Peter Pan

[radhead]

The story of Peter Pan has always fascinated me. I wanted to share some thoughts on it and open this thread to anyone else who wanted to add their own.

The Disney version is one of the best depictions of the story that I've ever seen. Walt Disney must have had the same spirit of adventure that James Barrie had, which is such a huge part of the story. I also think that "Second Star to the Right" and "You Can Fly" are the two greatest songs ever created by Disney. I also think that Wendy, John and Michael are three of the best animated characters that Disney created.

There are many differences between the Disney version and the original. For one thing, the lost boys of Neverland are more mischievous and not so good-natured, at least on the surface. Also, in the original story they shot down Wendy from the sky with an arrow (after Tinker Bell tricked them), but in the film Peter saves her from falling. Also, the bomb sent to Peter by Captain Hook in the film was a replacement for a bottle of poison. Tinker Bell drinks the poison to save Peter and the famous scene about "believing" directed to the audience was not part of the film.

Margaret Kerry was the model for the Tinker Bell animators. She was said to have the "best legs" in Hollywood, but it was really her attitude as Tinker Bell that won her the part. (There used to be a dumb rumour that Marilyn Monroe was the inspiration.)

Another version I would like to see is a British TV version that was made in the 60's or 70's. I saw it on television once and it starred Mia Farrow as Peter Pan. In fact, the Disney film is one of the only versions to have the part of Peter depicted by a male youth. They are usually played by adult females.

 

[progressivegal]

I've always been fascinated with Peter Pan too. My favorite version is the Mary Martin one (the musical) mainly because that's the one I grew up with and that's what introduced me to Peter Pan. I remember being really excited to see the Disney version in the theatre when I was 5 (it was being re-released) but I was disappointed that Peter Pan was a boy!
I didn't know Peter was a boys name, I didn't know anyone named Peter. Any hints of Romance between Peter Pan and Wendy where lost on me as a kid (don't ask why I didn't pick up on Wendy calling Peter "boy"). Being at an age when I didn't care much for boys I was very upset to find out that my hero was one, lol. I even remember my Grandma making me a Peter Pan costume for Halloween when I was 4, I made everyone in my family dress up as a Character from the story (my baby sister made an adorable Tinkerbell.)

Anyway... Thanks for the Trivia, I found it really interesting.

 

[mina]

I used to love this movie growing up and I loved the book too! I used to be obsessed with doing my own illustrations for the story when i was about in 7th grade. I would draw and paint scenes from the book. I wonder what happened to those????

 

[radhead]

I've always wondered why Peter was depicted by female actresses. Even James Barrie had a certain actress in mind when he wrote the original play.

 

[radhead]

I love looking at different illustrated books of Peter Pan. Many of the illustrations are done by women.

 

[mina]

I had always thought women were chosen b/c they were limber enough to do all the flying around and still appear graceful .

 

[mina]

I loved the movie Finding Neverland about Barrie. He certianly had an interesting life and imagination.

 

[Theogonia]

I would say female actors were considered over males because I always viewed Pan as a kind of asexual character, not really male or female, sort of in between.

 

[radhead]

I think everything about the Peter Pan character is male. Or I should say, immature male youth. A step above the Lost Boys. Bobbie Driscoll (Disney actor) provided the voice and animation models for many of the scenes in the film. He even used to do a special live character presentation at Disneyland.

 

[fieldlily]

I think everything about the Peter Pan character is male. Or I should say, immature male youth. A step above the Lost Boys. Bobbie Driscoll (Disney actor) provided the voice and animation models for many of the scenes in the film. He even used to do a special live character presentation at Disneyland.

Yes, I agree. The boy who never grows up and lives in never never land.

 

[radhead]

Yes. I think people lose out on the story when they see him depicted by a female. Fortunately I saw the Disney film before seeing a female in the role.

 

[Theogonia]

I think everything about the Peter Pan character is male.

I never quite got that when I read the original story a while ago.

 

[radhead]

Can you give an example from the story that made you think the character was female?

 

[Theogonia]

I didn't say the character was female. I said that he was more of an "it", a neutral sex. And I read the book so long ago that I don't remember it and I don't have any copies of the story. I just remember I got that impression.

 

[radhead]

You must have mistakenly gotten that impression before reading the book, due to all the feminine depictions and illustrations.

 

[radhead]

Another unique thing about the Disney version was the Walt Disney had access to the handwritten stage notes by J.M. Barrie that were never published as part of his play version.

Disney made some minor changes to the story, such as the ending. I think he improved upon it as a whole.

 

[Theogonia]

Meh, the Disney version is saccharine. As is all of their material.

 

[Diane_Windsor]

I've always wondered why Peter was depicted by female actresses. Even James Barrie had a certain actress in mind when he wrote the original play.

I don't know about the James Barrie part, but in stage versions of the play I've been told that females play the lead because they are lighter then men, and it is easier for them to "fly" throughout the play. We also have higher-pitched voices which most grown men do not (you realize that Bart Simpson is voiced by a female?). Also, it is probably that a petite woman's body, including facial structure, looks more like a twelve year old boy's.

 

[Diane_Windsor]

Peter Llewelyn Davies was the little boy that inspired the character Peter Pan. Llewelyn Davies did not like the association and eventually committed suicide.