The Talking Cricket
Encyclopedia
The Talking Cricket is a fictional character who appears in Carlo Collodi
's 1883 book The Adventures of Pinocchio (Le avventure di Pinocchio).
The Cricket reappears subsequently in XIV as a shade
. He appears to Pinocchio in a dark wood, telling him to return home rather than keep an appointment with The Fox and the Cat (Il Gatto e la Volpe), who have deceived Pinocchio into following them on a fool's errand
. Pinocchio refuses, and is subsequently injured in an encounter with two murderers. The Cricket reappears again in chapter XVI, where he is revealed to be a doctor. He, along with his colleagues the crow and the owl, tends to Pinocchio's injuries, though the Cricket reveals his prior experience with the puppet to the others, describing him as "...a disobediant rascal, who will cause his poor father to die heartbroken!"
The Cricket makes his final appearance in chapter XXXVI, where he is shown to be living in a house given to him by The Fairy with Turquoise Hair. He forgives Pinocchio, and allows him and the ailing Geppetto to stay.
My boy, do not trust those who promise to make you rich overnight. They are usually either mad or charlatans! Heed my words, and turn back.- Chapter XIII
Now you call me “your dear little cricket”, true? But do you not recall when, to banish me from your house, you threw a mallet at me?- Chapter XXXVI
, the Talking Cricket is renamed Jiminy Cricket
(voiced by Cliff Edwards
) and is portrayed very differently to the relatively minor character of the book. He takes on a much more prominent role in the film as Pinocchio's inseparable companion and conscience
under instructions from the Fairy with the Turquoise Hair (renamed the Blue Fairy). His relationship with Pinocchio is much less adversarial than in the book. He never provokes Pinocchio to the point of getting himself killed as in the book (although he is still stern when he needs to be), and there is no indication he is as old as the Cricket of the novel. Jiminy Cricket later appeared as the Ghost of Christmas Past in Mickey's Christmas Carol
.
In Giuliano Cencis' 1972 adaptation Un burattino di nome Pinocchio
, the Cricket (voiced by Lauro Gazzolo) though anthropomorphised, differs little from the character of the novel, being stern to Pinocchio, resulting in his death and subsequent reappearance as a shade and later, the owner of a little cottage where Pinocchio and Geppetto lodge at after escaping from the terrible Dogfish, thereupon reminding Pinocchio to change his ways for good. The only difference in characterisation is that he does not reappear in the Fairy's house as a doctor.
In the 1987 film Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night
he appears as an initially wooden cricket made by Geppetto for Pinocchio to play with he comes to life early on and acts as Pinocchio's companion, he is given the name Gee Willickers as it's the first thing Pinocchio says to him. He was voiced by Don Knotts
.
In the 1993 direct to video adaptation from GoodTimes Entertainment
, the Cricket is portrayed very much like Jiminy Cricket; an inseparable companion to Pinocchio, though he acts by his own choice and not under orders from the Blue Fairy.
In Steve Barron
's 1996 live action film The Adventures of Pinocchio, the Cricket is a CGI
character named Pépé, and is voiced by David Doyle
. As with Jiminy Cricket, he is portrayed in a more light hearted manner than his stern book counterpart who dies early in the story. He is an optimistic character who tries to teach Pinocchio that "Miracles don't grow on trees. Miracles are made in the heart!".
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 1883 book The Adventures of Pinocchio (Le avventure di Pinocchio).
Role
The Cricket, who has lived in Geppetto's house for over a century, makes its first appearance in chapter IV where he explains to Pinocchio, whose mischief has landed his creator Geppetto in prison, that he must either attend school or get a job in order to function properly in the world. When Pinocchio refuses to listen, the Cricket expresses sympathy to Pinocchio because "you are a puppet, and what's worse is that you have a head of wood". In response, Pinocchio throws a mallet at the cricket, seemingly killing it.The Cricket reappears subsequently in XIV as a shade
Shade (mythology)
In literature and poetry, a shade can be taken to mean the spirit or ghost of a dead person, residing in the underworld....
. He appears to Pinocchio in a dark wood, telling him to return home rather than keep an appointment with The Fox and the Cat (Il Gatto e la Volpe), who have deceived Pinocchio into following them on a fool's errand
Snipe hunt
A snipe hunt, a form of wild-goose chase that is also known as a fool's errand, is a type of practical joke that involves experienced people making fun of credulous newcomers by giving them an impossible or imaginary task...
. Pinocchio refuses, and is subsequently injured in an encounter with two murderers. The Cricket reappears again in chapter XVI, where he is revealed to be a doctor. He, along with his colleagues the crow and the owl, tends to Pinocchio's injuries, though the Cricket reveals his prior experience with the puppet to the others, describing him as "...a disobediant rascal, who will cause his poor father to die heartbroken!"
The Cricket makes his final appearance in chapter XXXVI, where he is shown to be living in a house given to him by The Fairy with Turquoise Hair. He forgives Pinocchio, and allows him and the ailing Geppetto to stay.
Quotations
Trouble awaits boys who rebel against their parents and capriciously abandon their paternal home! They will never experience goodness in this world, and sooner or later, they will have to pay for it sourly.- Chapter IVMy boy, do not trust those who promise to make you rich overnight. They are usually either mad or charlatans! Heed my words, and turn back.- Chapter XIII
Now you call me “your dear little cricket”, true? But do you not recall when, to banish me from your house, you threw a mallet at me?- Chapter XXXVI
Media portrayals
In the 1940 Disney film PinocchioPinocchio (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...
, the Talking Cricket is renamed Jiminy Cricket
Jiminy Cricket
Jiminy Cricket is the Walt Disney version of "The Talking Cricket" , a fictional character created by Carlo Collodi for his children's book Pinocchio, which was adapted into an animated film by Disney in 1940...
(voiced by Cliff Edwards
Cliff Edwards
Cliff Edwards , also known as "Ukelele Ike", was an American singer and voice actor who enjoyed considerable popularity in the 1920s and early 1930s, specializing in jazzy renditions of pop standards and novelty tunes. He had a number-one hit with "Singin' in the Rain" in 1929...
) and is portrayed very differently to the relatively minor character of the book. He takes on a much more prominent role in the film as Pinocchio's inseparable companion and conscience
Conscience
Conscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong. Moral judgement may derive from values or norms...
under instructions from the Fairy with the Turquoise Hair (renamed the Blue Fairy). His relationship with Pinocchio is much less adversarial than in the book. He never provokes Pinocchio to the point of getting himself killed as in the book (although he is still stern when he needs to be), and there is no indication he is as old as the Cricket of the novel. Jiminy Cricket later appeared as the Ghost of Christmas Past in Mickey's Christmas Carol
Mickey's Christmas Carol
Mickey's Christmas Carol is a 1983 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution Company. It was directed and produced by Burny Mattinson...
.
Un burattino di nome Pinocchio
Pinocchio is a 1972 Italian animated film adaptation of Carlo Collodi's The Adventures of Pinocchio.-Production:...
, the Cricket (voiced by Lauro Gazzolo) though anthropomorphised, differs little from the character of the novel, being stern to Pinocchio, resulting in his death and subsequent reappearance as a shade and later, the owner of a little cottage where Pinocchio and Geppetto lodge at after escaping from the terrible Dogfish, thereupon reminding Pinocchio to change his ways for good. The only difference in characterisation is that he does not reappear in the Fairy's house as a doctor.
In the 1987 film Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night
Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night
Pinocchio and the Emperor of The Night is a 1987 animated film that was released on December 25, 1987 by New World Pictures. and is a unofficial sequel to Pinocchio . Created by the now defunct Filmation Studios, the movie underperformed at the box office, having a cost of $10 million but making...
he appears as an initially wooden cricket made by Geppetto for Pinocchio to play with he comes to life early on and acts as Pinocchio's companion, he is given the name Gee Willickers as it's the first thing Pinocchio says to him. He was voiced by Don Knotts
Don Knotts
Jesse Donald "Don" Knotts was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role which earned him five Emmy Awards...
.
In the 1993 direct to video adaptation from GoodTimes Entertainment
GoodTimes Entertainment
GoodTimes Entertainment, Ltd. was a home video company that originated in 1984 under the name of GoodTimes Home Video. Though it produced its own titles, the company was well-known due to its distribution of media from third parties and classics...
, the Cricket is portrayed very much like Jiminy Cricket; an inseparable companion to Pinocchio, though he acts by his own choice and not under orders from the Blue Fairy.
In Steve Barron
Steve Barron
Steven "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 Cricket is a CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
character named Pépé, and is voiced by David Doyle
David Doyle
David Fitzgerald Doyle was an American actor.-Early life:Doyle was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Mary Ruth and Lewis Raymond Doyle, an attorney. His maternal grandfather, John Fitzgerald, was a prominent railroad builder and banker in Nebraska...
. As with Jiminy Cricket, he is portrayed in a more light hearted manner than his stern book counterpart who dies early in the story. He is an optimistic character who tries to teach Pinocchio that "Miracles don't grow on trees. Miracles are made in the heart!".