harm and flattery are the facade for this heartless
showman who burns his puppets for firewood when they've grown too
old to perform. Money is the puppeteer's sole passion, and his
marionettes are only a means to an end. As soon as Stromboli
realizes Pinocchio's carnival potential -- a puppet who can sing
and dance without strings -- he'll stop at nothing. Only kidnapping
can ensure this "little wooden gold mine" keeps performing for him,
whether Pinocchio likes it or not.
Walt Disney's Stromboli is a much more sinister Hollywood villain
than the original character written by Italian author Carlo
Collodi. In the book "the Showman," as he is called, kindly sets
Pinocchio free and even gives him five gold pieces to bring home
for Geppetto. Bill Tytla's forceful animation of Stromboli is
widely regarded as one of the pinnacles of animation acting,
although the famed comedian W.C. Fields was reported to have
criticized Stromboli's performance, saying, "He moves too
much."
Film: "Pinocchio" (1940)
Voice Artist: Charles Judels
harm and flattery are the facade for this heartless
showman who burns his puppets for firewood when they've grown too
old to perform. Money is the puppeteer's sole passion, and his
marionettes are only a means to an end. As soon as Stromboli
realizes Pinocchio's carnival potential -- a puppet who can sing
and dance without strings -- he'll stop at nothing. Only kidnapping
can ensure this "little wooden gold mine" keeps performing for him,
whether Pinocchio likes it or not.
