Peter Pan (1953)
That's right, Disney's return to form isn't reverting back to the Three Caballeros days for a good while yet. The studio's retelling of J. M. Barrie's beloved children's book might take a few liberties with the story, but it delivers on heartwarming fairytale goodness.
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| Me when someone says there's cake in the kitchen |
Opening with the swoon-worthy song 'The Second Star to the Right,' we're greeted with pretty artwork showcasing the tale to be told, with images of pirate ships, mermaids, and more. Followed by a dreamy aerial shot over London in the twilight, we know we're in for a treat.
After being introduced to the Darling family, including Wendy, John, the adorable baby Michael, and –most importantly – Nana the dog – the familiar Peter Pan theme is initiated. Mr. Darling has no time for childish fantasies-thank-you-very-much, and, while in a comical rage, decides that it's time for Wendy to grow up and leave the nursery. The perfect cue for our pointy-capped hero to enter the scene.
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| 'I made this outfit myself from leaves... well I like it.' |
Peter Pan's entrance into the Darling household and subsequent journey to Never Land is one of the most well-crafted, memorable scenes in Disney's back-catalogue. After chasing his shadow around the nursery (showing off the animator's clever use of light and dark), Wendy helps him to sew it back on – while the resentful Tinker Bell looks on. Tinker Bell is a whole mood on her own, and her signature trail of pixie dust is all that's needed to convey that magical, childlike excitement of going to Disneyland for the first time.
By the time 'You Can Fly' begins, we are fully immersed in the escapist fantasy that Walt Disney intends his audiences to enjoy. The image of Peter, Tinker Bell, and the Darling children flying past Big Ben is a gorgeous, glittering spectacle, with the soaring score helping us lift off into a living storybook.
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| Not pictured: extreme motion sickness |
Unfortunately for romantics, but in good news for schoolboys, the spell that Peter Pan casts over Wendy and the rest of us in whisking her away to Never Land soon crashes and falls, as he turns out to be a precocious douchebag. He has a major hero complex, assuming that everyone will bow to his every whim and he'll always get his way. Despite his obvious character flaws, Tinker Bell is literally out to murder Wendy with jealous rage for Peter showing her any attention at all. In fact, the portrayal of women is one of the film's main problems, making out that female friendships are impossible and every girl – and mermaid – in Never Land is obsessed with Peter. For whoever needs to hear it – you can do better, babe.
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| One pissed off pixie |
However, despite the less-than-feminist moments and the obvious racist issues around the 'Red Injuns' (Tiger Lily, a love interest, is far paler than her tribal counterparts) there is a lot to be commended in Peter Pan. One of which is – of course – Captain Hook. The perfect pantomime villain, complete with sidekick Smee, Hook is both sinister and silly, laying the groundwork for future iconic Disney villains like Scar and Hades. The set pieces with Hook and the crocodile are genuinely funny, while you feel a real sense of threat when he and Peter come hand to hook. Not to mention his impeccable dress coat and luscious locks.
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| When someone suggests using their 'daily exercise' allowance to actually go for a run |
As dawn slowly turns to dusk in Never Land – signified by the animators' very clever use of colour and shadow throughout – it's time to go home. Along the way, characters have learned from their mistakes (Tinker Bell understanding that Wendy will never replace her and coming to her aid), discovered what it means to have a mother (thanks to Wendy's adorable storytime with the Lost Boys), and realised that you can never double-cross a crocodile (enough said). Peter is still a nob, but at least he goes home.
As the glittering golden pirate ship cruises back through the sky towards London, you have a sense that you just awoke from Wendy's pleasant, if dangerous, dream – in contrast to Alice's dystopian nightmare last week. Not a bad way to spend 90 minutes of an evening.
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| Chills. |
Best Song: 'You Can Fly' for backing up one of Disney's most dreamy, magical moments
Disney Detail: This is the first of Disney's signature crocodiles (yes, there are a few of them over the years). The design of the iconic crocodile in Peter Pan who has a taste for Captain Hook is referenced again in other movies like Robin Hood, The Rescuers, and The Sword in the Stone.
Why it's a Classic: It captures the same magical, cozy nostalgia as Disney very early movies like Pinocchio and Snow White, while being firmly planted in the 1950s. A pixie-dust-fulled fairytale with the perfect blend of adventure, romance, and childish innocence. And, of course, it brought us Tinker Bell, who is about as synonymous with the studio as Mickey Mouse himself.
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| Still can't forgive them for leaving Nana behind, tbh. |
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