Akin to Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan contains a wide variety of legendary characters. Like Alice, Peter Pan is a literary and cinematic icon, and Disney's interpretation of this character may just be the finest of them all. While staying partially true to J.M. Barrie's original characterization and infusing the character with a healthy dose of Disney magic, Peter Pan becomes one of the most fascinating characters in the studio's history. He is, by no means, a perfect individual, but that is what makes him such an endearing figure. His sidekick, Tinkerbell, is a legend in her own right, displaying a genuine personality with the exclusive aid of mere mannerisms. Both Peter Pan and Tinkerbell really evolve as characters over the span of the film in the sense that they have changed quite significantly by the time the film comes to its conclusion, a true triumph for the animators and storytellers.
Furthermore, the Darlings are wonderful counterparts to Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. Beyond just sharing the same actress in Kathryn Beaumont lending her voice to both characters, Wendy Darling is similar to Alice in the sense that they are both transported to this magical land and become the heart and soul of their respected films. Obviously, that is the case with Alice in Alice in Wonderland, but in my opinion, even though the film is entitled Peter Pan, Wendy Darling is the catalyst that makes this film work. Her character is one of the best Disney has ever created. One of the countless highlights of the film comes near the end when Wendy sings "Your Mother and Mine" to Michael, John, and the Lost Boys. This is the emotional payoff for the entire film, and it all comes together because Wendy is such a magnificent character. Michael and John Darling along with the Lost Boys provide for excellent comedy as well, especially during the "Following the Leader" sequence.
A review of Peter Pan cannot be written without discussing the greatness that is Captain Hook. As one of my absolute favorite Disney villains of all-time, Captain Hook is everything you could possibly want from a classic bad guy. First of all, he is extremely charming with a vile sense of humor only a villain could conjure up. His evil motivation is exquisite too. He is not trying to rid Neverland of Peter Pan just because he can, but instead, Peter has done wrong to him, and Hook is willing to do whatever it takes to right that wrong. However, Hook is a flawed individual. He has plans, but those plans are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. He fears the crocodile immensely and never attempts to conceal that fear. He is a fully developed, menacing, yet strangely likable villain that I love to hate and hate to love.
The soundtrack for Peter Pan is one of the best from the first Golden Age. The aforementioned "You Can Fly!" is near the top of my list for best songs in Disney history. The main title music, "Second Star to the Right," is an excellent tone-setter filled with superb lyrics. The instrumental piece entitled "On the Rooftop" is downright iconic. Whenever I hear those notes being played, chills immediately travel up my spine because I know that Disney magic is just around the corner. "Following the Leader," "Your Mother and Mine," and "A Pirate's Life" are simply sublime additions to this perfect soundtrack. Every song is flawlessly integrated into the film with sheer mastery.
Peter Pan is a film packed with joy and imagination. It is the perfect film to watch when life has just got you down because who doesn't want to think about a land where you never have to grow up? From the legendary characters to the iconic scenes (Mermaids! Indians! Pirates!) to the classic characters, Peter Pan is Disney magic in its purest form, starring the wondrous combination of faith, trust, and pixie dust.
Rating: 10/10
Historical Significance: When Walt Disney was a child, he portrayed Peter Pan in a school play adaption of J.M. Barrie's story. Walt was always fascinated by everything related to Neverland, which is evident with the book appearing prominently in the opening frame of Pinocchio over a decade before Peter Pan was released (read more about that fact in my review of Pinocchio). However, Walt was rather dissatisfied with the film's version of Peter Pan. He claimed that the character was too cold and unlikable, but Barrie originally did portray him as cold and unlikable, leading fans of the original tale to praise Disney's adaption.
Behind the Scenes: When Peter Pan is performed on stage, a tradition suggests that the same actor portray both Mr. Darling and Captain Hook. To keep this tradition going, Hans Conried provided the voice for both characters in the film. This explains why Mr. Darling and Captain Hook have some similar physical characteristics. Another stage tradition insists that Nana and the crocodile be played by the same actor. These two characters do not speak in the film, but in order to comply with the tradition, the animators gave the crocodile canine qualities.
Favorite Character: Every character appearing in this film is fantastic, but if I had to single out just one, I would have to go with Captain Hook. As I discussed before, Hook is one of my favorite villains in Disney history, and he just so happens to also be one of their best. From the exemplary voice work from Hans Conried to the phenomenal characterization from the animators, Hook is an instant legend. Wendy Darling is the heart of this film, and I almost picked her for this section (in fact, I actually wrote about her before changing my mind to Hook). In the end, I just couldn't go against a personal favorite villain of mine.
Favorite Scene: The flight over London once Peter Pan convinces the Darlings to travel with him to Neverland is one of my favorite sequences of all-time. The duo of majestic animation and chill-inducing music in the form of "You Can Fly!" create a moment that I can never get enough of. If you were only going to watch one scene to truly capture the essence of Disney, it would difficult for me to pick another scene over this one. I love this scene so much that I get chills even when I ride Peter Pan's Flight at Walt Disney World during this scene. It is simply amazing.
Favorite Song: You can probably guess where I am going with this one. "You Can Fly!" is a Disney theme song, so how could I possibly pick anything else? Obviously, the scene playing out while this song is being performed is my favorite scene of the film, so that only makes the song that much more incredible. Every song in Peter Pan is marvelous and are perfect additions to the film, but there is just something extra special about "You Can Fly!" There is a timelessness to it, capturing the magic of Disney in a matter of minutes.
Updated Ranking: I am only fourteen films into the official Disney animated canon, and I am already having extreme difficulty ranking these films. I love every single one of them at the top! Here's where Peter Pan ranks.
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Peter Pan
- Cinderella
- Pinocchio
- Alice in Wonderland
- Dumbo
- Bambi
- Fantasia
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
- Fun and Fancy Free
- Melody Time
- The Three Caballeros
- Saludos Amigos
- Make Mine Music
Can you now understand why the fifties may just be the greatest Disney decade? With Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, it is hard to pick another decade as the best, and the amazing thing is that we still have two more films from the fifties to go! Tomorrow, Disney will bring us possibly their most romantic film to date, and it doesn't even star humans as main characters. Lady and the Tramp is just ahead!
-Cody Fleenor
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