Pinocchio Speaks Again!

03.10.09 - Dick Jones, the voice of the "little puppet made of pine," sits down with D23 to reminisce about the making of Pinocchio, Walt Disney and how he made the transition from "World's Youngest Trick Rider and Trick Roper" to Hollywood star!

Dick Jones reminisces with D23 about the voice role of a lifetime.

D23: At age 4, you already had a career in the rodeo as the "World's Youngest Trick Rider and Trick Roper." How did you make the transition to Hollywood?
DICK JONES: Well, I guess that was really just a publicity gag because what can a 4 year old do on a horse? But it's what got me to Hollywood. [Rodeo champion and pioneering cowboy film actor] Hoot Gibson saw me in Dallas at a show and told my Mom I ought to be in pictures. We came out to California and stayed at Hoot's ranch in Saugus while my mom got us settled. And that's how I got my start.

D23: You were 10 years old when you landed the role of Pinocchio. How did you first hear about the part?
DJ: They put a call out for voice characters. They tried adults who imitated children first, but Walt Disney said, "Uh-uh, I want a real little boy's voice." About 200 kids auditioned and it was narrowed down to just two of us. My mother and I were then invited to lunch by Walt Disney, and I knew that was either the kiss of death or I'd be signing a contract!

D23: Pinocchio was only the second animated feature made by the Studio. What were some of the new innovative techniques used at that time to bring the film's whimsical story to life?
DJ: One thing they couldn't quite figure out was how to record my voice for the underwater scenes. First they tried having me lie on a stretcher and pouring water into my mouth while I read from the script (laughing) — they almost drowned me on that one! But one enterprising engineer on the set figured out how to do it. He recorded my voice through a megaphone that was running through a container of agitated water.

Dick Jones voicing Pinocchio alongside Cliff Edwards, the voice of Jiminy Cricket.

D23: You worked on Pinocchio for 18 months. Do you have any memories of Walt from your time on the set?
DJ: Walt was always around, so I'd see him every time I was on the set. I'd be in the studio and he'd be in the sound booth with all the controls and the director. When they'd call out "roll 'em" and "action!" I'd do the scene and then look to see Walt's expression and body movement. If he was pacing back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back, we knew we'd be doing it again, but if he was standing there nodding his head and patting the director on the shoulder, we knew that was a take.

D23: Any fun memories from between takes?
DJ: Every so often, Walt would come out of the sound booth and we'd play darts. He was really excellent at that — I never could beat him!

D23: You were also a reference model for the animators. What was that like?
DJ: They would film my nose, mouth and chin with a camera while I was reading the script and then freeze that frame-by-frame so the animators could make the lip movements more lifelike. And way back then, when you look at the finished product you could already see a difference from Snow White. On occasion, we'd also dress up in costume. For the "Hi Diddle Dee Dee" sequence, they even built a set with a rolling cobblestone street and we did the dance routine that they had conjured up on the storyboards.

A promotional image captures the effervescence of the delightful boy who spoke for a wooden one.

D23: Pinocchio has enjoyed enduring success with audiences. Did you ever think you'd still be talking about this film 70 years later?
DJ: In all honesty, no! At the time it was just another job. But it's something. The other day I was driving home and saw a Pinocchio billboard. I all but had to wipe the tears so I could make it home.

D23: After a 70-year association with the film, you must have amassed some collectibles. Do you have your own private Pinocchio collection or any memorabilia around the house?
DJ: Oh my goodness! I've got a china cabinet with five shelves about 6-and-a-half-foot tall and about 4-foot wide filled with stuff. When I first started putting it together I had a couple of cookie jars and snow globes, but now the shelves are absolutely crammed full — I'm going to have to get another cabinet! But I've got some beautiful stuff. When I was in Orlando years ago for another anniversary celebration, I saw this gorgeous porcelain statue of Geppetto holding Pinocchio up and saying, "He is a real boy!" and I just had to have it. It's my pride and joy.