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Give a bad boy enough rope and he'll soon make a jackass of himself!
―The Coachman[src]

The Coachman is the third antagonist of Disney's 1940 animated feature film, Pinocchio. He is a sinister figure who is notorious for luring "stupid little boys" to Pleasure Island, where they are transformed into donkeys and sold on the black market.

Background

Personality

The Coachman is malevolent, sinister, menacing and dangerous, with absolutely no redeeming qualities, and is rather infamous for his wicked actions, greed and his pleasure in destroying children's lives. However, he could also be considered to be somewhat moralistic in his own dark and twisted way, as he teaches the boys he takes from the towns he visits a pricey lesson for prolonged misbehavior. He does not appear to be a kidnapper nor force the boys to accompany him to Pleasure Island and instead prefers to entice them to go there on their own accord, thus sealing their own fate. He also allows rumors of the "wonders" of his island to be spread to the public and thus entice troublesome boys, like Lampwick, into the trap; exemplifying his devious cunning.

The Coachman seems to specifically target disobedient, selfish boys who wish to indulge in trouble for pure enjoyment, probably because, as evidenced by calling them "stupid", he views those types of boys as especially gullible and easily tempted as he allowed them to smoke and drink on the island just to turn them into donkeys. He obviously enjoys taking advantage of them for that, with no care whatsoever for the disproportionate amount of suffering he inflicts on them for their actions.

Compared to Stromboli, the Coachman appears to be slightly less greedy and actually compensates those who aid him in his wicked plans well, as he offered a substantial amount of gold to Honest John and Gideon for bringing him troublesome boys to take to the island, which far exceeds what Stromboli gave them for Pinocchio. However, this is not out of generosity, but more because he can afford to, as well as to convince them to work for him instead. He is also not above intimidating those whom he hires to do his bidding, as seen by him frightening both Honest John and Gideon with his demonic face and warning them not to double cross him.

Like most Disney Villains, the Coachman is incredibly sadistic, enjoying other people's pain and is also very cruel, whipping his goons and selling young boys that come to his island into slavery so that he can make money off of them and shows no concern for the cruel life (and eventual death) that awaits them in slavery. The Coachman completely ignores their pain and despair and justifies his actions by claiming their slavery is payment for their ill behavior displayed on Pleasure Island. However, it is clear that attaining wealth is his primary motive, as he transformed the boys into donkeys specifically to end up in hard labor at circuses, salt mines, or possibly other places that buy donkeys. It can also be assumed that Pinocchio and Gepetto rat him out to the police.

Physical appearance

The Coachman is a tall, overweight man who has fair skin, pale blond hair and green eyes.

Appearances

Pinocchio

The Coachman is first seen sitting at a table in the bar of the Red Lobster Inn with Honest John and Gideon. He puffs quietly on his pipe, listening quietly and intently as John proudly recalls selling Pinocchio to Stromboli, a greedy puppeteer. The fox then produces a very small bag of gold coins - Stromboli's payment - as proof of his "success" and inquires about the Coachman's business. The Coachman gets the attention of the two when he places a huge bag of gold coins, promising them "some real money" if they help him. He tells the fox and cat that he is collecting "stupid little boys" to be taken to Pleasure Island. John is frightened at the mention of Pleasure Island, noting that it has issues with "the law", but the Coachman reassure that they won't get caught since the boys "never come back as boys," and when he maniacally laughs about his wicked business, John and Gideon jump in fear. The Coachman tells the two swindlers to meet him with any "good prospects" they find at the crossroads of the village, where he will be waiting with his stagecoach, which is pulled by six donkeys; he promises to pay them well, but also warns them not to double-cross him. Pinocchio (who has just escaped Stromboli) is among the boys that John and Gideon take to the Coachman. Jiminy Cricket stows away aboard the coach, unnoticed either by the Coachman or his passengers. At the time, Jiminy is not fully aware of the dangers of Pleasure Island, though it appears he is concerned about Pinocchio's safety and fears that there is trouble ahead.

The Coachman takes the coachload of boys, including Pinocchio and Lampwick, to a ferry bound for Pleasure Island, a naughty boys' paradise, where the boys are free to run riot without fear of reprimand from parents, teachers, pastors, or other adults of authority, until they turn into donkeys for the Coachman to sell into slavery. When the boys aren't paying attention, the Coachman whips his goons, ordering them to shut and lock the gates and prepare the crates before laughing and saying, "Give a bad boy enough rope and he'll soon make a jackass of himself." Days later, Jiminy finds the Coachman's minions loading crates of donkeys onto boats. The Coachman examines every donkey, first checking that it can no longer talk by asking its name, then, if the response is a bray, ripping off the creature's remaining clothes before throwing the animals into crates for his minions to put on the ship. One donkey, Alexander, can still talk, and cries to be allowed to go home. The Coachman throws Alexander into a pen of donkeys that likewise can still talk; these donkeys are presumably kept by the Coachman to pull his stagecoach and/or keep them from exposing his crimes. Alexander and the other talking boys continue to beg for their freedom and become human again, but the Coachman instantly silences them with a loud crack of his whip, loudly barking at them to be silenced before reminding them that they were already allowed to have all the fun they desired on the island and must now pay the price for it and their behavior. This, indirectly, gives Jiminy the knowledge of Pinocchio's impending fate.

At this point, Jiminy realizes the fate of Pleasure Island's visitors and rushes to warn Pinocchio. Though Lampwick is completely transformed into a donkey and rapidly lost his humanity, Pinocchio, despite growing donkey ears and tail and developing a bray in his laugh, manages to quickly escape the island down a small rocky path with Jiminy's help before the Coachman and his minions could spot him escaping and recapture him. The Coachman is unseen for the remainder of the film, though it can be assumed he captured the transformed Lampwick at some point later and profiteered greatly from the haul of boys-turned-donkeys to be sold into slavery. It is also likely Pinocchio mentions him to Gepetto and later tell the police (though it is unknown if the Coachman gets caught).

Other appearances

The Coachman appears in the episode "Mickey vs. Shelby" of the series House of Mouse, sitting with Honest John and Gideon.

Live-action appearances

Geppetto

TheRingmasterGeppetto

The Ringmaster in Geppetto.

The Coachman appears in this live action spin-off. In this iteration, however he is called The Ringleader and is much younger, agile and slightly less menacing, yet nonetheless dangerous, being portrayed by Usher. He and his henchmen charm and encourage the boys into acting like "Jackasses", using his songs and showmanship to mesmerize and coax them onto the rollercoaster, which is stated as the factor that turns boys into donkeys.

Pinocchio (2022)

Pinocchio 2022 teaser (9)

The Coachman in the live-action remake.

The Coachman appears in the live-action remake of the original film. Here, he is portrayed by Luke Evans, who previously portrayed Gaston in the live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Unlike the original version, this version of the Coachman not only collects naughty little boys but also collects little girls turned into donkeys whom he can sell to, including salt mines. The Coachman also has his own musical number known as "The Coachman to Pleasure Island", a song that was created exclusively for the remake, unlike in the original film where he had no solo song. He is also depicted as a handsome, charismatic man with a mustache rather than the elderly, obese one with the demonic face from the 1940 film.

As Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket are wandering around the streets, Pinocchio ends up suddenly ends up getting captured onto the Coachman's carriage where he is placed next to a group of naughty children onto the carriage as he takes the children to Pleasure Island. As Pinocchio tells the Coachman that he doesn't trust him, he becomes furious of Pinocchio not believing in him and telling him that returning to Geppetto and then joining him another time doesn't work that way just as he sings the musical number "The Coachman to Pleasure Island", telling the children and Pinocchio to decide whether they join him which Pinocchio agrees for the Coachman to take them to Pleasure Island just as the Coachman then takes all the children to Pleasure Island, much to Jiminy's worry. As the children arrive at Pleasure Island, the Coachman welcomes the children to this place just as Pinocchio and Lampwick board on a boat to see what the children do here. He the pops up next the two serving both of them two glasses of root beer for Pinocchio and Lampwick to enjoy their experience at Pleasure Island and then during the part before the two depart from their boat serving more root beer to them.

Later, the Coachman commands his minions, large shadowy creatures, to capture the children who were turned into donkeys and then sell them to the salt mines just as Jiminy realizes that Pleasure Island is a trap for Pinocchio. The Coachman then enters a bar where Pinocchio is at where he tells his henchmen to capture Pinocchio and sell him to the salt mines which Pinocchio and Jiminy plan to escape Pleasure Island just as the Coachman commands two of his followers to go after Pinocchio which he and Jiminy end up in the sea to escape from Pleasure Island, causing the Coachman and his shadowy followers to retreat. The Coachman and his followers do not appear again throughout the rest of the film.

Printed media

Descendants: Isle of the Lost Rush

20 years ago, his days of turning boys into donkeys were over. He was imprisoned in the Isle of Lost, where was put to work as an actual coachman. He drives a coach pulled by actual donkeys. One part of his punishment was that he was made to track down all the children he transformed into donkeys.

Disney Parks

Disneyland Resort

The Coachman appears in Pinocchio's Daring Journey and its Pleasure Island scenes. At one point, he tries to trap the riders in a giant crate to keep them from escaping.

He was also once a walk-around character, but has since been retired. He appeared in the 1971 rendition of Fantasy On Parade, heading the coach that carried “stupid little boys” bent for Pleasure Island. The float was part of the parade’s Pinocchio unit. Later versions of the parade would replace the Coachman with Stromboli.

Gallery

Wiki
The Disney Wiki has a collection of images and media related to The Coachman.

Trivia

  • The reason the kids turn into donkeys is because donkeys are a symbol of ignorance, hence the derogatory term "jackass". By shunning schoolwork in favor of Pleasure Island, the kids go from metaphorical "jackasses" to literal jackasses.
  • Charles Judels, the voice of the Coachman, also did the voice of Stromboli.
  • The Coachman did get his comeuppance in the Genesis and SNES Pinocchio video game, where Pinocchio kicks him down a cliff.
  • In an Italian crossover comic story, first published in Topolino "libretto" #1883, Mickey Mouse was washed on the shores of Pleasure Island after a storm. The amusement park had fallen into disrepair, and Mickey noted that it seemed to have been abandoned for a long time. The Coachman isn't there and also doesn't appear amongst the many Disney villains who meet up earlier in the story.
  • In an annotated English edition of the original novel, the Coachman has been compared to Mephistopheles, the demon prince in the classic tale of Dr. Faustus. His boy victims, like Faustus, in effect sell their souls to the Coachman for a life of unlicensed pleasure and, like the devil, the Coachman is there at the end to foreclose the deal.
  • The sadistic image of the Coachman makes a nod to the monstrous ogre called The Green Fisherman from the book The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.
  • The Coachman might not be human. Some possible hints at this being the demonic face he makes when revealing his plan, his shadowy minions who may not be human either, and the fact that he has four fingers on each hand, while every other human character in the film has five, even Pinocchio when transformed into a real boy. The Coachman could very well be a demon in disguise, or at least has access to magic since he is clearly responsible for the transformation of all the boys who went to Pleasure Island, and Pleasure Island itself may be a result of that magic.
  • In the original story, the donkey transformation takes roughly five months.
  • The Coachman may be the only English character in Pinocchio, speaking in a Cockney accent.
  • In the original Italian story of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, the Coachman was usually referred to as "The Little Buttery Man" ("L'Omino di Burro"), and he actually drove a large wagon instead of a coach. He spoke in a soft, purring voice "like a cat trying to ingratiate itself into its' owner's good graces." He also was rather effeminate in manner, clucking like a mother hen and addressing his prospective young passengers as "my dears" and "my darlings". Yet for all that he was even more devious and sadistic than his Disney counterpart, as displayed when he bites one of his boy-turned-donkeys' ears off while pretending to kiss him.
  • In the final movie, the Coachman never notices Pinocchio's escape, but in some adaptations and scrapped ideas, he sends his minion to chase them. This idea was later used in the Pinocchio video game and the 2022 remake, albeit the Coachman accompanies his goon to chase Pinocchio and Jiminy.
    • Also, there was a deleted scene where the Coachman hires Honest John and Gideon one last time to bring Pinocchio back to him so that "the law doesn't learn of their business". This later led to Honest John and Gideon's arrest when they tried to swindle Pinocchio a third time, also cut from the film.
  • According to one of the books of Pinocchio, the Coachman's name is "Barker", though it is not sure if it's his real name or just an alias.
    • In another book adaptation of the film, the Coachman hires Foulfellow and Gideon to bring him just one more child in exchange of gold instead of more children (and this doesn't make sense) like in the film and the other book and comic adaptations, and doesn't frighten or threaten the two crooks to convince them this time.
    • In a comic book adaptation of Pinocchio, the Coachman makes his offer to Honest John and Gideon after eavesdropping on a conversation they were having about their sale of Pinocchio to Stromboli, rather than listening to John tell the Coachman himself.
  • The Coachman is a contrast to the Blue Fairy. Rather than teaching children how to behave like the Blue Fairy did, the Coachman simply punishes them for their misdeeds.
  • Out of all the antagonists in Pinocchio, the Coachman is so far the only one who never interacts with Pinocchio as for him he is just one more boy among all the other boys he collected (not counting their interactions in deleted concepts or in the video game), and never notices Pinocchio's escape in the film. He does interact with him in the remake and even chases him. This seems to be where Stromboli is the antithesis of Gepetto. Both are puppeteers, however where Gepetto made puppets out of skill and personal amusement; Stromboli uses puppets to make money, with it going to extreme as keeping Pinocchio captive.
  • Luke Evans, who portrays the character in the live-action film, previously portrayed the villain Gaston in the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast.

External links

v - e - d
Pinocchio logo
Media
Films: Pinocchio (video/soundtrack) • Remake (soundtrack) • Geppetto (soundtrack)

Television: House of MouseA Poem Is...
Shorts: Figaro and Cleo
Video Games: Video gameKingdom HeartsKingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop DistanceDisney Emoji Blitz
Books: Pinocchio's Promise

Disney Parks
Cinderella Castle Mystery TourDisney Animation BuildingDisney Friends of the MonthIt's a Small WorldPinocchio's Daring JourneyStorybook Land Canal Boats

Entertainment: AnimagiqueDisney Dreams: An Enchanted ClassicDisney's WishesFantasmic!Fantasy FestivalMickey's Gift of DreamsMickey's Magical Music WorldOne Man's Dream II: The Magic Lives On!Once Upon a Mouse
Restaurants: Cleo'sPinocchio Village Haus Restaurant
Shops: Geppetto's Holiday WorkshopPleasure Island CandiesStromboli's Wagon
Parades: A Million Splashes of ColourCelebrate A Dream Come True ParadeDisney's Dreams On Parade: Moving OnDisney's FantillusionDisney's Magical Moments ParadeDisney's Party ExpressDisney Carnivale ParadeDisney Cinema ParadeDisney Magic on ParadeDisney Stars on ParadeDreaming Up!Festival of Fantasy ParadeHappiness is Here ParadeJubilation!Magic HappensMain Street Electrical ParadeMickey's Rainy Day ExpressMickey's Storybook ExpressSpectroMagicThe Wonderful World of Disney ParadeWalt Disney's Parade of DreamsDisney Harmony in Color! Parade
Fireworks: Believe... There's Magic in the StarsDisney EnchantmentDisneyland ForeverFantasy in the SkyIlluminate! A Nighttime CelebrationMagical: Disney's New Nighttime Spectacular of Magical CelebrationsWe Love Mickey!MomentousOnce Upon a TimeRemember... Dreams Come TrueWishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney DreamsWonderful World of AnimationWondrous Journeys
Spring: Disney's Spring Promenade
Summer: Mickey's WaterWorksStitch and Friends Summer Surprise
Halloween: Scream and Shout Halloween ParadeMaze of Madness: The Nightmare Experiment ContinuesThe Villains Rockin’ Halloween
Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy ParadeMickey's Most Merriest Celebration

Characters
Pinocchio: PinocchioJiminy CricketThe Blue FairyGeppettoFigaroCleoHonest JohnGideonStromboliDancing PuppetsThe CoachmanThe Coachman's AssistantsLampwickThe Stupid Little BoysMonstroGendarme

Geppetto: Junior BuonragazzoLazardo VSignora Giovanni
Remake: Signora VitelliSofia the SeagullFabianaSabina

Locations
VillageGeppetto's WorkshopStromboli's CaravanPleasure Island
Songs
Pinocchio: When You Wish Upon a StarLittle Wooden HeadGive a Little WhistleHi-Diddle-Dee-DeeI've Got No Strings

Geppetto: ToysEmpty HeartAnd SonJust Because It's MagicBravo, Stromboli!Satisfaction GuaranteedPleasure IslandSince I Gave My Heart Away
Remake: When He Was Here With MePinocchio, PinocchioI Will Always DanceThe Coachman to Pleasure Island
Deleted: Jiminy CricketHonest JohnAs I Was Sayin' to the DuchessTurn On the Old Music BoxNo StringsRolling Along to Pleasure IslandThree Cheers for AnythingMonstro the Whale


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Members
The Evil QueenChernabogQueen of HeartsCaptain HookMaleficentCruella De VilUrsulaJafarScarHadesDr. Facilier

Other Disney Animation Villains: PeteBig Bad WolfWillie the GiantLonesome GhostsMortimer MouseMagic MirrorHonest JohnGideonStromboliMonstroPink ElephantsRingmasterThe Headless HorsemanLady TremaineAnastasia TremaineDrizella TremaineLuciferCheshire CatCard SoldiersMr. SmeeSi and AmAunt SarahDiabloJasper and HoraceMadam MimKaaShere KhanEdgarPrince JohnSir HissSheriff of NottinghamHeffalumpsWoozlesMadame MedusaBrutus and NeroAmos SladeHorned KingProfessor RatiganFeliciaSykesFlotsam and JetsamPercival C. McLeachGastonIagoShenzi, Banzai, and EdGovernor RatcliffeClaude FrolloPain and PanicFatesShan YuClaytonSaborYzmaLyle Tiberius RourkeCaptain GantuDr. Jumba JookibaJohn SilverScroopBowler Hat GuyDorisLawrenceDr. Facilier's ShadowMother GothelStabbington BrothersKing CandySour BillHansDuke of WeseltonYokaiBellwetherTamatoaKing Magnifico
Pixar Villains: Sid PhillipsScudHopperMoltEmperor ZurgStinky PeteRandall BoggsHenry J. Waternoose IIISyndromeChick HicksChef SkinnerAUTOCharles F. MuntzLotsoMiles AxlerodProfessor ZMor'duThunderclapErnesto de la CruzEvelyn DeavorDragon the Cat
Other Villains: Br'er FoxBr'er BearOogie BoogieWinifred SandersonMary SandersonSarah SandersonDr. HämstervielQueen NarissaWicked Witch of the WestRipslingerHitchhiking Ghosts

Disney Parks
Celebrate A Dreams Come True ParadeCelebrate the MagicCinderella Castle Mystery TourClub VillainDisney's FantillusionDisney's Maleficious Halloween PartyDisney's Not-So-Scary Halloween ShowDisney's Once Upon a Dream ParadeDisney Dreams!Disney's Stars 'n' Cars... As Never Seen BeforeFantasmic!Feel the MagicFrightfully Fun ParadeGlow in the Park Halloween ParadeHappy HallowishesHocus Pocus Villain SpelltacularInferno Dance PartyIt's Good To Be Bad With The Disney VillainsIt's Good to Be Bad Villainous CelebrationIt's Party Time... with Mickey and Friends... and the Disney VillainsMickey's Boo-to-You Halloween ParadeMickey and his Magic Halloween NightMomentousRe-Villains! Halloween ParadeSorcerers of the Magic KingdomThe Disney Villains Halloween ShowtimeThe Nightmare ExperimentThe Villains WorldUnleash the VillainsVillains GardensVillainy in the SkyVillains Mix and MingleVillains Night Out!Villains Tonight!WishesWorld of Color
Media
Mickey's House of VillainsOnce Upon a HalloweenDisney Villains: Simply Sinister SongsDisney Villains Songbook

Video Games: Disney Villains ChallengeDisney's Villains' Revenge

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