Hi Diddle Dee Dee!

Another great Disney film and another of the older classic ones! In fact this particular one is really one of the older ones as it is the 2nd ever Disney animated film. This is Pinocchio which I'm sure many of us will have seen at some point during either our own childhood or with children. The film was released in 1940.

The plot:
Pinocchio is a wooden toy made by toymaker Gepetto. After he is finished making him he comments on how nice it would be if he was a 'real boy' and then after seeing a wishing star he makes a wish that this would come true! That night a fairy comes into Gepetto's and grants him his wish. She gives Pinocchio the gift of life and tells him that if he is a good boy who is brave, truthful and unselfish he will someday be a real boy instead of a wooden boy. She gives Jiminy Cricket the job of being his conscience who tries to teach him right from wrong. We then follow Pinocchio as he goes off to have his first day at school - he is distracted along the way though and meets Honest John who persuades him to come along and join the circus where he is then held captive.

Will Pinocchio be able to get back to his Gepetto and will Jiminy Cricket be able to help him?

Cast:
Plenty of voices for this film who did the characters speaking parts with all the main ones listed below -

Pinocchio - Dickie Jones
Gepetto - Christian Rub
Jiminy Cricket - Cliff Edwards
The fairy - Evelyn Venable
Lampwick - Frankie Darro
Honest John - Walter Catlett
The coachman/Stromboli - Charles Judels
Figaro/Cleo/Gideon - Mel Blanc

Most of the actors in this Disney film were not used in further Disney animated films apart from Cliff Edwards who still did the voice of Jiminy Cricket in further Disney productions. However, the man who did the character sounds of Figaro, Cleo and Gideon later went on to do lots of voice parts for plenty of other cartoon characters including Daffy Duck, Pluto, Barney Rubble and Bugs Bunny!

Extras:
The DVD I have is a special edition so includes some extras. These are listed below -
The search for Jiminy Cricket - a game suitable for young children.
A wish come true: The making of Pinocchio
Storyboard to final film comparison
Original 1940's theatrical trailer
Two sing along songs which are: Figaro and Cleo/ Little wooden head
Two short cartoons which are: 'I'm no fool having fun' and 'I'm no fool with fire'

Overall opinion:
Pinocchio is another one of those Disney films that most people will have seen because of it being only the 2nd one that came out. It really is a fun film although for very young children there are a couple of parts that may be a little scary. However the film also carries a very important lesson in life that children will learn such as not talking to strangers and being a good person by doing what is right over wrong.
There are plenty of songs in this film with classics such as 'Give a little whistle!' and 'Hi Diddle Dee Dee' which will both have your feet tapping along! Also I think when anyone thinks of Pinocchio they always think of his long nose which grew when he told a lie! I know that's what I always think of!! A recommended Disney film by me.

The film is rated U so is suitable for everyone and a copy of the DVD can be picked up for around the £12 mark on various online stores.