Peter Pan

In the 1940s, Disney decided to make a fantasy-adventure film based off the play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, by J. M. Barrie. Peter Pan was released February 5, 1953, with Kathryn Beaumont returning to voice Wendy and would again reprise the role in Kingdom Hearts. The film was also entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.

 

The film opens as Tom Conway narrates that the actions taking place have happened before and will all happen again. George and Mary Darling (Hans Conried and  Heather Angel) are preparing to attend a party, when they are disrupted by the antics of John and Michael (Paul Collins and Tommy Luske) acting out a story from Peter Pan as told to them by their sister Wendy. Their father is fed up with the stories and declares that Wendy is too old to stay in the nursery with them and she is to have a room of her own. That night the children are visited by Peter Pan (Bobby Driscoll) who teaches them to fly with the help of Tinker Bell (Margaret Kerry). They head to Never Land.

A ship of pirates is anchored off of Never Land, commanded by Captain Hook (Conried) and his first mate, Mr. Smee (Bill Thompson). Hook wants revenge for Peter cutting off his hand, but is constantly scared of the crocodile that stalks him Hook forms a plan to find Peter’s hideout by using the knowledge of Indian princess, Tiger Lily (Corinne Orr).

 Despite Tinker Bell trying to have Wendy killed, they meet up with the Lost Boys who look to Peter as their leader. Tinker Bell’s scheme is found out and Peter banishes her for a week. John and Michael set off with the Lost Boys to find the Indians, but they are captured. The Indians believe them to be responsible for kidnapping Tiger Lilly. Big Chief (Candy Candido) warns that if she is not returned, they will be burnt at the stake.

Peter takes Wendy to see the mermaids, who try to drown her, but Hook arrives and they see that he and Smee have captured Tiger Lily. Peter and Wendy free her and Peter is honored by the tribe. Hook now tries to take advantage of Tinker Bell’s jealousy and tricks her to reveal the location, but Hook promises not to lay a finger or a hook on Peter. He locks her in a lantern.

Wendy and her brothers grow homesick and plan to return home. They invite the others to come and be adopted. The Lost Boys agree, but Peter is against growing up and refuses. They leave, but are captured by the pirates. They leave behind a Bomb to kill Peter and Tinker Bell learns of the trap in time to get away from him.

Peter rescues Tinker Bell from the rubble and they confront the pirates. They arrive just as the pirates are forcing everyone to walk the plank. Peter engages Hook in combat and humiliates him. Hook and the crew flee with the crocodile in pursuit. Peter commandeers the ship and flies it to London. The Lost Boys decide to return to Never Land after all.

Mr. and Mrs. Darling return to find Wendy sleeping at the open window, having no idea that they have been anywhere. Mr. Darling, who has relented about his earlier stance out the window and recognizes the ship from his own childhood.

Disney originally wanted to release Peter Pan after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but couldn’t get the rights until 1940. And when the US entered the war, the studio was commissioned for propaganda and was in debt until 1947, when production once again commenced.

The reason I include all that is Peter Pan is a film that comes off as well thought out and produced. Waiting almost 15 years to produce the film certainly helped. It’s a very tight story with realistic characters and wonderful animation. A lot of the film’s charm also comes from its timing. Hook and Smee are a hilarious unintentional comedic duo. And yet, Hook still has a way to be very menacing.

And while the portrayal of the Indians in the film can be interpreted as racist, it’s harmless and endearing racism at worst. At best, they provide three great points in the film. Big Chief threatening to burn the Lost Boys at the stake is terrifying, Tiger Lily is an amazing dancer and “What Makes the Red Man Red” is arguably the best song in the movie.

Final Call: A tight film all around. Alice in Wonderland didn't spend much time as #3.