Hook (1991)

When Captain James Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy.

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

J.M. Barrie (books), J.M. Barrie (play)

Stars:

Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dustin Hoffman	...	Captain Hook
Robin Williams	...	Peter Banning
Julia Roberts	...	Tinkerbell
Bob Hoskins	...	Smee
Maggie Smith	...	Granny Wendy
Caroline Goodall	...	Moira Banning
Charlie Korsmo	...	Jack 'Jackie' Banning
Amber Scott	...	Maggie Banning
Laurel Cronin	...	Liza, Wendy's Housekeeper
Phil Collins	...	Inspector Good
Arthur Malet	...	Tootles
Isaiah Robinson	...	Pockets
Jasen Fisher	...	Ace
Dante Basco	...	Rufio
Raushan Hammond	...	Thud Butt

Storyline

Peter Pan (Robin Williams) has grown up to be a cut-throat merger and acquisitions lawyer, and is married to Wendy's (Dame Maggie Smith's) granddaughter, Moira (Caroline Goodall). Captain James Hook (Dustin Hoffman) kidnaps his children, Jack (Charlie Korsmo) and Maggie (Amber Scott), and Peter returns to Neverland with Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts). With the help of her and the Lost Boys, he must remember how to be Peter Pan again in order to save his children by battling with Captain Hook once again.

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Plot Keywords:

children | 1990s | caught in a net | hero | duel | 

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Taglines:

What if Peter Pan grew up?

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

(At around fifty-nine minutes) Too Small looks at Peter and says, "Welcome back to Neverland, Pan the man!" and Robin Williams is mouthing the words to remind him.

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Goofs

When Jack and Maggie are in the large rope net that is hanging from the mast of Hook's ship, they are reaching out of the net trying to grab for their Dad's hands. In one shot Maggie is reaching both of her arms out of the net but in the immediate overhead shot she is only stretching one arm out.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Maggie: [as Wendy in the play] Boy, why are you crying?
Peter Pan in Play: I was crying, because I couldn't get my shadow to stick. Besides, I wasn't crying.

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Crazy Credits

After Tootles flies away and the end credits start, one of the stars in the sky continues to glow. According to the Peter Pan stories, "The second star to the right and straight out till morning" is where NeverLand is located.

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Connections

Featured in The Know's Top 10s: Top 10 Pirates (2017)

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Soundtracks

When You're Alone
Music by John Williams
Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Sung by Amber Scott

User Reviews

Pan Is Back

Purportedly Steven Spielberg is not happy with the end product of Hook. I'm at a loss to know why because I think it's an absolutely charming fantasy, using his own peculiar take on the Peter Pan story and extending it.

Robin Williams as Peter Banning is a hard driving lawyer with a wife and two children Caroline Goodall, Charlie Korsmo and Amber Scott respectively. He was an orphan kid who married the granddaughter of Wendy Darling who was Sir James M. Barrie's inspiration for the Peter Pan tale.

But it's all real, Robin Williams doesn't know he's Peter Pan who left Never Never Land for reasons you'll discover in the film. But he left one nasty enemy there in Captain Hook and Hook captures his children to lure him back to Never Never Land where Hook can take vengeance upon him.

Spielberg got some great performances out of his cast which also includes Julia Roberts as the elfin Tinkerbell and Maggie Smith as the aged Wendy. But stealing the film completely in one bravura performance is Dustin Hoffman.

Captain Hook is one of those fabulous roles where the actor can just feast on the scenery and can just go to town with it. It's a role that it is impossible to overact in. I doubt if Dustin Hoffman ever enjoyed himself more in making a film.

Hook got five Oscar nominations in the technical categories, but sad to say did not win anything in 1991. I'm surprised that one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator films beat Hook out for Best Visual Effects, this one is clearly superior in that department if anything.

Robin Williams has his innings as well, trying to remember his past as Peter Pan and get back into Pan like behavior to defeat Captain Hook. As to why he left Never Never Land in the first place. Let's just say he took one too many trips outside his domain and something happened to him that happens to all young men at some point.

Hook is a great piece of family entertainment from Steven Spielberg and Dustin Hoffman's fans will really enjoy it.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 December 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hook

Filming Locations:

Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,522,535, 15 December 1991

Gross USA:

$119,654,823

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$300,854,823

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amblin Entertainment, TriStar Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

142 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby SR (35 mm prints) SDDS (35 mm prints) Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1