Geppetto (film)

Geppetto is a 2000 made-for-television musical film based on the popular 1883 Italian children's book The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi starring Drew Carey and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. While not a direct adaptation of the 1940 animated film, it features a few elements such as the character of Figaro, the "I've Got No Strings" song as well as Pleasure Island. It features original songs written by Stephen Schwartz.[1] Schwartz had developed the songs as a reunion for stars Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, but Andrews was undergoing throat surgery so the idea was dropped.

Geppetto
2009 DVD cover for Geppetto
GenreMusical fantasy
Based onThe Adventures of Pinocchio
by Carlo Collodi
Written by
  • David I. Stern
Directed byTom Moore[1]
Starring
Narrated byDrew Carey
Theme music composerStephen Schwartz[1]
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerTed Zachary[2]
CinematographyStephen M. Katz
EditorVirginia Katz
Running time89 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkABC
Original release
  • May 7, 2000 (2000-05-07)

Plot

Geppetto (Drew Carey) is a kind toymaker who desperately wishes to become a father. One night, after selling his new spring toys to the children of Villagio, his wish is granted by the Blue Fairy (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who brings his wooden puppet, Pinocchio (Seth Adkins), to life with her magic saying that someday, if he proves himself brave, truthful and unselfish, he will become a real boy.

At first, Geppetto is delighted to have his wish come true, but runs into a string of problems, such as Pinocchio asking unnecessary questions when trying to get to sleep, getting into mischief and wandering off when introducing him to the townspeople, and showing no interest in being a toymaker. The next day, Geppetto sends Pinocchio off to school, telling him to just act like all the other children and he will do fine. However, Pinocchio gets into a fight at school, in which he was imitating all the other children. A disappointed Geppetto takes him home where an unsuccessful puppeteer named Stromboli (Brent Spiner) becomes interested, thinking he would make him a fortune in his puppet shows. Still furious about Pinocchio's misbehavior, Geppetto tries to reason with the Blue Fairy, but she does not believe him. He returns home to apologize to Pinocchio, only to find out he ran away to live with Stromboli. Geppetto decides to say goodbye to Pinocchio by watching him perform in Stromboli's puppet show.

Stromboli is pleased with Pinocchio as his star puppet which has made him much money. But when Pinocchio asks to let him go, Stromboli refuses, stating it would violate a contract they signed. When Geppetto arrives backstage, hoping to say goodbye, Stromboli explains that Pinocchio left after the show, claiming that he wanted to see the world. After he leaves, Stromboli is outraged when he notices that Pinocchio escaped from the cage and spots him boarding a stagecoach to Pleasure Island. He decides to recapture him while Geppetto goes out to rescue him as well, with the Blue Fairy following him, attempting to assist him in his quest. Along the way, he meets an inept magician named Lezarno (Wayne Brady) and Professor Buonragazzo (René Auberjonois) who lives in the town of Idyllia, where he and his son make perfect and ideal children who always obey their parents. Geppetto and Stromboli both arrive at Pleasure Island where Geppetto finds out all the boys turn into donkeys after riding a rollercoaster. But because adults are not allowed in Pleasure Island, Stromboli is kicked out while Geppetto arrives just in time to take Pinocchio home, but Pinocchio refuses, saying he did not want him because of what a big disappointment he was to him and immediately turns into a donkey once he gets on the rollercoaster and is shipped off to sea by boat.

Trying to keep up with the boat, Geppetto accidentally gets swallowed by a monstrous whale. Pinocchio jumps off the boat and into the water where he gets swallowed by the whale as well and the donkey curse washes away. They make up and, noticing that they are inside the whale, they attempt to get out by having Pinocchio tell several lies, causing his nose to grow and tickle the whale's uvula to throw them up. Afterwards, they return to the toy shop where Stromboli arrives to take Pinocchio back, still keeping him under the contract. Geppetto offers him his whole shop in exchange for Pinocchio. As Stromboli captures him, Geppetto begs and pleads to the Blue Fairy, who can no longer help, to grant him one last wish. The Blue Fairy then turns Pinocchio into a real boy with her magic, shoos Stromboli away also with her magic, and changes the words on the sign of Geppetto's shop to "Geppetto & Son".[1]

Cast

Musical numbers
  1. "Once Upon a Time" – Geppetto
  2. "Toys" – Geppetto, town children, parents
  3. "Empty Heart" – Geppetto
  4. "Geppetto and Son" – Geppetto, Pinocchio
  5. "Just Because It's Magic" – Blue Fairy, Geppetto[1]
  6. "I've Got No Strings" – Pinocchio[1]
  7. "Bravo, Stromboli!" – Stromboli[1]
  8. "Toys" (Reprise) – Geppetto, Lezarno
  9. "Satisfaction Guaranteed" – Professor Buonragazzo, Buonragazzo Jr., Idyllia residents
  10. "Just Because It's Magic" (Reprise) – Blue Fairy
  11. "Pleasure Island" – Ringmaster
  12. "And Son" (Whale Reprise) – Pinocchio, Geppetto
  13. "Since I Gave My Heart Away" – Geppetto, Blue Fairy, townspeople
  14. "Since I Gave My Heart Away" (Single Version) – Sonya Isaacs

The soundtrack for Geppetto is available from Walt Disney Records, and it features songs from the film composed by Stephen Schwartz, as well as the single, "Since I Gave My Heart Away" performed by Sonya Isaacs (as heard in the end credits of the movie).

Jerry Mitchell was the film's choreographer.[1]

Home media

Walt Disney Home Video released the film on VHS on May 30, 2000. It was later released to DVD on September 26 of that year, and subsequently reissued on January 13, 2009.

Stage

In 2006, Geppetto was adapted into a stage musical and renamed Disney's My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto's Musical Tale.

Awards
  • Nominated for four Emmy Awards in 2000:
    • Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
    • Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
    • Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries
    • Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
  • Winner of the 2001 Costume Designers Guild Awards for Excellence in Costume Design for Television - Period/Fantasy
  • Winner of two Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards in 2001
    • Best Period Makeup - Television (for a Mini-Series/Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Best Special Makeup Effects - Television (for a Mini-Series/Motion Picture Made for Television)
  • Seth Adkins won the 2000 YoungStar Award for Best Young Actor/Performance in a Miniseries/Made-For-TV Film

References
  1. KING, SUSAN (May 5, 2000). "Drew Carey Thinks 'Geppetto' Is Right on the Nose". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  2. "TELEVISION MOVIES AND MINISERIES, 1999-2000" (PDF). International Television & Video Almanac. 46TH EDITION: 460. 2001. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
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