Peter Pan (1953) Parent Guide
Despite changes in what is considered politically correct, this Disney classic continues to hook fans.
Parent Movie Review
What child doesn’t love a bedtime story? Wendy (voice of Kathryn Beaumont), the oldest child of the Darling family, finds them as much fun to give as receive, and has been entertaining her brothers John (voice of Paul Collins) and Michael (voice of Tommy Luske) with yarns of Peter Pan for quite some time. In a household saturated with wild tales of the green sprite, their exasperated father, Mr. Darling (voice of Hans Conried), vows to put an end to such nonsense by ordering Wendy out of the nursery and into a room of her own. Also in the doghouse is Nana, the family pooch /nursemaid, who has been caught underfoot once too often. The sleepy daughter, resigned to her fate, snuggles into bed one last time in the cherished room shared with her brothers.
As twilight deepens, the world of make believe blends with reality when Peter Pan (voice of Bobby Driscoll) himself, along with his fairy sidekick Tinker Bell, visit the slumbering siblings. Startled awake by a bump in the night, Wendy is delighted to find her hero, and quickly explains she is about to be expelled from the nursery and condemned to grow up! Moved by the plight of the damsel in distress, Peter Pan decides to rescue all of the Darling children from this terrible fate. With a little faith, trust, and pixie dust, compliments of the now very jealous Tinker Bell, the youngsters abandon their cozy cots and fly off to the safe haven of Never Land.
Their adventure on this mysterious island is unlike anything they could possibly have dreamt. Swashbuckling pirates, angry locals, not to mention public enemy number one, Captain Hook (also voiced by Hans Conried), are just a few of the dangers that must be navigated.
Although Peter Pan may not want to grow up, the entertainment industry certainly has. Made in 1953, the rather politically incorrect statements referring to Native Americans and the sexist portrayal of female characters would certainly never fly if this film were made today. Still, this time encapsulated Disney masterpiece continues to hook fans. Perhaps it’s the animated magic and enchanting music, or maybe it’s the classic tale’s reminder of youth’s simple pleasures that appeals to those who reluctantly outgrew bedtime stories.
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske. Starring Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried. Running time: 76 minutes. Theatrical release February 4, 1953. Updated June 4, 2018
Peter Pan (1953)
Rating & Content Info
Why is Peter Pan (1953) rated G? Peter Pan (1953) is rated G by the MPAA
Overall: B Hoping to extend their childhood, Wendy and her brothers take flight to Never Land, the mysterious island where no one grows up, with the help of Peter Pan. This classic Disney tale, with its famous pirates and pixies, will keep the whole family feeling young, but viewers should be aware of the inclusion of a few politically incorrect stereotypes.
Violence: B- The animated violence includes one character being fatally shot and others fired upon by cannons, as well as other objects. Characters are captured several times and involved in numerous swordplay scenes. Bumps, spills, and wrestling matches occur frequently. Character is scalded when too much boiling water is poured into a bath. Characters are forced to walk the plank. A character contends with an alligator determined to eat him. A bomb explodes.
Sexual Content: A- Mermaids wear revealing costumes. Characters rub noses in lieu of kissing. Female characters spar for the attentions of Peter Pan.
Language: A Mild insults only.
Drugs/Alcohol: C Children take health tonic. Rum available onboard a ship and one crewman is portrayed as drunken. Character smokes double-barreled cigar. Characters smoke a peace pipe.
Miscellaneous Concerns: Dialog and lyrics of a song include derogatory statements and stereotypes of Native Americans. Some of the female characters portrayals embody negative stereotypes.
Page last updated June 4, 2018
Peter Pan (1953) Parents' Guide
Never Land, the place of eternal childhood, is actually filled with many grown up themes such as revenge, betrayal, and broken hearts. How do Wendy and her brothers “grow up” during the course of their adventure? What qualities from their juvenile years should adults not abandon?
Although the story of Peter Pan may be pure fantasy, its legacy has helped many children in a very real way when the author, J.M. Barrie donated the royalties from the story to the Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Peter Pan (1953) movie is June 5, 2018. Here are some details…
Home Video Notes: Peter Pan: The Signature Collection
Release Date: 5 June 2018
Peter Pan releases to home video (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) in a Signature Collection. Bonus extras include:
- Stories from Walt’s Office: Walt & Flight – “Think of the happiest things, it’s the same as having wings”. One thing you’ll notice inside Walt Disney’s office are all of the models and pictures of airplanes. Walt loved planes and was an aficionado of flying. As a continuation of the “Stories from Walt’s Office” series, we’ll soar into the world of one of Walt’s favorite pastimes and look at the history behind the company airplane he used to scout Central Florida looking for the perfect place to build his second theme park. NEW
- A “Darling” Conversation with Wendy & John: Kathryn Beaumont and Paul Collins – Join Disney Legend Kathryn Beaumont (the voice of Wendy) and Paul Collins (the voice of John) as they reunite for the first time in many years to reminisce and discuss their experiences working on Peter Pan, meeting Walt Disney and learning to fly … literally. NEW
- You Can Fly” – A new “Oke” rendition and graphic look of the classic Disney song, “You Can Fly,” with fun lyrics on screen and lots of your favorite “Peter Pan” characters. NEW
- “Never Smile at a Crocodile” – A new “Oke” rendition and graphic look of the deleted song, “Never Smile at a Crocodile”, with fun lyrics on screen and highlighting the relationship between Captain Hook and Tick- Tock the Crocodile. NEW
- DisneyView
- Sing-along Version of the film: Sing along with your favorite songs from the movie.
- Growing Up with Nine Old Men – “Peter Pan” is both a story of living with a child’s sense of openness to the world and an acknowledgement that the path to adulthood most often leads away from those qualities. A parallel of sorts to that duality can be found in Walt Disney and his core group of animators, the Nine Old Men, in their lives and in their work. Our short film will look at who they were and the parts they played in one of the most remarkable team of artists that ever worked together.
- Deleted Songs
- Deleted Scenes
- Disney Song Select – Simply play the clip from the movie with subtitles underneath it.
- Audio Commentary Hosted by Roy Disney – Audio commentary hosted by Roy Disney, but carried on by several other people.
- Music and More
- Backstage Disney
Related home video titles:
The Miracle of the Cards is based on a true story of a child who spent time in the Great Ormond Street Hospital. Return to Never Land is Disney’s sequel to this tale.
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