Pinocchio
and his Magic Show

(aka PINOCCHIO'S STORYBOOK ADVENTURES)
(1976, U.S.) color live-action/animated 79 minutes
Production Company: Pinocchio Shows, A division of Arrow Film Associates /
Ron Merk Productions
Puppets designed and operated by James Racioppi, Gary Max Goe
Music: Sebastian de Grazia Jr.
Songs: Joseph Scott, Ron Merk, Sebastian de Grazia Jr.
Edited by Jedidiah Horovitz
Cinematography: Paul Glickman
Animation Directors (DEFA): Monica Anderson, Gunter Ratz
Screenplay: Ron Merk
Produced by Ron Merk
Directed by Ron Merk

With: John Fields (Papa Gepetto), Armand MacKinnon (Maestro Eisenbeiss), Owen Edwards (Cargill), and the children: Krista Peters, Cherryl Bott, Erin Merk, Noelle Kelly, Timothy Caughey, Michael Caughey, Jonas Merk

Voices: Ellen Prince (Pinocchio), Francis Sorvino, Robert Kerman, David Matson, Thomas A. Farrington

Plot Outline: On a stormy day, Papa Gepetto and beloved puppet-son Pinocchio prepare for a magic show, which is to be put on by good neighbor Master Eisenbeiss. Pinocchio visits Eisnenbeiss to offer his help, and is stunned to find that the venerable magician has a terrible cold! After much arguing, Pinocchio is allowed to put on the show for him. At the theatre, the village children arrive, while Pinocchio wrestles with some annoying pre-production problems. Finally "Adventures in Magic land" is ready, and Pinocchio presents three wonderful stories via Eisenbeiss' "Magic Screen". The stories, "Bootsman on the Ice," "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Three Woodsman", enchant the children, and even Eisenbeiss and his doubting assistant Thomas, who have come to see how Pinocchio fares, are impressed by the young lad's fortitude and professionalism.

***

PINOCCHIO AND HIS MAGIC SHOW, the third installment in Ron Merk's delightful Pinocchio trilogy, is a return to the wonderful ambience of PINOCCHIO'S BIRTHDAY PARTY, and gives us the chance to see more wonderful puppet animation to boot.

Although filmed on a minimal budget, Merk as usual gets the most out of his resources, and presents a thoroughly enjoyable entertainment for kids and the young at heart. Like its predecessor PINOCCHIO'S BIRTHDAY PARTY, PINOCCHIO AND HIS MAGIC SHOW is another entirely studio-bound production, with quaint sets and some engaging miniatures work.

Even in this micro-budget framework, PINOCCHIO AND HIS MAGIC SHOW's screenplay takes great pains to attend to Pinocchio's character development, as he makes a great leap in maturity by tackling tasks in the grown-up world, and coming out a winner. (Ironically, after being apprised of all the troubles Merk had getting this third Pinocchio fantasy finished, his trials definitely parallel that of his burdened but victorious protagonist! Read our exclusive interview with filmmaker Ron Merk, and see if you agree!)

The most eccentric live characters in PINOCCHIO AND HIS MAGIC SHOW are Maestro Eisenbeiss and his most curmudgeonly assistant, a truly "doubting" Thomas. The constant bickering between these two suggests a strained relationship that has gone on too long; only the "fresh blood" of Pinocchio succeeds in whipping them out of their old habits.

The DEFA puppet films, "Bootsman on the Ice," "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Three Woodsman" are, as always, charming and unusual and evoke a sense of wonder that was quickly fading from U.S. fantasy films.

The credits sequence is filmed over a montage of children riding a carousel, a wonderful bit of cinema. PINOCCHIO AND HIS MAGIC SHOW is a fitting tag to the Pinocchio trilogy, and a movie we are very fond of.

Please note: Due to legal problems between Merk's company and the original distributor, First American Films, there are a number of companies who "claim" to have distribution rights. As of the moment, Merk is taking one of them to Federal Court in New York State to halt the distribution. After this case comes to an end, Merk is planning to re-release the film in a specially-prepared DVD, with bonus material including behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with Ellen Prince, the voice of Pinocchio, as well as Jimmy Racioppi, the creator of the Pinocchio puppet. Also to be included will be a gallery of stills taken during the shooting. More news soon.

In the 1980's VCI Video released PINOCCHIO AND HIS MAGIC SHOW, under the title PINOCCHIO'S STORYBOOK ADVENTURES.

Video/DVD availability: VHS (VCI)