JM Barrie’s much-loved tale of the boy who never wants to grow up became a charming Disney animated movie in 1953. It’s probably the version everyone remembers best, thanks to the lively animation and timeless tunes like ‘The Second Star to the Right’, ‘You Can Fly!’ and ‘Never Smile at a Crocodile’.
The story is, of course, about the Darling children – Wendy, John and Michael – who are taken to Neverland by the magical Peter Pan. There’s precocious fairy Tinker Bell, of course, and the Lost Boys, as well as bad pirate Captain Hook, who is determined to catch Peter, since he is responsible for Hook losing his hand. (Don’t worry about younger viewers – Hook is an utterly comical baddie and not remotely scary.) It’s not completely faithful to Barrie’s work, but it’s a delightful animated adventure nonetheless.
Is Peter Pan (1953) suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...
Really small children may find Hook scary until they actually see him in action.
If you like this, why not try: Peter Pan: Return To Neverland, Tinker Bell And The Pirate Fairy, Hook, Peter Pan 2003, Treasure Island,