Tonight's Movie: Peter Pan (1953) at the El Capitan Theatre
PETER PAN has always been a special Disney movie for me. As I wrote last summer when I saw Kathryn Beaumont, the voice of Wendy and Alice, her voice is one of my earliest childhood memories; I had a storybook album with PETER PAN on one side and ALICE IN WONDERLAND on the other which I played more times than I could possibly guess.
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As was the case with CINDERELLA (1950), I loved the exquisitely colored title sequence, and I got a kick out of realizing that Tom Conway, the Falcon himself, was one of the voice actors. In fact, I recognized his voice as soon as the movie started -- he's the opening narrator!
The story is so well known I won't mention it here, other than to say it's funny how my mind tends to mix up the Disney movie with the Mary Martin version which I taped from an NBC broadcast when my oldest daughter was small. (Why on earth isn't that version currently "in print" in an affordable DVD?!) I was thus a bit surprised that the Lost Boys didn't go home with the Darling children at the end!
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A couple of the songs were written by others; Frank Churchill, one of the SNOW WHITE composers, wrote "Never Smile at a Crocodile," and the multitalented Winston Hibler wrote "Following the Leader" with Ted Sears.
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PETER PAN has been released on DVD in a very nice two-disc Platinum Edition and a simpler Special Edition. It will be out in a new Blu-ray/DVD combo pack on February 5, 2013.
The movie has also been released on VHS.
We hope to go see MULAN (1998) at the El Capitan in a few weeks' time!
Previously: Tonight's Movie: Lady and the Tramp (1955) at the El Capitan Theatre and Tonight's Movie: Cinderella (1950) at the El Capitan Theatre.
2 Comments:
This one of my favorite Disney animated films as a young boy. I would enjoy seeing this one on the big screen. Now that I have 9 month old daughter, it is definitely been a lot harder catching screenings in the theater. I can't wait until she is a little older and I can take her to these types of screenings!
Having four children, I can certainly relate to that, Robby! You'll be amazed, though, how quickly time will pass, and before you know it you'll be able to enjoy movies with your daughter. My oldest daughter came along today and it was fun to reminisce about seeing Disney movies with her when she was little! Time really does fly.
Best wishes,
Laura
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