Peter Pan (1953)
Based on the 1904 play Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up by J. M. Barrie.
Intro song (“The Second Star to the Right”). In Edwardian London, George and Mary Darling's preparations to attend a party are disrupted by the antics of their boys, John and Michael, who are acting out a Peter Pan story told to them by their elder sister Wendy. There is also a dog named Nana who acts as the children’s housemaid. An irritated George demands that Wendy drop the stories and move out of the nursery, since "sooner or later, people have to grow up". Later that night, Peter himself arrives in the nursery to find his lost shadow. He persuades Wendy to come to Neverland, where she will never have to grow up, and she and the boys fly there with the begrudging help of the pixie Tinker Bell (“You Can Fly!”).
A ship of pirates is anchored off Neverland, led by Captain Hook and his first mate, Mr. Smee (“A Pirate’s Life”). Hook wants revenge on Peter for cutting off his hand, but fears the crocodile which consumed the hand, and an alarm clock, knowing it is eager to eat the rest of him. When Pan and the Darlings arrive, Hook shoots at them with a cannon, and Peter sends the Darlings off to safety while he baits the pirates. Tinker Bell, who is jealous of Pan's attention to Wendy, convinces the Lost Boys that Pan has ordered them to shoot down Wendy. Tinker Bell's treachery is soon found out, and Peter banishes her. John and Michael set off with the Lost Boys to find the island's Native Americans (“Following the Leader”); however, the Natives capture the group, believing them to be responsible for taking the chief's daughter, Tiger Lily. The Natives say, “How”!
Meanwhile, Peter takes Wendy to see the mermaids, who flee in terror when Hook arrives on the scene. Peter and Wendy see that Hook and Smee have captured Tiger Lily, to force her to disclose Peter's hideout. Peter frees Tiger Lily and returns her to the Chief, and the tribe honors Peter (“What Made the Red Man Red?”). Meanwhile, Hook takes advantage of Tinker Bell's jealousy of Wendy, tricking the fairy into revealing Peter's secret hideout.
Wendy and her brothers eventually grow homesick and plan to return to London with Wendy singing to all of them (“Your Mother and Mine”). They invite Peter and the Lost Boys to join them and be adopted by the Darlings. The Lost Boys agree, but Peter does not want to grow up and refuses. The pirates lie in wait, and capture the Lost Boys and the Darlings as they exit the lair, leaving behind a time bomb to kill Peter (“The Elegant Captain Hook”). Tinker Bell learns of the plot, just in time to snatch the bomb from Peter as it explodes. Peter rescues Tinker Bell from the rubble, and together they rescue Wendy, confronting the pirates, and releasing the children before they can walk the plank. Peter engages Hook in combat as the children fight off the crew, and defeats him. Hook falls into the sea and swims away, pursued by the crocodile. Peter commandeers the deserted ship and, assisted by Tinker Bell's pixie dust, flies it to London with the children aboard. George and Mary Darling return home from the party, and find Wendy sleeping at the nursery's open window. Wendy awakens and excitedly tells about their adventures. The parents look out the window and see what appears to be a pirate ship in the clouds. George, who has softened his position about Wendy staying in the nursery, recognizes the ship from his own childhood (“You Can Fly”).
TRIVIA
Technology
Similar to previous films, live-action footage was filmed to serve as an aid to animators.
Deleted Scene(s)
A deleted scene shows a final mini-adventure as the Darlings, Peter, and the Lost Boys sail Hook’s ship back to London.
Notable Scene(s)
Tinkerbell’s pixie dust and flying through London