Peter Pan

Reviewer: Alyice Edrich

The Cartoon

Peter Pan, 1953

The Plot

Wendy Darling receives a visit from Peter Pan, who whisks her off to Never Never land to become of the mother of The Lost Boys.

Starring

Kathryn Beaumont, Bobby Driscoll, Hans Conried, Paul Collins, and more.

Review

What makes Peter Pan so magical that adults can’t help but purchase a copy for the next generation of children? Perhaps it’s the way Wendy’s make-believe characters come to life, telling children that dreams do come true. Or perhaps it’s the fact that the children are whisked away to explore their dreams and in doing so discover the delicate balance between growing up and staying young-at-heart. Whatever it is, Disney’s Peter Pan is sure to be passed down to a few more generations.

I remember the first time I watched Peter Pan as a young child. I was mystified by his ability to find joy in nearly every circumstance—even fighting Captain Hook was fun for Peter. And Captain Hook, with all his ability to strike fear in his crew, he was still a man with fears of his own. Watching Hook act mean one minute and scared the next somehow made all the monsters in my own life seem less frightening. Then there was Wendy Darling, so serious and mature. She seemed to find the delicate balance between responsibility and fun—something I knew nothing about.

But my favorite character was Tinker Bell. She didn’t even have a speaking role, but her actions spoke volumes. She loved Peter Pan and she felt threatened by Wendy who appeared to be Peter’s equal. That jealousy was something I knew a lot about as a child and so I could relate—it wasn’t until I grew up that I discovered how detrimental jealousy could be.

In Disney’s Peter Pan, Peter Pan is a young boy who refuses to grow up. Along the way he invites lost boys to become his companions. Together, they laugh and play and explore the vast world of Never-Never Land while combating the evil, Captain Hook. Every once in awhile Peter Pan leaves Never-Never Land to listen to Wendy Darling’s stories. One evening, he leaves behind his shadow. When he returns to fetch it, Wendy awakens and helps Peter attach his shadow. Peter, excited to finally speak with Wendy whisks her and her two brothers off to Never-Never Land where he hopes she’ll become the “mother” of his Lost Boys. Wendy and her brothers experience many mini-adventures in Never-Never Land, but as exciting as it all is, she’s ready to return home where she can age gracefully.

Your Task

Every child I’ve ever watched has followed Peter Pan with a sword fight of their own; followed by a little game of “Follow The Leader”—complete with song. So tonight, after watching Disney’s Peter Pan, pull out the sheets and make tents of your own. Then hand each child a sword and play “Fighting Pirates”. Then to wind them down, give them each a cape and play “Follow The Leader” around the house, in your back yard, and straight up to bed. For just one evening, forget that you’re a parent and remember what it’s like to be a child—your children will thank you for it!