio (voiced by Dickie Jones, who had an extensive film career as a child) a conscience in the form of Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Cliff Edwards, who voiced Jiminy Cricket nearly to his death in 1971, and who also appeared in "Gone with the Wind").
Almost as soon as Pinocchio goes out into the world, ostensibly to go to school, he encounters mischief in the form of Honest John (voiced by the late veteran star Walter Catlett, who appeared in many movies such as "Friendly Persuasion," "The Inspector General," and "Yankee Doodle Dandy"). Honest John quickly sees opportunity in selling Pinocchio to a showman. Pinocchio gets out of trouble and then right back into trouble, ending up in Pleasure Island where boys make jackasses (another word for donkey) out of themselves. Fortunately Pinocchio escapes before completely changing into a donkey.
However, Pinocchio's troubles are just beginning. When Pinocchio returns home he discovers that Geppetto has gone searching for him, and has yet to return. Learning the Monstro the Whale may have swallowed Geppetto, Pinocchio goes seeking Monstro, finding him. The encounter with Monstro, the rescue of Geppetto and the end of this movie forms one of the greatest endings of any animated movie.
I was quite fascinated by the difference of opinions between reviewers regarding this movie. Most reviewers find Pinocchio to be a great classic tale of innocence and selflessness. However, a small minority of reviewers finds Pinocchio to be scary for young children, or they believe the acting and singing to be horrible.
I watched Pinocchio as a very small child, and was absolutely in love with the movie. Had VCRs or DVDs existed back in the 1960s, I would have insisted that we have Pinocchio so I could watch it again (and again). We need to permit our children to understand fear so that they may conquer their fear. I am unafraid of whales, though sharks make me nervous. I saw "Jaws" as an adult. Which do you think had the greater effect on me?
As for the singing, many people find that Cliff Edwards' singing sends chills down their back. I am similarly impressed. Few people are able to put the kind of emotion into a song the way Cliff Edwards did; certainly very few in this era of throwaway pop. The score and the song "When You Wish Upon a Star" received two Academy Awards and an ASCAP award.
The acting in this movie was very good. Animated films tend to be a bit dramatic because they are often larger-than-life, and the acting well matched the animation in this movie. I consider the acting in this movie to be phenomenal when compared to the acting in other animated films.
Walt Disney created an animation masterpiece with Pinocchio. This film came during a creative peak for Disney, along with the great, experimental and often misunderstood "Fantasia." This movie is a rarity among movies in that it is suitable for all normal family members. The youngest members of the family may benefit from adult attendance to explain certain aspects of the movie. This movie does contain a number of very wonderful and subtle morals that Walt Disney smoothly integrated with the story. Lovers of family films and animated films will absolutely need this one for their collection. Enjoy!
This review is based on a copy of the DVD provided to me for review by Amazon and Disney Studios.
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