Peter Pan (film)

***Peter Pan*** is a 1953 American animated adventure fantasy film produced in 1952 by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Based on J. M. Barrie's 1904 play *Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up*, it is the 14th Disney animated feature film. The film was directed by Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, and Wilfred Jackson. Featuring the voices of Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried, and Bill Thompson, the film's plot follows Wendy Darling and her two brothers, who meet the never-growing-up Peter Pan and travel with him to the island of Neverland to stay young, where they also have to face Peter's archenemy, Captain Hook.

## Cast

* Bobby Driscoll as Peter Pan, a cocky and adventurous inhabitant of Neverland who never grows up. He is frequently accompanied by his best-friend, the hot-headed pixie Tinker Bell. Walt Disney originally wanted Mary Martin, who was appearing in a stage production of the original play, to voice the character, while Jean Arthur also contacted him about being considered. Driscoll, who was Disney's first contract child actor and had previously starred in such films as *Song of the South* (1946), *So Dear to My Heart* (1948), and *Treasure Island* (1950), was ultimately chosen for the role. This was the first time when a male actor was cast as Peter Pan, breaking a tradition of women portraying him in both films and stage productions. Driscoll also provided some of the live-action reference for the character. *Peter Pan* was Driscoll's last Disney film, as his contract with the studio was abruptly terminated shortly after its release.
* Kathryn Beaumont as Wendy Darling, the eldest and most mature of the Darling children, who loves to tell the stories about Peter Pan and his adventures. For the part, Disney wanted a "gentle and gracefully feminine" voice, which he found in Beaumont, who had previously voiced the titular character in *Alice in Wonderland* (1951) and had just finished working on the film.
* Hans Conried as Captain Hook, a ruthless and obsessive pirate captain who seeks revenge on Peter for having his left hand chopped off and fed to the Crocodile in a battle. Disney initially offered the role to Cary Grant, which the latter was "intrigued with", but eventually Conried was cast, who also served as a character's model for the animators. In keeping the tradition of the stage play, Conried also voiced George Darling, the Darling children's strict, but loving father.
* Bill Thompson as Mr. Smee, Hook's first mate, personal assistant, and comic relief. His fellow crewmen (also voiced by Thompson) tease him into trying to convince Hook to give up the search for Peter Pan.
* Paul Collins as John Darling, at age 8 the older of the two Darling boys. He acts very sophisticated and maturely for his age and is an analytical thinker and skilled strategist. He wears large, black glasses and is tall and slim. All the Darling children wear their nightgowns to Never Land, but he also takes a black top hat and an umbrella with him, showing exaggerated maturity.
* Tommy Luske as Michael Darling, at age 4 the youngest and most sensitive, clumsy, and playful of the three Darling children. He carries a teddy bearwith him to Never Land.