Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night (1961 film)

Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night (Cantonese: 皮諾曹與夜皇 Jyutping: pei4 nok6 cou4 jyu5 je6 wong4), known in North America as Pinocchio's New Adventure, is a 1961 Hong Kong live-action/puppet fantasy adventure film produced, written and directed by Sze-Ma Yim-Lung. It was conceived as a sequel to the 1883 Italian classic novel by, being set a year after  became a real boy.

Produced by Sze-Ma's production company Ying Long Film Company in association with Wing Daat Film Company, the film premiered in London on 28 January 1961 with English subtitles, and was released in Hong Kong on 8 February. It received generally negative reviews from critics during its initial release and underperformed at the box office, costing HK$9 million but making HK$3.2 million in its entire run.

An American animated remake of by, was released in North America on 25 December 1987. That too received generally negative reviews and underperformed at the box office, but in subsequent years, the film has retained a cult following.

Plot
A bumblebee named Lieutenant Grumblebee is woken from his sleep by the arrival of a large sinister-looking ship. A man named Puppetino, a puppet-master, remarks that this is the ideal spot for the carnival. Stakes and ropes fly from the ship and a circus tent forms. Grumblebee hastily leaves the area.

A year after being made human by his Fairy Godmother, the boy Pinocchio celebrates his first birthday with Mister Geppetto. The Good Fairy appears and teaches Pinocchio that love is his most powerful gift. She brings to life one of Pinocchio's own carvings, a wooden glow-bug, to act as Pinocchio's conscience. Pinocchio, surprised, exclaims "Gee willikers!" and the bug takes the name "Willikers". After the party, Pinocchio offers to deliver a jewel box to the mayor for Geppetto. En route he encounters con men Sylvester the raccoon and Igor the monkey, who trick him into trading the box for the "Pharaoh's Ruby". The ruby turns out to be a fake and Geppetto is furious. Pinocchio runs away in shame, leaving Willikers behind.

Pinocchio looks for work at the carnival and is entranced by a blonde marionette named Twinkle. Puppetino recognises Pinocchio and uses Twinkle to lure him into joining the carnival. Puppetino starts playing an organ grinder, causing Pinocchio to dance uncontrollably and slowly transform back into a puppet. Puppetino attaches strings to Pinocchio's hands and feet, completing the transformation, and hangs the now lifeless Pinocchio alongside Twinkle. The Good Fairy appears and awakens Pinocchio, explaining that he lost his freedom because he took it for granted. She reminds him of the importance of choice before restoring him to human form.

Pinocchio decides to retrieve the jewel box. Willikers objects, so Pinocchio sets him aside and travels alone. Willikers encounters Grumblebee again, whom takes him to his home in Bugsburgh. Pinocchio encounters Sylvester and Igor again, whom inform him that the box is at the carnival, which has returned to the ship. The trio pursue the carnival ship by boat. Unbeknownst to Pinocchio, they plan to hand him over to Puppetino in return for a reward, but after Pinocchio saves them from a giant barracuda, they change their minds and begin to genuinely bond with Pinocchio. As they travel, the carnival ship arrives, capturing the boat. Willikers, carried to the river by Grumblebee, latches onto Pinocchio's pocket as they drift into the ship.

Sylvester recognizes the ship as the Empire of the Night. A boatman offers Pinocchio a ride to the jewel box, leaving Sylvester and Igor behind. The boatman says the box is in the opposite, darker end of a cavern. Pinocchio prefers the brighter path, and they row to the "Neon Cabaret". A doorman says that Pinocchio can play inside if he signs a contract. He impulsively agrees, runs inside and finds a room full of partying children. Pinocchio drinks from a fountain of green liquid that causes him to hallucinate and black out. He awakens on a stage; a ringmaster tells him his fans are waiting and he begins dancing. Sylvester and Igor, who have followed Pinocchio, try to get his attention, but are drawn offstage while he is distracted by Twinkle. Pinocchio bows to thunderous applause.

Puppetino appears and Pinocchio turns to find the boatman, who transforms into the doorman and then the ringmaster. He tells Pinocchio that he has reached the "Land Where Dreams Come True" and then morphs into a floating being with four arms called the Emperor of the Night. He demands Pinocchio sign a contract that will make him a puppet again, a choice that will weaken the Good Fairy to her death. Pinocchio refuses and is imprisoned with Sylvester and Igor. Sylvester laments that they have succumbed to their desires without considering the consequences. The Emperor reveals to Pinocchio that Geppetto has been shrunk to fit inside the jewel box. Pinocchio offers to sign the contract if the Emperor frees Geppetto and the others. Pinocchio signs away his freedom, transforming back into a living puppet.

The Emperor betrays Pinocchio, telling him that the freedom of choice gives him his power. Pinocchio turns on the Emperor and a blue aura – the light of the Good Fairy – surrounds him. The Emperor shoots bolts of flame at Pinocchio, but the blue light protects him as the ship catches fire. Pinocchio escapes with his friends while the Emperor shoots Puppetino in the back with a bolt of magic for his instant cowardice while he runs for his life. Puppetino turns into a lifeless puppet, and burns to death immediately thereafter.

The evil Emperor promises to make Geppetto pay for Pinocchio's choices, but he runs and forms into a blue shining orb and plunges into the Emperor's flaming figure, destroying him and his ship. On the shore, Geppetto has returned to his original size. Sylvester and Igor find Pinocchio, who is once again a real boy. The Good Fairy appears, proudly telling Pinocchio that he no longer needs her. She presents the jewel box to Geppetto. She reveals the now human Twinkle awakening nearby before fading away to the sunrise, leaving the group to celebrate.

Cast

 * Brandon Chow as
 * as the Emperor of the Night
 * David Sung as the voice of, an anthropomorphic glow-bug
 * as, Pinocchio's "father". Lee, who did not speak Cantonese well, was dubbed in the film by.
 * as, Pinocchio's fairy godmother
 * Law Kim-Long as the voice of Sylvester, an anthropomorphic raccoon and a trickster
 * as the voice of Igor, an anthropomorphic monkey, a thief and Scalawag's sidekick. Ko did also voice the anthropomorphic mayor of Bugsburgh.
 * Nancy Tso as the voice of Twinkle, a female puppet
 * as the voice of Beatrice, an anthropomorphic female bumblebee
 * as Lt. Grumblebee, a male bumblebee and lieutenant of the RAB ("Royal Air Bugs")
 * as Puppetino, an evil puppet-master