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Peter Pan is an animated feature film produced by Walt Disney based on the play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J. M. Barrie. It is the fourteenth film in the Disney animated features canon and was originally released to theaters on February 5, 1953 by RKO Pictures. Peter Pan is the final Disney animated feature released through RKO before Walt Disney's founding of his own distribution company, Buena Vista Distribution, later in 1953 after the film was released.
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Quotations
Go on! Go back and grow up! But I'm warnin' ya: once you're grown up, you can never come back. Never!
I'll get you for this, Pan, if it's the last thing I do!
Narrator: All of this has happened before, and it will all happen again.
Second star to the right and straight on till morning.
Wendy Darling: No! Squaw no gettum firewood! Squaw go home!
What a pity, Mr Smee. I'm afraid we've lost the dear Captain.
Encyclopedia
Peter Pan is an animated feature film produced by Walt Disney based on the play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J. M. Barrie. It is the fourteenth film in the Disney animated features canon and was originally released to theaters on February 5, 1953 by RKO Pictures. Peter Pan is the final Disney animated feature released through RKO before Walt Disney's founding of his own distribution company, Buena Vista Distribution, later in 1953 after the film was released. Peter Pan is also the final Disney film in which all nine members of Disney's Nine Old Men worked together as directing animators.
The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.
Plot
In Edwardian London in the neighborhood of Bloomsbury, George and Mary Darling's preparations to attend a party are disrupted by the antics of the boys John and Michael, acting out a story about Peter Pan and the pirates, told to them by their older sister Wendy. The father angrily declares that Wendy has gotten too old to continue staying in the nursery with them, and it's time for her to grow up. That night they are visited in the nursery by a pixie named Tinker Bell and cocky Peter Pan, who teaches them to fly and takes them with him to the island of Never Land.
A ship of pirates is anchored off Never Land, commanded by Captain Hook with his sidekick Mr Smee. Hook boldly plots to take revenge upon Peter Pan for cutting off his hand, but he trembles when the crocodile that ate it arrives; it now stalks him hoping to taste more. The crew's restlessness is interrupted by the arrival of Peter and the Darlings. The children easily evade them, and despite a trick by jealous Tinker Bell to have Wendy killed, they meet up with the Lost Boys, six lads in animal-costume pajamas who look to Peter as their leader. John and Michael set off with the Lost Boys to find the island's Indians, who instead capture them, believing them responsible for taking the chief's daughter Tiger Lily.
Meanwhile, Peter takes Wendy to see the mermaids, where they see that Hook and Smee have captured Tiger Lily, to coerce her into revealing Peter's hideout. Peter and Wendy free her, and Peter is honored by the tribe. Hook then plots to take advantage of Tink's jealousy of Wendy, tricking her into revealing the location of Peter's lair. The pirates lie in wait and capture the Lost Boys and the Darlings as they exit, leaving behind a time bomb to kill Peter. Tinker Bell learns of the plot just in time to snatch the bomb from Peter as it explodes.
Peter rescues Tink from the rubble and together they confront the pirates, releasing the children before they can be forced to walk the plank. Peter engages Hook in single combat as the children fight off the crew, and finally succeeds in humiliating the captain. Hook and his crew flee, with the crocodile in hot pursuit. Peter gallantly commandeers the deserted ship, and with the aid of Tinker Bell's pixie dust, flies it to London with the children aboard.
Mr and Mrs Darling return home from the party to find Wendy not in her bed, but sleeping at the open window; John and Michael are asleep in their beds. Wendy wakes and excitedly tells about their adventures. The parents look out the window and see what appears to be a pirate ship in the clouds. Mr Darling, who has softened his position about Wendy staying in the nursery, recognizes it from his own childhood, as it breaks up into clouds itself.
Production
Disney had been trying to buy the film rights to Barrie's play since 1935. He finally received them four years later, after he came to an arrangement with Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, to whom Barrie had bequeathed the rights to the play. His studio started the story development and character designs in the early-1940s, and intended Peter Pan as a follow-up to Bambi, but the Second World War forced the project to be put on hold. Just like Pinocchio before it, the original pre-war character designs for Peter Pan were very different from the final product. The original version actually had Nana go to Neverland with Pan and the Darling children, and had a much darker ending. It was not until after the war that the actual production of the film commenced.
Margaret Kerry was Tinker Bell's live-action reference model, contrary to rumors that it was Marilyn Monroe. Margaret Kerry posed for reference film shots on a soundstage; the footage was later used by supervising Tinker Bell animator Marc Davis and his team when they drew the character. Kerry also provided the voice of the red-haired mermaid in the film.
Like Kerry, Bobby Driscoll was both the live-action reference model, mainly used for the close-up scenes, and the voice actor for Peter Pan. Peter's flying and action reference shots, however, were provided by dancer and choreographer Roland Dupree.
Kathryn Beaumont, the voice of Wendy, eldest of the Darling children, also performed for the live action reference footage. In an interview, she said she had to hold out her arms and pretend to fly for all the scenes requiring it.
Cast and characters
- Bobby Driscoll as Peter Pan: The protagonist, Peter Pan is the boy who will not grow up. Like Tinker Bell, Peter can be very hot-headed. He is also commanding, but very brave. Peter can be quite mean at times, like when he was laughing at Wendy when the mermaids were being horrible to her. Despite this, he is caring, especially when it comes to the safety of Tinker Bell. He finds enjoyment by fighting Captain Hook and was responsible for him losing his left hand.
- Tinker Bell: Pan's hot-headed pixie pal. She tried to save the life of Peter by warning him about what was inside his present (addressed from Wendy. It contained a bomb inside). Unfortunately, the bomb exploded and although Peter survived, Tinker Bell had almost died in the event. In the end, she helps the Darling children come home by sprinkling the boat with fairy dust for the new "king" Peter Pan, as they fly back home to London. She was jealous of Wendy because she had feelings for Peter, and she showed her dislike for Wendy publicly.
- Kathryn Beaumont as Wendy Darling: The eldest of the Darling children; adores Peter Pan. She is 12 years old, almost 13 - this is what causes her arrogant father to kick her out of the nursery. She is very motherly, and sometimes sang to the Lost Boys and her brothers. She reminded them about their mothers, and she was the first one who wanted to go back home. Has a soft spot for Peter but hatred towards Tiger Lily and Tink.
- Paul Collins as John Darling: One of Wendy's two younger siblings. Wears glasses. He is 8 years old.
- Tommy Luske as Michael Darling: Wendy's youngest brother; approx. 4 years old. Carries a teddy bear with him and is very sensitive. He is also a clumsy, yet very playful boy.
- Hans Conried as Mr. Darling: The Darling children's father who wants them to grow up because he believes that the stories his daughter tells are impractical. He often shows it in an angry way, often blowing up at the slightest mention of Peter or his world, Neverland. However, he changes his mind about Wendy's "crazy stories" at the end of the film, and he later remarks that he saw a pirate ship before when he was very young.
- Heather Angel as Mrs. Darling: The Darling kids' mom. She's much calmer and more understanding of her daughter's stories than her husband is. She assures her children that their father may look monstrous on the outside, but he does love them a lot.
- Nana: The Darlings' nursemaid, a dog (St. Bernard) although in the original story she is a Newfoundland dog.
- Hans Conried as Captain Hook: The antagonist of the film; a pirate captain who wants revenge on Pan for getting his left hand chopped off and fed to the Crocodile in a fair battle.
- Bill Thompson as Mr. Smee: Hook's right-hand man or the comic relief of the story, Mr. Smee is always being bossed around or the crew takes their frustrations out on him with belly jabbing, tying up Mr. Smee and putting him in a treasure box, hooking his shirt on the wall and throwing darts next to his belly.
- Tiger Lily: The Indian Chief's daughter. She is kidnapped by Hook to find out where Peter is. Peter and Wendy rescue her to joyful celebrations by her people. She then dances with Peter, and makes Wendy jealous. It has been regarded that the way Disney portrayed the Indians of Neverland was controversial and offensive; it has also been regarded they were also stereotypical in Barrie's book Peter and Wendy as well.
- The Crocodile: A crocodile who swallowed an alarm clock and is after the remains of Hook; Pan had cut off Hook's hand and threw it to the Crocodile who enjoyed the little appetizer so much, he's been following him ever since. In comics published later on, the character was known as Tick-Tock the Croc. In the books Peter and the Starcatchers/Peter and the Shadow Thieves, he was called Mr. Grin.
- The Lost Boys: Pan's right-hand boys, dressed as various animals. Their names are Slightly (fox costume), Cubby (bear costume), Nibs (rabbit costume), Tootles (skunk costume) and the Twins (raccoon costumes).
- Robert Ellis as Cubby
- Jonny McGovern as Twins
- Jeffrey Silver as Nibs
- Stuffy Singer as Foxy
- June Foray, Connie Hilton, Margaret Kerry, and Karen Kester as Mermaids: These mermaids are friends of Peter Pan and they are very interested in his stories. They are resentful of Wendy and try to drown her although Peter insists they were having fun. They are frightened away when they hear that Captain Hook is rowing nearby. The mermaids appear to be in their mid-teens.
- June Foray as Squaw
- Bill Thompson as Other Pirates
- Candy Candido as The Indian Chief
- Tom Conway as Narrator
- The Mellomen as Pirate Chorus
Crew
The movie was adapted by Milt Banta, William Cottrell, Winston Hibler, Bill Peet, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Ted Sears, and Ralph Wright from the play and novel Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. The film was directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske.
Music
The songs in Peter Pan were composed by Sammy Fain, Sammy Cahn, Frank Churchill, Winston Hibler and Ted Sears. Oliver Wallace composed the incidental music score.
- "The Second Star to the Right" - The Jud Conlon Chorus and The Mellomen
- "You Can Fly!" - The Jud Conlon Chorus and The Mellomen
- "A Pirate's Life" - Mr. Smee; The Pirates
- "Following the Leader" - John and Michael Darling; The Lost Boys
- "What Made the Red Man Red?" - The Indian Tribe, (Candy Candido and The Mellomen)--This song has become very controversial due to its racist stereotypes of Native Americans; lyrics and actions in sequence suggest that Indian men maintain a permanent blush due to their constant pursuit of Indian women.
- "Your Mother and Mine" - Wendy Darling
- "The Elegant Captain Hook" - Captain Hook; Mr. Smee; The Pirates
- "You Can Fly!" (reprise) - The Jud Conlon Chorus and The Mellomen
- "Never Smile at a Crocodile" - The lyrics were not heard, but the music was.
The melody for "The Second Star to the Right" was originally written for Alice in Wonderland as part of a song to be entitled "Beyond the Laughing Sky".
The CD compilation, Classic Disney: 60 Years of Musical Magic, contains the songs, "You Can Fly!" on the red disc, "The Second Star to the Right" on the blue disc, and "Following the Leader" on the green disc. On Disney's Greatest Hits, "You Can Fly!" is on the blue disc, and "The Second Star to the Right" is on the green disc.
Release
Theatrical
Peter Pan theatrical release history
- February 5, 1953 (original release)
- May 14, 1958
- June 18, 1969
- June 18, 1976
- December 17, 1982
- July 14, 1989
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Worldwide release dates
- Brazil: April 10, 1953
- Argentina: July 7, 1953
- U.K.: July 27, 1953
- Australia: October 16, 1953
- Mexico: November 11, 1953
- Italy: December 16, 1953
- Finland: December 18, 1953
- France: December 18, 1953
- Sweden: December 21, 1953
- West Germany: December 22, 1953
- Denmark: December 26, 1953
- Norway: December 26, 1953
- Philippines: February 25, 1954 (Davao)
- Hong Kong: September 16, 1954
- Austria: December 3, 1954
- Spain: December 21, 1954
- Japan: March 22, 1955
- South Korea: June 13, 1957
- Kuwait: December 24, 1993
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Re-release schedule and home video
The film was re-issued to theaters in 1958, 1969, 1976, 1982 and 1989; it was released on VHS on September 21, 1990 (as a Walt Disney Classics release) and March 3, 1998 (as a Masterpiece Collection release). A Limited Issue DVD was released on November 23, 1999 and a Special Edition DVD came out on February 12, 2002. A 2-Disc Platinum Edition DVD of the film was released on March 6, 2007.
Sequels/Prequels
- Return to Never Land - Tells about Wendy's daughter Jane and her visit to Never Land.
- Tinker Bell - Tells about Tinker Bell's birth and early adventures in Never Land.
Media and merchandise
Peter Pan, Wendy and Smee were featured as guests in House of Mouse, and Captain Hook was one of the villains in Mickey's House of Villains. Peter Pan and the Lost Boys appeared in The Lion King 1½, and Peter Pan and Captain Hook were featured in Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse. John Darling and Tinker Bell appear in the ending scene among the crowd of Toons in the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
In 1989, British pop group Five Star performed a medley of Peter Pan songs "You Can Fly", "Never Smile At A Crocodile" and "Second Star To The Right" for a BBC Television special celebrating the works of Walt Disney.
Michael Jackson has cited Peter Pan as being his favorite movie of all time, from which he derived the name for his estate, Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara, where he had a private amusement park, and which was the site of much controversy before he moved away in 2005. Ronald D. Moore, one of the executive producers and developer of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, has cited this film as the inspiration for one of the recurring themes of the series concerning the cyclical nature of time. The first line of the film, "All of this has happened before and it will all happen again," has been featured prominently in the series as a piece of scripture often repeated by characters.
Disney Fairies
Disney Fairies is a series of children's books published by Random House, which features Tinker Bell and her friends: Beck, Lily, Vidia, Rani, Prilla, Fira, and Bess. It also has a film series starting in 2008 with the self titled film about Tinker Bell.
Theme parks
Peter Pan’s Flight is a popular ride found at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland. Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook and Mr. Smee make appearances in the parades, as well as greetings throughout the theme parks.
- Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, and the Pirates are featured in a scene during Disneyland's version of "Fantasmic!"
Ice shows
- Disney on Ice began its touring production of "Peter Pan" in Fall 1989. The production went on to tour nationally & internationally, from 1989 - 1993. The production featured a pre-recorded soundtrack with all the film's songs and character voices.
- A shortend version of the story is presented in the current Disney on ice production "Mickey & Minnie's Amazing Journey". The show began in Fall 2003 & is currently on tour nationally. It features the songs "You Can Fly!", "Following the Leader", "Your Mother and Mine", "A Pirate's Life", "The Elegant Captain Hook" & "The Second Star to the Right".
Video games
Neverland is a playable world in both Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, with Tinker Bell appearing as a summon. Peter Pan appears as a summon in the sequel, Kingdom Hearts II.
See also
External links
- - Official Peter Pan - Platinum Edition DVD site
- Animated News & Views interviews
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