Despite some wooden scripting, director Steve Barron’s 1996 children’s movie The Adventures of Pinocchio is still an enchanting live-action version of Italian author Carlo Collodi’s beloved classic book for kids.

Martin Landau is captivating as the poor woodcarver Geppetto, the puppet maker whose marionette comes to life thanks to magic trick work by Industrial Light and Magic. Naturally, puppet Pinocchio wants to become a real boy one day and enjoys mischievous adventures.

Udo Keir amuses as Lorenzini, the evil showman who plots to own the nosy Pinocchio.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas provides the voice of Pinocchio.

Also in the cast are Geneviève Bujold, Bebe Neuwirth, Corey Carter, John Sessions, Rob Schneider, Dawn French, Griff Rhys Jones and Jean-Claude Drouot.

The Adventures of Pinocchio is based on Carlo Collodi’s classic novel for children Le avventure di Pinocchio, with script is by Sherry Mills, Steve Barron, Tom Benedek and Barry Berman. The first half of Pinocchio was a serial in 1881 and 1882, published as The Tale of a Puppet (La storia di un burattino) and completed as a book for children in February 1883. It is the most translated Italian book.

The 1940 Disney animation is still the classic version of Pinocchio.

It was announced in October 2018 that Guillermo del Toro is remaking Pinocchio for Netflix.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5079

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An illustration from the original 1883 edition of Pinocchio by Enrico Mazzanti.