When I was around six or seven, I told my mom a whopping, big lie. I didn’t want to get into trouble. It was easier to make up a story than to tell the truth. The thing is, I got caught in the web of dishonesty. I had lost my brand-new watch while playing in front of our apartment building in the Bronx. When I was asked where I had been playing, I told my mom I hadn’t gone out into the busy street, but I had. The proof was discovered when my watch had fallen off my wrist and landed next to the street-side of a parked car. My mom found the watch and asked me again where I had been playing. “Not in the street,” I replied. Oh, I was toast.
“A lie keeps growing and growing until it is as plain as the nose on your face.”
Truer words were never expressed so well, even if recited by the Blue Fairy. Years later, when I was a teacher, I had to endure hundreds of parent-teacher conferences throughout my 35-year career. Parents would often tell me, “My child does not lie.” Ha, I would secretly reply. All kids lie. It is a proven fact that we, in the education field, are aware of this, and many adults also lie. If a child is not taught this lesson early enough, they will grow into a lying machine for the rest of their life. Thank goodness, my mom made sure this was not my fate. This incident had a profound impact on me, and it became one of my defining moments, shaping who I would become and how I would choose to live my life. My broken watch would even become the foundation for one of my future children’s books (Cue the gratuitous plug… REBECCA AND THE PURPLE BRACELET).
Everyone has a conscience. It’s that little voice deep within our gut. It helps us distinguish between right and wrong. Everyone must learn to listen. Everyone must make good choices for the welfare of our souls and society. We must all learn to be “honest, brave, and unselfish.” The Blue Fairy was very wise in 1940. These were turbulent, violent times. It made total sense that Walt Disney would create the iconic tale of PINOCCHIO. This timeless story would help get our upside-down world through those frightening nights.
PINOCCHIO was surprisingly not a financial success when it was first released. It took five years to cover their $2.5 million budget. It would then go on to gross over 120 million. It was the first animated film to win a real Oscar (SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS was awarded a Special Oscar in 1937). WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR received the award for Best Song, along with a second Oscar for Best Musical Score. Disney loved the warbling Jiminy Cricket voice (sung by Cliff Edwards) so much that he made it his theme song for his studio and eventually for Disneyland.
The film was Disney’s first dark-themed feature, but it still boasted a happily ever after ending. Gepetto was a straightforward, kind, lonely, coo-coo clock creator. I always thought he was drawn too old to be a dad image. He was more the grandfather model with his white hair and mustache. I wanted to know his backstory as to why he never married and had his own kids. In addition, he was a cat and goldfish owner. Figaro was said to be Disney’s favorite, and his cat personality can be found in future animated movies. Okay, I must mention the sexy, long-lashed goldfish in a bowl who understands English and has a teasing crush on Figaro. I have never seen a cat and a fish grab a quick smooch before. Bizarre (Lots of suspension of disbelief there).
My favorite character had to be Jiminy Cricket, which in those days was code for the phrase “Jesus Christ.” He was first drawn as an insect complete with antennas, but that picture did not go over well. It would take hundreds of illustrations to get him to appear “more human.” Disney used to say that the public would see him as a cricket because we are telling them what to see. It worked. No one questioned him wearing shabby or stylish clothes, complete with a top hat, spats, and an umbrella. He was the voice we all heard in our heads.
The Blue Fairy was inspired by the Columbia Pictures Studio image on all their films. She had that perfect look even without her torch. Over two million illustrations were created for PINOCCHIO, and only a mere 300,000 made it to the final cut.
PINOCCHIO was not a perfect film. There were flaws within the story content. It took three villains to scare the wooden boy straight. Why didn’t he catch on sooner? He was depicted as an extremely innocent and naive child, with no thought for the consequences of his actions. This was not your typical fairy tale, but at this time in history, millions were being led to concentration camps. The world believed what they were told until it was too late. I think Disney was ahead of his time and was subliminally warning us to wake up with the placement of an Ace of Spades card (which means death) and Monstro, the killer whale.
The musical score for PINOCCHIO was awesome. Who doesn’t love tunes such as GIVE A LITTLE WHISTLE, I HAVE NO STRINGS, and HI DIDDLY DEE, AN ACTOR’S LIFE FOR ME. I think I can hear you humming as you are reading.
PINOCCHIO is a masterpiece. It is a classic in every sense of the word. Its style, tone, and point of view gave audiences substance and food for thought. It is timeless, adventurous, ambitious, and brilliantly created. “A boy who won’t be good might as well be made of wood.” I think there are still far too many wooden boys in charge of our planet.
PINOCCHIO is available on Disney+.
