Peter Pan (1960) (TV)

Director:

Vincent J. Donehue

Writers:

J.M. Barrie (play)
Jerome Robbins (adaptation)

Release Date:

8 December 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Musical | Fantasy

Plot:

In this magical tale about the boy who refuses to grow up, Peter Pan and his mischievous fairy sidekick Tinkerbell visit the nursery of Wendy...

Plot Keywords:

Fairy | Pirate | Peter Pan | Children | Captain Hook

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Mary Martin	...	Peter Pan
Cyril Ritchard	...	Captain Hook / Mr. Darling
Maureen Bailey	...	Wendy Darling / Jane
Margalo Gillmore	...	Mrs. Darling
Sondra Lee	...	Tiger Lily
Joe E. Marks	...	Smee
Joey Trent	...	John Darling
Kent Fletcher	...	Michael Darling
Jacqueline Mayro	...	Liza
Edmund Gaynes	...	Slightly
Bill Snowden	...	Curly
Carson Woods	...	Nibs
Benedict Herrman	...	First Twin (as Brad Herrman)
Luke Halpin	...	Second Twin
David Komoroff	...	Tootles

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Vitagraph Studios - 15th Street & Locust Avenue, Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Trivia:

Mary Martin won the 1955 Tony Award (New York City) for Best Actress in a Musical for playing the title role that she recreated in this televised production.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The wires to aid Michael in flying are clearly visible in the scene in the bedroom when Peter is teaching the children to fly.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: Some say that as we grow up, we become different people at different ages, but I don't believe this. I think we remain the same throughout, merely passing in these years from one room, to another, but always in the same house. If we unlock the rooms, we can look in and see ourselves beginning to become you and me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mork & Mindy: Looney Tunes and Morkie Melodies (#2.23)" (1980)

Soundtrack:

Ugg-a-Wugg

Oh, the wonderful memories this brings back...

As I was growing up, this film always had a special place in my heart next to The Wizard of Oz; it was shown live in 1955 and 1960. The 1960 production was preserved on kinescope and then shown once or twice in 1961 or 1962 and never again until 1991 or so. During those years that it was forgotten by the networks, there wasn't a baby-boomer out there that had truly forgotten it. It was one of those magical shows that we all talked about and wished they'd run again. Now, it's finally available on tape and on DVD; the DVD version is very well done and the picture is colorful, bright and clear, even though it's from the only kinescope copy of the live show. It's very much a filmed stage play, and the sets reflect this. It was preserved in color, which is a miracle considering there were virtually no color sets in existence then.

Mary Martin is great as Peter (she was 47 years old when she did this very acrobatic role!), but Cyril Ritchard pretty much steals the production from her with his Hook. He and his pirates are so over the top that the other actors are hard put to keep up. Watch his face and his body during the singing and dancing scenes; he's just a delight. The songs are all wonderful, too. This is a film that probably won't be very popular with the children of the 90's, but my guess is that it was really meant for those of us who loved it when we were kids, because I purchased the DVD the minute it came out. Buy it while it's still available, and enjoy the memories.