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Peter Pan (1924)
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| Starring: | Betty Bronson, Esther Ralston, Ernest Torrence, Anna May Wong, George Ali, Cyril Chadwick, Mary Brian, Jack Murphy, Ed Jones, Edward Kipling, George Crane Jr., Louis Morrison, Maurice Murphy, Mickey McBan, Philippe De Lacy, Ralph Yearsley, Terence McMillan, Virginia Brown Faire, Weston Doty, Winston Doty |
| Director: | Herbert Brenon |
| Genre: | Silent, Action/Adventure, Fantasy |
| Year: | 1924 |
| Studio: | Kino Video |
| Length: | 102 minutes |
| Released: | November 23, 1999 |
| Rating: | NR |
| Format: | DVD |
| Misc: | Color, NTSC, Black & White |
| Language: | English(Original Language) |
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SYNOPSIS: Ingeniously capturing the mysteries and adventures of childhood, James M. Barrie's timeless play became one of the most popular films of the twenties. Virtually unseen for decades, Paramount Studios' 1924 production of Peter Pan has been fully restored from original nitrate materials, with authentic color tints, and is presented in a deluxe edition with a new orchestral score by Philip Carli.
Betty Bronson stars as Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, who charms Wendy and her brothers to fly with him to Never Never Land. On this distant island of dreams and magic, they struggle to rescue the Lost Boys from Captian Hook (Ernest Torrence) and his band of pirates, encountering along the way the delightful fairy Tinkerbell (Virginia Browne Faire), a man-eating crocodile, and a band of valiant Indians (led by Anna May Wong).
This memorable adaptation -- which in turn inspired later film versions of the story -- features a delightful cast, remarkable special effects by Roy Pomeroy, and fine photography by James Wong Howe (The Thin Man). New transfer from 35mm archive elements.
BONUS FEATURES:
- Orchestral score by Philip C. Carli
- Essay by film historian Frederick C. Szebin
- Photo gallery of production stills and promotional materials
- Reminiscences by actress Esther Ralston
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There are 2 reviews for this movie |
  | Rick | | This classic silent appears to be out of print, so rent it while you can - Netflix doesn't have it, and neither does Blockbuster. Pan is, as was typical until only recently on stage, portrayed by a female (Betty Bronson). The film sticks more or less to the book except for the ending... no film has been true to the book's finale except for an "alternate" ending that was filmed and included on the DVD for 2003 version, which I would have preferred. It would have given the film the sad, nostalgic tone J.M. Barrie intended. The Kino disc is sharp as a tack and has decent contrast. It is oddly paced, and young children might well become restless with it, but it has its rewards, particularly the sequences of Neverland. |
| | Raymond | | Fellow reviewer Rick's comments are bang-on. I'll try not to repeat them. Although the large-gestural acting that so many stigmatize as stilted, exaggerated, hammy, "theatrical", etc., and would have you believe is endemic to silent films, is much in evidence in Brenon's Peter Pan, it constitutes a style I think is appropriate to the story and its pitch to a "family" audience. No other version of PP that I've seen is as innocent as this one, and no other treats the children as pleasingly--these kinds are good performers, full of grace and natural nobility. The film's major drawback is the long nursery with which it begins, which, however well-blocked, is blatantly stage-bound and gives us rather too much of the least attractive members of the ensemble--Nana and Mr. Darling. Once the scene shifts to "the Never Never Land", everything becomes much more spirited and luscious. If you think Disney and Mary Martin did all that was possible with Barrie's warhorse, by all means see this film. --Ray Olson |
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