Pinocchio - Marionettes

Alright, well the more I think about it, the more I realize that the female marionettes that come on to Pinocchio are both sexist and racist.  However, this is how females, especially non-American females were commonly depicted in Hollywood film in the 1930s, 1940s, and beyond. 

There are three ethnicities of woman portrayed in this segment, each has a feature woman.  The first is a group of Dutch girls.  Naturally the main girl is looking for love.  However, let's not forget that Pinocchio is the only live puppet, all others are being controlled by puppeteers, though I have no idea who those puppeteers are, It cannot be Stromboli, because he is down front conducting the whole time, so I guess that it is just part of movie magic.  In other words, the puppets are not acting this way on their own accord, all of this is being done in jest to be humorous. 

Pinocchio - 1940

Next come the French Can-can dancers.  The Can-can first appeared in France in the 1830s.  It is a highly physically demanding dance that is traditionally performed by a chorus line of female dancers.  The main features of the dance are lifting and manipulation of the skirts, as well as high kicks and suggestive, provocative body movements.  Therefore, these puppets serve their purposes and are historically accurate. 

Pinocchio - 1940

Finally we have the Russian marionette who, though she is speaking English, we can hardly understand.  However, it seems that there is supposed to me something alluring about that. 

I think that it is worthwhile to point out that there is a strong sense of ethnic 'othering' throughout this marionette show scene.  Collodi's Pinocchio story takes place in Italy and Pinocchio can be found in the Italy Pavilion, however, the film has strong German undertones with Pinocchio's clothing and all of Gepetto's clocks.  This German idea is enforced by Pinocchio's Village Haus in Fantasyland in Disney World.  So whether it is German or Italian in Disney's mind, it is important to know that the female puppets are from other nations.  Therefore it suggests that the women of other countries and cultures are seductresses and temptresses, but not the wholesome women of our own culture. 

Pinocchio - 1940

Therefore, I feel that the puppet show is an accurate reproduction of worldview in the 1880s and humour in the 1880s.  It is not really racist, it is sexist, but it is humorous.  Sexism, especially as it pertains to females continues to be used in humour to this day, though it perhaps should not be.  However I feel that this scene is humorous and all of the fun that it pokes in in jest.