The Coachman
Encyclopedia
The Coachman also known as The Little Man (L'Omino), is a fictional character who appears in Carlo Collodi
's book The Adventures of Pinocchio (Le avventure di Pinocchio).
The coachman is introduced in chapter XXXI, and is described as thus:
The coachman’s name is never revealed, though he identifies himself in Chapter XXXII as merely “The Little Man” (L’Omino). He drives to Busy Bee Island (Isola delle Api Industriose) on a coach pulled by twenty four donkeys which mysteriously wear white shoes on their hooves. By the time he arrives to take Pinocchio and Candlewick
to the Land of Toys (Il Paese dei Balocchi), his carriage is completely packed, leaving Candlewick to sit in front with him and Pinocchio to ride one of the donkey
s. The donkey throws Pinocchio off, and is reproached by the coachman, who bites half its right ear off. When Pinocchio remounts the donkey, the animal begins to weep like a human, and warns Pinocchio of the impending danger he faces. The coachman again reproaches the animal by biting off half its other ear. The coachman proceeds to take the children to the Land of Toys, whilst singing to himself:
“All night they sleep
And I never sleep…”
In chapter XXXII, the coachman visits Pinocchio and Candlewick five months later, when they have finally become donkeys due to their idleness. He violently breaks into their house, meticulously waxes their fur, and puts them on sale. Candlewick is bought by a farmer, while Pinocchio is bought by a circus
ringleader.
, where he is voiced by Charles Judels
, who also voiced Stromboli. Unlike L'Omino who worked alone, Disney's Coachman enlists Honest John
and Gideon
to help him lure wayward boys to take to "Pleasure Island
" and ultimately turn them into donkeys to sell. It is also shown that he has numerous silent, black, ape-like henchmen working for him on the island. Unlike the book's "Little Man", Disney's Coachman is large, physically imposing, and has a harsh, rather than alluring voice along with a Cockney
accent. Though physically and verbally abusive toward the children-turned donkeys, he does not go as far as mutilating them as in the book. Like all the villains of the film, apart from possibly Monstro, the Coachman's ultimate fate is never revealed.
Carlo Collodi
Carlo Lorenzini , better known by the pen name Carlo Collodi, was an Italian children's writer known for the world-renowned fairy tale novel, The Adventures of Pinocchio.-Biography:...
's book The Adventures of Pinocchio (Le avventure di Pinocchio).
Role
The coachman’s name is never revealed, though he identifies himself in Chapter XXXII as merely “The Little Man” (L’Omino). He drives to Busy Bee Island (Isola delle Api Industriose) on a coach pulled by twenty four donkeys which mysteriously wear white shoes on their hooves. By the time he arrives to take Pinocchio and Candlewick
Candlewick (Pinocchio character)
Candlewick is a fictional character who appears in Carlo Collodi's book The Adventures of Pinocchio .-Role:...
to the Land of Toys (Il Paese dei Balocchi), his carriage is completely packed, leaving Candlewick to sit in front with him and Pinocchio to ride one of the donkey
Donkey
The donkey or ass, Equus africanus asinus, is a domesticated member of the Equidae or horse family. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African Wild Ass, E...
s. The donkey throws Pinocchio off, and is reproached by the coachman, who bites half its right ear off. When Pinocchio remounts the donkey, the animal begins to weep like a human, and warns Pinocchio of the impending danger he faces. The coachman again reproaches the animal by biting off half its other ear. The coachman proceeds to take the children to the Land of Toys, whilst singing to himself:
“All night they sleep
And I never sleep…”
In chapter XXXII, the coachman visits Pinocchio and Candlewick five months later, when they have finally become donkeys due to their idleness. He violently breaks into their house, meticulously waxes their fur, and puts them on sale. Candlewick is bought by a farmer, while Pinocchio is bought by a circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
ringleader.
In Disney version
The Coachman appears in the 1940 Disney film adaptationPinocchio (1940 film)
Pinocchio is a 1940 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and based on the story The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. It is the second film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics, and it was made after the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and was released to theaters by...
, where he is voiced by Charles Judels
Charles Judels
Charles Judels was a Dutch-born American film actor. He appeared in 137 films between 1915 and 1949. He also did extensive work as a voice-over actor in animated films, notably as the voice of Stromboli in Walt Disney's Pinocchio, and in the Warner Brothers Looney Tunes short Porky's Garden.He was...
, who also voiced Stromboli. Unlike L'Omino who worked alone, Disney's Coachman enlists Honest John
Foulfellow and Gideon
The Fox and the Cat are a pair of fictional characters who appear in Carlo Collodi's book The Adventures of Pinocchio . Both are depicted as con-men, who lead Pinocchio astray and unsuccessfully attempt to murder him. The pair pretend to sport disabilities; the Fox lameness and the Cat blindness...
and Gideon
Foulfellow and Gideon
The Fox and the Cat are a pair of fictional characters who appear in Carlo Collodi's book The Adventures of Pinocchio . Both are depicted as con-men, who lead Pinocchio astray and unsuccessfully attempt to murder him. The pair pretend to sport disabilities; the Fox lameness and the Cat blindness...
to help him lure wayward boys to take to "Pleasure Island
Pleasure Island (Pinocchio)
The Land of Toys is a fictional location in the novel The Adventures of Pinocchio. In the Disney film adaptation of the novel, the land is renamed as Pleasure Island...
" and ultimately turn them into donkeys to sell. It is also shown that he has numerous silent, black, ape-like henchmen working for him on the island. Unlike the book's "Little Man", Disney's Coachman is large, physically imposing, and has a harsh, rather than alluring voice along with a Cockney
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
accent. Though physically and verbally abusive toward the children-turned donkeys, he does not go as far as mutilating them as in the book. Like all the villains of the film, apart from possibly Monstro, the Coachman's ultimate fate is never revealed.
Other appearances
- In Giuliano Cencis 1972 adaptation Un burattino di nome PinocchioUn burattino di nome PinocchioPinocchio is a 1972 Italian animated film adaptation of Carlo Collodi's The Adventures of Pinocchio.-Production:...
, the Coachman, voiced by Gianni Bonagura, is portrayed much more closely to the book than his Disney counterpart. Like the Omino of the book, Cenci's Coachman works alone, and he is portrayed as an effeminate and alluring character with a high pitched voice, who easily tricks Pinocchio and Candlewick to come to the Land of Toys. However, he is not portrayed as violently as in the book.
- In Steve BarronSteve BarronSteven "Steve" Barron is a director and producer, best known for directing the films Coneheads , Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the innovative music videos for a-ha's "Take on Me" and Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean"....
's 1996 live action film The Adventures of Pinocchio, the Coachman's role is fused with that of Mangiafuoco (renamed Lorenzini), who is played by Udo KierUdo KierUdo Kier is a German actor, known primarily for his work in horror and exploitation movies.-Early life:...
. After Pinocchio accidentally sets Lorenzini's theatre on fire, Lorenzini changes career and begins luring unruly children to pleasure island, taking on the role originally filled by The Coachman. There, the children inevitably drink cursed water which turns them into donkeys. Lorenzini, during a struggle with Pinocchio, falls into the water and turns into The Terrible DogfishThe Terrible DogfishThe Terrible Dogfish is a fictional sea monster which appears in Carlo Collodi's book The Adventures of Pinocchio . It is described as being larger than a five story building, a kilometre long and sporting a mouth with three rows of teeth that can easily accommodate a whole train...
.
- In GeppettoGeppetto (TV musical)Geppetto is a 2000 made-for-television remake of the popular children’s book The Adventures of Pinocchio starring Drew Carey and Julia Louis-Dreyfus...
, the Coachman is renamed the Ringleader and is played by Usher.
- In the 1999 live action film "Pinocchio" The coachman is renamed Mr. Gypsy. He is very similar to the coachman in the 1940 Walt Disney film with a rough hoarse voice and tricks Pinocchio into being transformed into a donkey until he is rescued by the Magic Fairy.