Christmas Specials Wiki
Register
Christmas Specials Wiki
(ABC Family doesn't seem to be showing it this year.)
No edit summary
Tag: Visual edit
(29 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{title
 
{{title
 
|image=Title-pinocchio.jpg
 
|image=Title-pinocchio.jpg
|director={{w|Jules Bass}}<br />{{w|Arthur Rankin Jr.}}
+
|director={{W|Arthur Rankin Jr.}}<br>{{W|Jules Bass}}
 
|writer=[[Romeo Muller]]
 
|writer=[[Romeo Muller]]
 
|release=December 3, 1980
 
|release=December 3, 1980
|runtime=49 minutes
+
|runtime=52 minutes
 
|rating=TV-G
 
|rating=TV-G
|available=VHS<br />DVD<br />[https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/pinocchios-christmas/id376463245 iTunes]
+
|available=VHS<br>DVD<br>[https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/pinocchios-christmas/id376463245 Apple TV]<br>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B00CB3B7BU Amazon Video]}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is a 1980 [[Christmas]] television special produced by [[Rankin/Bass]], based loosely on the novel ''{{w|The Adventures of Pinocchio}}'' by {{w|Carlo Collodi}}.
}}
 
'''''Pinocchio's Christmas''''' is a 1980 [[Christmas]] television special produced by [[Rankin/Bass]], based loosely on the novel ''[[wikipedia:The Adventures of Pinocchio|The Adventures of Pinocchio]]'' by [[wikipedia:Carlo Collodi|Carlo Collodi]].
 
   
 
==Synopsis==
 
==Synopsis==
[[File:Pinocchio.jpg|thumb|300px|Pinocchio as he appears in the special.]]
+
[[File:Pinocchio.jpg|thumb|250px|Pinocchio as he appears in the special.]]
 
It is [[Pinocchio]]'s first Christmas, and [[Geppetto]] is trying to figure out how to buy a Christmas present for his son, so he sells his boots to a used shoe store and uses the money to buy an arithmetic book, which he gives to Pinocchio early. Pinocchio, however, brings the book back to the bookseller for five copper coins, which he decides to use to buy a present for Geppetto. However, he soon runs into the Fox and Cat, whom he thinks are his only friends. The Fox and Cat convince Pinocchio that he should bury his five coins in the snow, and when the sun sets, they will grow into a Christmas tree covered with lots of gold and silver coins. Pinocchio does exactly that, and then, while he's not there to pay attention, the Fox and Cat dig the coins out of the ground before he returns.
 
It is [[Pinocchio]]'s first Christmas, and [[Geppetto]] is trying to figure out how to buy a Christmas present for his son, so he sells his boots to a used shoe store and uses the money to buy an arithmetic book, which he gives to Pinocchio early. Pinocchio, however, brings the book back to the bookseller for five copper coins, which he decides to use to buy a present for Geppetto. However, he soon runs into the Fox and Cat, whom he thinks are his only friends. The Fox and Cat convince Pinocchio that he should bury his five coins in the snow, and when the sun sets, they will grow into a Christmas tree covered with lots of gold and silver coins. Pinocchio does exactly that, and then, while he's not there to pay attention, the Fox and Cat dig the coins out of the ground before he returns.
   
  +
[[File:pinocchio6.gif|thumb|250px]]
 
When Pinocchio returns and finds that the tree didn't grow, he takes part in a local Christmas marionette show run by Maestro Fire-Eater, where he is given the stage name of Sir Larry Olive-Tree. During the show, he befriends a non-sentient female puppet of Fire-Eater, named Julietta. After the show, Fire-Eater tells Pinocchio that he needs to change the Julietta puppet to resemble one of the Three Wise Men for a Christmas pageant next week. But Pinocchio runs off, taking Julietta with him, and Fire-Eater calls a nearby gendarme to chase after him.
 
When Pinocchio returns and finds that the tree didn't grow, he takes part in a local Christmas marionette show run by Maestro Fire-Eater, where he is given the stage name of Sir Larry Olive-Tree. During the show, he befriends a non-sentient female puppet of Fire-Eater, named Julietta. After the show, Fire-Eater tells Pinocchio that he needs to change the Julietta puppet to resemble one of the Three Wise Men for a Christmas pageant next week. But Pinocchio runs off, taking Julietta with him, and Fire-Eater calls a nearby gendarme to chase after him.
   
Line 20: Line 19:
 
Before Pinocchio can get started on that journey, though, a blue light appears, calling out his name. It is soon revealed that the blue light is a fairy named Lady Azora, who planted the seed that grew into the tree Pinocchio was originally born on. She brings in a doctor, whom Pinocchio recognizes as the Talking Cricket he met before. Pinocchio attempts to explain his terrible action of stealing Julietta from Fire-Eater by lying, which causes his nose to grow. Upon seeing what has happened to his nose, Pinocchio tells the truth and it goes back to normal. Azora tells Pinocchio that the only gift he really needs to give Geppetto is love, for that is the greatest gift anyone can give. With that, Pinocchio leaves Julietta in Lady Azora's care, and Dr. Cricket goes to make sure Pinocchio stays out of trouble.
 
Before Pinocchio can get started on that journey, though, a blue light appears, calling out his name. It is soon revealed that the blue light is a fairy named Lady Azora, who planted the seed that grew into the tree Pinocchio was originally born on. She brings in a doctor, whom Pinocchio recognizes as the Talking Cricket he met before. Pinocchio attempts to explain his terrible action of stealing Julietta from Fire-Eater by lying, which causes his nose to grow. Upon seeing what has happened to his nose, Pinocchio tells the truth and it goes back to normal. Azora tells Pinocchio that the only gift he really needs to give Geppetto is love, for that is the greatest gift anyone can give. With that, Pinocchio leaves Julietta in Lady Azora's care, and Dr. Cricket goes to make sure Pinocchio stays out of trouble.
   
  +
[[File:Dancin.jpeg|thumb|250px]]
Pinocchio starts making his way home, but he suddenly again runs into the Fox and Cat, who say that he should go to the North Pole and get a job teaching [[Santa Claus]]'s toys how to dance (the fantasy song sequence that follows is cut from the special's broadcasts on {{w|ABC Family}}). They bring Pinocchio to a coachman they were speaking with earlier; the coachman wraps Pinocchio up in a gift box and sells it to a Duke who needs a present to give to his children, whom he does not spend much time with. When the kids open up their present, Pinocchio tells the Duke that he should stay home with his kids for Christmas.
+
Pinocchio starts making his way home, but he suddenly again runs into the Fox and Cat, who say that he should go to the North Pole and get a job teaching [[Santa Claus]]'s toys how to dance (the fantasy song sequence that follows was cut from the special's broadcasts on {{w|ABC Family}}). They bring Pinocchio to a coachman they were speaking with earlier; the coachman wraps Pinocchio up in a gift box and sells it to a Duke who needs a present to give to his children, whom he does not spend much time with. When the kids open up their present, Pinocchio tells the Duke that he should stay home with his kids for Christmas.
   
 
Afterward, Santa Claus arrives in his sleigh and brings Pinocchio and Dr. Cricket back to Geppetto's workshop, where Pinocchio is joyously reunited with his father and promises to always be a good boy. Lady Azora then arrives with a now-sentient Julietta, and they all sit down to Christmas breakfast. During the meal, Lady Azora tells Pinocchio that while he may have many other misadventures (such as getting turned into a donkey and getting swallowed by the Terrible Dogfish), he will never again stray from the path of being a good boy, and eventually, he may one day turn into a real human boy.
 
Afterward, Santa Claus arrives in his sleigh and brings Pinocchio and Dr. Cricket back to Geppetto's workshop, where Pinocchio is joyously reunited with his father and promises to always be a good boy. Lady Azora then arrives with a now-sentient Julietta, and they all sit down to Christmas breakfast. During the meal, Lady Azora tells Pinocchio that while he may have many other misadventures (such as getting turned into a donkey and getting swallowed by the Terrible Dogfish), he will never again stray from the path of being a good boy, and eventually, he may one day turn into a real human boy.
   
 
==Songs==
 
==Songs==
*"[[I Never Know What Gifts To Buy, Do You?]]"
+
*"[[I Never Know What Gifts To Buy, Do You?|I Never Know What Gifts To Buy]]"
*"[[Gonna Get Lucky, Knock On Wood]]"
+
*"[[Gonna Get Lucky, Knock On Wood|Knock On Wood]]"
 
*"[[Let 'Em Laugh]]"
 
*"[[Let 'Em Laugh]]"
 
*"[[It's The Truth]]"
 
*"[[It's The Truth]]"
Line 35: Line 35:
   
 
==Broadcast history and availability==
 
==Broadcast history and availability==
This special originally aired on [[wikipedia:American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] and later aired annually on {{w|ABC Family}} as a part of the [[25 Days of Christmas]] programming block until 2014.
+
This special originally aired on {{W|American Broadcasting Company|ABC}}. It was re-aired annually on {{W|Freeform (TV channel)|ABC Family}} (and its predecessors) from the 1990s through 2013, and appeared again in 2015, before dropping from the network entirely. As of 2019, it currently airs on the {{W|AMC (TV channel)|AMC}} channel as part of their [[Best Christmas Ever]] block.
   
''Pinocchio's Christmas'' has been released on VHS at least twice over the years, originally by {{w|Vestron Video}} and later by {{w|Warner Home Video}}. Currently, it has never had its own individual DVD release, but it was made available on Warner's ''Classic Christmas Favorites'' DVD box set in 2008, and on the ''Santa's Magical Stories'' DVD box set in 2011. Its most recent DVD release was in the ''Rankin/Bass TV Holiday Favorites Collection'' manufacture-on-demand DVD, released by {{w|Warner Archive Collection|Warner Archive}} on July 30, 2012.
+
''{{PAGENAME}}'' has been released on VHS at least twice over the years, originally by {{w|Vestron Video}} and later by {{w|Warner Home Entertainment|Warner Home Video}}. Currently, it has never had its own individual DVD release, but it was made available on Warner's ''Classic Christmas Favorites'' DVD box set in 2008, and on the ''Santa's Magical Stories'' DVD box set in 2011, both times sharing its disc with ''[[How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)|How the Grinch Stole Christmas!]]'' and ''[[The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold]]''. Its most recent DVD release was in the ''Rankin/Bass TV Holiday Favorites Collection'' manufacture-on-demand DVD, released by {{w|Warner Archive}} on July 30, 2012.
   
<gallery captionalign="center" widths="210" position="center" bordersize="none" spacing="small" hideaddbutton="true">
+
<gallery widths=200 bordercolor=transparent spacing=small>
PinocchiosChristmas_Vestron_VHS.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS|Vestron Video<br />1991}}
+
PinocchiosChristmas Vestron VHS.jpg|{{GNH|VHS|Vestron Video<br>September 5, 1991}}
PinChristmas1999.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS|Warner Home Video<br />December 21, 1993}}
+
PinChristmas1999.jpg|{{GNH|VHS|Warner Home Video<br>December 21, 1993}}
RankinBass_TV_Holiday_Favorites_Collection.jpg|{{Gallery note|''Rankin/Bass TV Holiday Favorites Collection'' DVD|Warner Home Video<br />July 30, 2012}}
+
Classicchristmasfavorites.jpg|{{GNH|''Classic Christmas Favorites'' DVD|Warner Home Video<br>October 7, 2008}}
  +
SantasMagicalStories.jpg|{{GNH|''Santa's Magical Stories'' DVD|Warner Home Video<br>October 4, 2011}}
  +
RankinBass TV Holiday Favorites Collection.jpg|{{GNH|''Rankin/Bass TV Holiday Favorites Collection'' DVD|Warner Home Video<br>July 30, 2012}}
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
 
==Cast==
 
==Cast==
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
+
{| class=wikitable
! Voice actor !! Character
+
! Voice actor/actress !! Character(s)
 
|-
 
|-
| Todd Porter || [[Pinocchio]]
+
| {{W|Todd Porter}} || [[Pinocchio]]
 
|-
 
|-
| Alan King || Maestro Fire-Eater
+
| {{W|Alan King}} || Maestro Fire-Eater
 
|-
 
|-
| George S. Irving || [[Geppetto]]
+
| {{W|George S. Irving}} || [[Geppetto]]
 
|-
 
|-
| Bob McFadden || Dr. Cricket
+
| {{W|Bob McFadden}} || Dr. Cricket
 
|-
 
|-
| Pat Bright || voice
+
| Pat Bright || ''Unknown''
  +
|-valign=top
  +
| {{W|Allen Swift}} || Fox
 
|-valign="top"
 
|-valign="top"
| Allen Swift || Fox<br />Santa Claus
+
|[[Paul Frees]] || [[Santa Claus]]<br />Mr. Cherry
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Diane Leslie || Lady Azora
 
| Diane Leslie || Lady Azora
 
|-
 
|-
| Gerry Matthews || voice
+
| Gerry Matthews || ''Unknown''
 
|-
 
|-
| Ray Owens || voice
+
| Ray Owens || ''Unknown''
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Tiffany Blake || Child
 
| Tiffany Blake || Child
Line 75: Line 79:
   
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
* {{imdb title|0081340}}
+
*{{imdb title|0081340}}
* {{bcdb title|27850}}
+
*{{bcdb title|27850}}
  +
{{rankinbass}}
 
  +
{{Rankinbass}}
  +
{{Italic title}}
 
[[Category:Specials]]
 
[[Category:Specials]]
 
[[Category:Rankin/Bass]]
 
[[Category:Rankin/Bass]]
 
[[Category:Originally aired on ABC]]
 
[[Category:Originally aired on ABC]]
[[Category:Released in the 1980s]]
+
[[Category:1980 releases]]
 
[[Category:Santa Claus filmography]]
 
[[Category:Santa Claus filmography]]
[[Category:Warner Home Video]]
+
[[Category:Musicals]]
  +
[[Category:Films and specials based on books]]
  +
[[Category:Warner Home Entertainment]]

Revision as of 00:49, 6 January 2020

Pinocchio's Christmas is a 1980 Christmas television special produced by Rankin/Bass, based loosely on the novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.

Synopsis

Pinocchio

Pinocchio as he appears in the special.

It is Pinocchio's first Christmas, and Geppetto is trying to figure out how to buy a Christmas present for his son, so he sells his boots to a used shoe store and uses the money to buy an arithmetic book, which he gives to Pinocchio early. Pinocchio, however, brings the book back to the bookseller for five copper coins, which he decides to use to buy a present for Geppetto. However, he soon runs into the Fox and Cat, whom he thinks are his only friends. The Fox and Cat convince Pinocchio that he should bury his five coins in the snow, and when the sun sets, they will grow into a Christmas tree covered with lots of gold and silver coins. Pinocchio does exactly that, and then, while he's not there to pay attention, the Fox and Cat dig the coins out of the ground before he returns.

Pinocchio6

When Pinocchio returns and finds that the tree didn't grow, he takes part in a local Christmas marionette show run by Maestro Fire-Eater, where he is given the stage name of Sir Larry Olive-Tree. During the show, he befriends a non-sentient female puppet of Fire-Eater, named Julietta. After the show, Fire-Eater tells Pinocchio that he needs to change the Julietta puppet to resemble one of the Three Wise Men for a Christmas pageant next week. But Pinocchio runs off, taking Julietta with him, and Fire-Eater calls a nearby gendarme to chase after him.

Pinocchio manages to elude the gendarmes and brings Julietta with him to the Forest of Enchantment, which he recognizes as his birthplace. Pinocchio explains his backstory - how he was cut down as a log from an enchanted tree and sold to a master carpenter named Mr. Cherry, who sold him to Geppetto, who built Pinocchio into a marionette and raised him as his son. Pinocchio then describes how he always ended up getting into trouble and no one in the village ever got along with him, except for the Fox and Cat who have been teaching him to tell lies and play hooky. He also mentions his first encounter with the Talking Cricket, who tried to lecture him about being a good boy until Pinocchio tossed a book at him. As he finishes his flashback, Pinocchio expresses sadness at the idea that he may never see his father again. Just then, the Fox and the Cat show up, telling Pinocchio they know how he can bring Julietta to life using a secret medicine, which he can only find if he goes on a sleigh ride over seven mountains and seven valleys.

Before Pinocchio can get started on that journey, though, a blue light appears, calling out his name. It is soon revealed that the blue light is a fairy named Lady Azora, who planted the seed that grew into the tree Pinocchio was originally born on. She brings in a doctor, whom Pinocchio recognizes as the Talking Cricket he met before. Pinocchio attempts to explain his terrible action of stealing Julietta from Fire-Eater by lying, which causes his nose to grow. Upon seeing what has happened to his nose, Pinocchio tells the truth and it goes back to normal. Azora tells Pinocchio that the only gift he really needs to give Geppetto is love, for that is the greatest gift anyone can give. With that, Pinocchio leaves Julietta in Lady Azora's care, and Dr. Cricket goes to make sure Pinocchio stays out of trouble.

Dancin

Pinocchio starts making his way home, but he suddenly again runs into the Fox and Cat, who say that he should go to the North Pole and get a job teaching Santa Claus's toys how to dance (the fantasy song sequence that follows was cut from the special's broadcasts on ABC Family). They bring Pinocchio to a coachman they were speaking with earlier; the coachman wraps Pinocchio up in a gift box and sells it to a Duke who needs a present to give to his children, whom he does not spend much time with. When the kids open up their present, Pinocchio tells the Duke that he should stay home with his kids for Christmas.

Afterward, Santa Claus arrives in his sleigh and brings Pinocchio and Dr. Cricket back to Geppetto's workshop, where Pinocchio is joyously reunited with his father and promises to always be a good boy. Lady Azora then arrives with a now-sentient Julietta, and they all sit down to Christmas breakfast. During the meal, Lady Azora tells Pinocchio that while he may have many other misadventures (such as getting turned into a donkey and getting swallowed by the Terrible Dogfish), he will never again stray from the path of being a good boy, and eventually, he may one day turn into a real human boy.

Songs

Broadcast history and availability

This special originally aired on ABC. It was re-aired annually on ABC Family (and its predecessors) from the 1990s through 2013, and appeared again in 2015, before dropping from the network entirely. As of 2019, it currently airs on the AMC channel as part of their Best Christmas Ever block.

Pinocchio's Christmas has been released on VHS at least twice over the years, originally by Vestron Video and later by Warner Home Video. Currently, it has never had its own individual DVD release, but it was made available on Warner's Classic Christmas Favorites DVD box set in 2008, and on the Santa's Magical Stories DVD box set in 2011, both times sharing its disc with How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold. Its most recent DVD release was in the Rankin/Bass TV Holiday Favorites Collection manufacture-on-demand DVD, released by Warner Archive on July 30, 2012.

Cast

Voice actor/actress Character(s)
Todd Porter Pinocchio
Alan King Maestro Fire-Eater
George S. Irving Geppetto
Bob McFadden Dr. Cricket
Pat Bright Unknown
Allen Swift Fox
Paul Frees Santa Claus
Mr. Cherry
Diane Leslie Lady Azora
Gerry Matthews Unknown
Ray Owens Unknown
Tiffany Blake Child
Carl Tramon Child
Alice Gayle Child

External links

Rankin/Bass
Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerCricket on the HearthThe Little Drummer BoyFrosty the SnowmanSanta Claus is Comin' to Town • "A Christmas Tree" • 'Twas the Night Before ChristmasThe Year Without a Santa ClausThe First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas SnowFrosty's Winter WonderlandRudolph's Shiny New YearThe Little Drummer Boy, Book IINestor, the Long-Eared Christmas DonkeyThe Stingiest Man in TownRudolph and Frosty's Christmas in JulyJack FrostPinocchio's ChristmasThe Leprechauns' Christmas GoldThe Life and Adventures of Santa ClausSanta, Baby!