Ensofter Overrated and overhyped

Mjeteconer Just perfect...

Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

mark.waltz The rebroadcast of this on T.V. in the 1980's was my first of many musical trips into the mind of James Barrie, the author of this theatrical classic. Since then, I've seen this on stage live with Cathy Rigby, took a trip into how Peter got the hook on the notorious captain in a Broadway prequel, and took on an adventure with Barrie himself in his own Broadway musical. There have also been viewings of the recent live remake as well as the Disney version, and research on the many stage interpretations of the story, several of them with completely different songs.So how does this version stand up to the test of time? It's a mixed bag, but I would be compared to a legendary Charles Dickens character if I were to diminish the reputation of this family favorite. Mary Martin is certainly more famous than just "being J.R. Ewing's real life mother". She scored legendary status by starring in the Broadway smashes of several Rodgers and Hammerstein shows and already had done this on tour, on Broadway and on live television when she repeated the part for a videotaped version. With strings obviously attached, she kept the spark going, even though she was nearing 50.The score is pretty complete and the choreography at times emulates what Jerome Robbins had done on stage. In cramped camera quarters, it comes off a bit stagy and claustrophobic, but the dancers are eager to please even though it's often a bit juvenile.Cyril Ritchard is funny and sometimes scary as Hook, although he's not dangerous in the typical pirate sense. His soliloquy over his character's legend is very funny, as is his description of the lovable Smee (Joe E. Marks). It's obvious to me from having been more surprised of how much I loved this on stage that it does work better in the theater. As long as there is an ageless woman around like Martin and the likes of Jean Arthur, Sandy Duncan and Cathy Rigby, this will continue to get produced and audiences will not become sick of it.

Henry Kujawa Born in 1959, I can't be sure I saw this play on TV in 1960... but we definitely had the soundtrack LP, and I know I watched it in 1963 (not sure about '66 either, but, PROBABLY). Having taped it off the air in 1989, and finally played it back tonight, that makes 3 (or 4!) times I've seen it.I probably listened to the LP more times than any other version, so I'm no doubt coming to this from an unusual place. I used to wonder about the Disney film, as, being so familiar with the Mary Martin stage play, the promos for the Disney film just seemed "wrong" somehow. (Probably the way, as a Ron Ely fan, seeing promos for a Mike Henry TARZAN film made me, as a kid, say, "THAT's not the REAL Tarzan!") Inexplicably, my Dad NEVER took me to see the Disney film, no matter how many times it was reissued, and I finally had to go myself in the late 80's-- pretty close to the time this was finally rerun on TV. I came to love the Disney film on its own merits, though I recognized, especially when I was able to tape the stage play, the big differences.I see it this way... the Disney film was made for "family" audiences, and so, there's maybe about 5-10 minutes worth of it that's truly "embarrassing" for adults to watch. The stage play, however, is aimed at kids... and so, about 90-95% of it is "embarrassing" for adults to watch! I'm talking purely about the story and the way it's told here. The funny thing is, when I watched it in 1989, at the age of 30, it hit me that there were certain things in the story-- certain concepts and ideas-- that would go RIGHT OVER the heads of any kids watching it. I felt you had to be an ADULT to be "mature" enough to "get" what the story was really saying. So, ever since, I've joked that the stage play is aimed at "children and adults-- but no one in between". Teenagers are at that stage of growing up where growing up and being "cool" makes them forget childhood innocence-- but when you get old enough to have kids of your own, if you're lucky, you can remember it all over again.I guess one does go thru "different rooms" as one goes thru life-- because, having gone to quite a number of live stage shows in the 1990s, I found this MUCH easier to watch now than I did back in '89! Cyril Ritchard (who almost reminds me in spots of Rex Harrison) is a RIOT!! And yes, the bit about him almost being "seduced" by the "spirit of the forest" is particularly hilarious.The Disney cartoon may be one of my favorite Disney cartoons-- I adore their version of Tinkerbell!-- but to me, the stage play is the "real" version. I'm so glad someone had the foresight to PRESERVE it for posterity back in 1960-- something I wish they would do with all famous stage plays. (Is there a tape of Julie Andrews' MY FAIR LADY in existence? A few minutes of it were run on PBS as part of a "History of Broadway" documentary and it brought TEARS to my eyes!) Now if only I could see videos of the Sandy Duncan and Bonnie Langford versions of the play...!!

cynthiano I agree that the lead character of "Peter Pan" was masterfully played by the late Mary Martin. The dance routines with the "Indians" were very humorous, but may be considered racist today, especially since the chief was played by a blond (Sondra Lee). My children particularly liked the music and singing. Also they were thrilled with the movie magic of flight, which was pretty good, considering this was a televised stage play from over 40 years ago. I would say the biggest drawback to this movie is also its greatest attribute, which is Peter Pan himself (or herself). My 2 year old kept saying he is a girl. I know it has become a tradition for Peter to be played by a female, but it is rather confusing to young children.

FentonMeiks This is truly a magical movie. The singing, the colors, the flying. Mary Martin embodies Peter Pan so gracefully and whimsically that I cannot imagine this character as played by anyone else. I view this Peter Pan as the best and most classic depiction of the boy who never grew up.