MovieChat Forums > Pinocchio (1940) Discussion > Lampwick Was His Friend

Lampwick Was His Friend

posted 8 years ago by karloffornia-1
18 replies | jump to latest

This always bothered me about the film. Pinocchio and Jiminy are jerks.

Sure, Lampwick was a bad influence, but he and Pinocchio really did get along and where friends. And yet while Lampwick is changing into a donkey and crying for Pinocchio to "be a pal", Pinocchio just backs away from him and watches. Doesn't even try to comfort his friend. Even while Lampwick is seriously pawing at Pinocchio.

And what's worse is that they LEAVE him there. A guy that Pinocchio called his "best friend". Sure, they wanted to save themselves, but what happened to being "brave and unselfish". It seemed like a selfish, cowardly move to leave the one donkey kid behind that they could rescue (Pinocchio's friend, no less) just because they were afraid they couldn't get away. Lampwick really didn't deserve what he got. Poor fellow.

I dunno. Pinocchio and Jiminy seem like the real jackasses to me -_-

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[–] Weber4278 8 years ago

Their was nothing they could do for Lampwick at that time, and Pinocchio didn't have much longer himself...they HAD to get out of their fast or it would have been too late for Pinocchio as well. Yeah Lampwick didn't deserve what happened to him, none of the boys did, but their was nothing Pinocchio could do to help them, he had to save himself.

And I don't think Lampwick was a real friend, or at least he wasn't 'good' for Pinocchio. He was friendly to Pinocchio but he was bad news, he was leading Pinocchio futher down the wrong path.

Sometimes in life you have to let go of friends who are bad news, friends who only seem to drag you further down the wrong path...and that is what Lampwick represented (ex: the 'buddy' who introduces you to drugs or maybe crime, etc).

[–] myronkelsey 7 years ago

Pinochio could have easily taken lampwic off the island with him

[–] Weber4278 7 years ago

Tell me how Pinocchio could get Lampwick off the island when Lampwick is freaking out after having been turned into a donkey and going crazy trashing the room...and Pinocchio is turning himself with only minutes, maybe seconds, left for him to haul his butt off the island before its too late?

Their was NO time to try and calm Lampwick down enough to try and help him, Pinocchio was in danger himself and had to get out of their as soon as possible.

[–] mplo (2305) 6 years ago

In any event, it would've been pointless for Pinocchio to take Lampwick off the island with him, first because Lampwick was already pretty much a complete donkey, and secondly, as another poster on this board pointed out, Lampwick was not a good friend, or a good influence for Pinocchio, or for any of the other boys in the crowd. Lampwick was the worst kid in the crowd, and would not have been good for Pinocchio to bring home with him, in any event.

[–] ZakkWyldeMyLittlePony 7 years ago

I honestly think that by today's Disney standards, the Coachman would've been defeated and would not have gotten off the hook. I find it very surreal that this is a Disney film and none of the villains get defeated but maybe they weren't really there to be defeated but to show the viewer and Pinocchio the dangers of temptation. But all the same, this could've played out like a Ralph Bakshi film just as much or even more so than a Disney film. Then again Bakshi showed us that not everything Animated is for children and of course paved the way for South Park and Family Guy.

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[–] captinska_1999 7 years ago

Seriously Lampwick was probably 8 years old. Maybe he had a bad home life and didn't know any better. Mimicking what he saw. Of course a lot of those kids in pleasure island are going to act up because there were no parents around. They were encouraged to act up in order to become donkeys. It was quite interesting that the whole village had a mass exodus of missing boys. I wonder what would happen the next day. Pinocchio might be the only one who would know what happened.

[–] johnsokw 8 years ago

Lampwick was a throwaway character. I don't know the literary term. He served his purpose but he's not really part of the main story. I guess you're kidding. It's hard to tell without emojis. In real life though, I wouldn't advise assuming a person you just met is your good friend---at least wait and test him out.

[–] comic_guy87 8 years ago

There was a scene that ended up being deleted that had Pinocchio and Jiminy finding the donkey Lampwick and getting him to come with them during the escape but just as they reach the cliff he is grabbed by the Coachman's minions, Pinocchio tries to go back for him but he tells Pinocchio that it's too late for him and he should save himself, it exists in storyboards but they're difficult to find, I wish this had been one of the scenes they had included in an animatic for the most recent DVD release.

[–] johnsokw 8 years ago

Great point you have, comic guy. the deleted/not ever green lit scene certainly would have earned Pinoke some S and H Green Stamps toward becoming a real boy. I would have shortened the Monstro scene (which packs enough WOW at half the time) and used the money to fill in some plot inadequacies. Some of the gags and pratfalls of Fox and Cat (which do not further the story) could be abbreviated too if money was becoming an issue.

[–] mplo (2305) 6 years ago

That's really too bad that this particular scene was deleted from the film, and not retained. It might've added something to the film that was more unusual...and interesting for that time.

[–] ZakkWyldeMyLittlePony 8 years ago

True. He was obviously a bad influence since he was defying his parents by skipping school.

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[–] dnaceva 7 years ago

Even if they saved him,all those other kids got left behind as well so yeah......

[–] onefatmess 7 years ago

Everything happens so quickly, as Lampwick changes Pinocchio is frozen with fear and by the time he has changed completely Lampwick freaks out and runs off so Pinocchio and Jimminy never had the chance to save him

[–] Purplecover101 7 years ago

There's nothing they could've done for him since he transformed completely. Orrrr then again, maybe the blue fairy could've done something like when she freed Pinocchio from Stromboli.

Also, I'm sure Jiminy wouldn't want to go out of his way to save lhim after he insulted him when Pinocchio said Jiminy was his concience. All these mishaps made him look bad.

[–] ZakkWyldeMyLittlePony 7 years ago

If Lampwick wasn't going to school, he shouldve gotten his GED instead of going to pleasure island.

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[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I agree that His faith was cruel and unusual, but there was nothing anyone can do for him. And Pinocchio was extremely lucky he escaped when he did.

Plus, I'm assuming Jiminy hating him since he mocked him and called him a grasshopper!

[–] NotoriousRio (12927) 6 years ago

I wonder if rescuing Lampwick and the other boys would of been tackled in Pinocchio II, at one time Disney wanted to do a sequel about him as a real boy, other than that I've no idea what the plot was gonna be but I’d like to of seen the villains from the first movie get their comeuppance.

[–] Matildawormwood (1545) 3 years ago

I agree! Not a criminal at all. Just a nice kid doing bad stuff just to fit in and be "cool".

What's heartbroken is, even though Lampwick insulted Jiminy, I'm almost positive he wouldn't tried to rescue and help Lampwick because he's a kind creature with a heart and concience. But since Jiminy didn't know he was a full on Donkey and Pinocchio didn't say anything, he was just left there abandoned.

Maybe the blue fairy could have turned him back into human and Pinocchio would become a real boy instantly, after doing this doing this good deed (helping a friend in need).