Peter Pan (1953) Review- By Michael J. Carlisle

 Title: Peter Pan
Year: 1953
Director: Clyde Geronimi 
Country: US
Language: English

Disney's Peter Pan was the late Michael Jackson's favorite film. He bestowed the name Neverland on his ranch in Santa Barbara, which was complete with a private amusement park and a petting zoo. Unfortunately he was forced to vacate it after controversy regarding his involvement with young children in 2005. Walt Disney himself was quite smitten with J.M Barrie's play; having tried to buy the film rights since 1935. The hold-up in negotiations was because Barrie had bequeathed the rights to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in London.

Wendy and her brothers are whisked away to the magical world of Neverland with the hero of their stories, a boy who never grew up called Peter Pan. Unfortunately they find themselves in the middle of an ongoing war between Peter's gang of rag-tag runaways and the evil Pirate Captain Hook.

Disney's 14th animated feature, Peter Pan represented two "lasts" for Disney: first, it was the final Disney film in which all nine members of the Nine Old Men worked together on it as directing animators; second, it was the last full-length Disney animated film distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. It was intended to follow Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but WWII shelved its production. Although financially and critically successful upon its release, Peter Pan would recieve great criticism from Walt himself as he considered the protagonist to be "cold" and "unlikeable".

Peter Pan never had a profound effect on me as a child, thus I find it difficult to give too much praise. The characters are fluid and life-like; they are splashed with color and go well with the often moody background. The picture has its charm, although the portrayal of North American aboriginals is incredibly distasteful, perhaps even for its time. The songs are superb and instantly memorable. The villain has far more charisma and screen presence than Pan himself.

The film may be exciting for some, as it presents themes of adventure and chivalry. I wouldn't rate Peter Pan highly as I prefer a dozen other Disney films over this, but it certainly isn't bad. Entertaining and beautiful, it's good for at least one viewing. 3.5/5