Peter Pan (1953, Disney)

[The Wyrd.]

Peter Pan (1953): 4/5

Good fun, an enjoyable Disney film It has a timeless story about childhood, heart and some good music. Kathryn Beaumont gives a more assured performance here as Wendy than she did in Alice in Wonderland, maybe as she's older. Sounding rather like the dog Droopy from MGM cartoons, Bill Thompson is good comic relief as Hook's sidekick, Smee
Is Peter Pan a normal boy or part pixie/elf? His ears looked a bit pointy to me Of course, Tink was also in love with him (or seemed to be ) and so was jealous of Wendy - maybe love crosses the species
Interestingly the opening theme The Second Star To The Right takes it's melody from a song that was first used for Alice in Wonderland (1951) but was abandoned, called Beyond The Laughing Sky.
I didnt know this at the time either - but the famous (Never Smile) To a Crocodile doesn't actually appear in the movie Peter Pan except as an underscore, marking the croc's appearance. Although versions were recorded by other artists at the time (eg Jerry Lewis), it's one of the most famous songs to ever be cut out of a Disney film.

 

[blunosepit]

Peter Pan is the earliest film I can recall seeing in 1953. Mind you, I was only six years old at the time and recall being overawed by the splendour of the colors and the big screen.

 

[BekindtoAnimals22]

Fantastic film, much better than the slightly over hyped live action version from a few years back.

 

[corvettegirl]

It's good. It has a good soundtrack and I love Tinkerbell in it, but I did like the 2003 live action version better. I don't think the animated Peter Pan is one of Disney's best classics, but it's still highly enjoyable and better than anything animated/computer animation they've made over the last decade.

 

[Jennifer P]

I didnt think it was one of their BEST classics either but it was still very good (I'd never seen it before).

 

[futureinfinance07]

No way, the live action version is BRILLIANT! It's easily the definitive Peter Pan adaptation.

 

[Mandy !(:]

I like the Disney Robin Hood film. I got it on DVD for Christmas. That's a great one and great memories from my childhood.

I've not seen Peter Pan for years I will have to get that too.

 

[Chi-kitory]

^Disney's Robin Hood is a good film that is to often over looked.

Even with the American "Sheriff of Noht-tin-haaam" - in fact he just adRAB to its brilliance.

 

[rea_sushi]

Captain Hook is fantastic. So camp...

 

[[email protected]]

Disney's Robin Hood is still my favourite adapation of the legend, even if it is just cartoon animals!

 

[Sanya Ali]

I like that version And it wasn't overhyped, at least I don't think so. Wasn't it released around the same time as either Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings and got completely overshadowed by it?

 

[three_ladybug]

The live action 2003 Peter Pan film got very little attention from what I recall. Which is a shame because it's a beautiful film with some really lovely moments. It should have been given much more attention by the media than it got.

 

[Y Knot]

I agree about the 2003 version, absolutely beautiful film, especially the fairy dance scene and I do believe in fairies scene. Enchanting music and cinematography. I do love the 1953 version as well but the 2003 film just has something more magical to it.

 

[phone_tv_dsl]

The 2003 version is closer to the spirit of the book, which I feel the 1953 version totally fails to capture. Don't get me wrong, the 1953 version is lovely in its own right but Disney adapataions have always been vastly different from the source material.

 

[Swift]

If you forget about the book, then its good. I know Disney are rubbish at adaptations, but its one of the worst I've ever seen. They tried to make Peter too likeable, when he's definitely not. The 2003 version is far, far better in my opinion.