Remembering Television's Original Peter Pan

Mary Martin as Peter Pan.

With NBC mounting a new live production of Peter Pan on December 4th, I wanted to pay homage to the network's earlier version starring Mary Martin. That classic television special premiered almost 60 years ago, originally as an episode of the anthology series Producer's Showcase. Its success was immediate—Peter Pan became the most watched program in the brief history of network TV. Even more surprisingly, it provided what turned out to be its star's signature role.

In Ronald L. Davis' book Mary Martin, Broadway Legend, the author includes this quote from Ms. Martin: "Peter Pan is perhaps the most important thing, to me, that I have ever done in theater." That's high praise from a legendary star who is also identified with two Rodgers and Hammerstein classic stage musicals: South Pacific and The Sound of Music.

Whole books have been devoted to the history of James M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, which was originally written as a play in 1904 and later transformed into a novel (also known as Peter and Wendy). Actually, Peter made his first appearance as a character in Barrie’s 1902 novel The Little White Bird (portions of which were later published as Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens). Barrie bequeathed all profits from Peter Pan to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for children.

Martin was 41--but didn't look
her age!

In 1954, producer Edwin Lester and stage director Jerome Robbins came up with the idea to transform Barrie's Peter Pan into a Broadway musical. Ironically, just a year before, Walt Disney had adapted Barrie's play into an animated film with songs (though it's not really a musical). Lester hit the jackpot when Mary Martin agreed to play Peter Pan, a part typically portrayed by actresses. Martin was already a huge Broadway star, having won a Tony award for South Pacific.

From the beginning, the intent was to mount a stage musical and then "film" it for NBC television. Moose Charlap and Carolyn Leigh wrote the songs for the original version, which included now-favorites "I've Gotta Crow" and "I'm Flying." After a West Coast tryout, director Robbins decided to add more songs and turned to Jule Styne (already a popular songwriter) and Betty Comden and Adolph Green (who had teamed with Leonard Bernstein for On the Town). The most notable contributions from Styne, Comden and Green were the songs "Never Never Land" and "Wendy."

Cyril Ritchard made a delightful
Captain Hook.

The Peter Pan musical opened on Broadway in October 1954 and, despite a planned limited run that lasted just 152 performances, earned Tony awards for Mary Martin and her co-star Cyril Ritchard (who, as is tradition, played Mr. Darling and Captain Hook).

The stage musical was then recreated on NBC's sound stages for Producer's Showcase and broadcast in March 1955. It was both a popular and critical success, earning Mary Martin an Emmy. NBC showed another live telecast with the same cast the following year. Then, in 1960, NBC mounted a third production, which was recorded as a stand-alone television special. This version was subsequently rebroadcast on NBC in 1963, 1966, 1973, and 1989. It has since been shown on the Disney Channel and released on DVD.

Sandy Duncan as Peter.

Although the Mary Martin Peter Pan (as dubbed by its fans) is the most famous, there have other adaptations of the Broadway musical on stage and on television. Sandy Duncan received a Tony nomination for a 1980 revival, which co-starred George Rose as Captain Hook.  In 1991, gymnast Cathy Rigby starred in a “theater in the round” revival. She also received a Tony nomination and later reprised the role in 1992 and 1998. My wife and I saw Lulu (To Sir, With Love) as Peter Pan in a West End production in the mid-1980s (she was fabulous!).

Mia Farrow and Danny Kaye.

Despite the steady stage revivals, the only attempt to replace Mary Martin as Peter Pan on TV occurred in 1976. The Hallmark Hall of Fame broadcast an entirely new musical with songs by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse. Mia Farrow portrayed Peter with Danny Kaye as Captain Hook. Despite a game cast, it was a rather mundane affair that was quickly dismissed by critics and viewers.

That brings us back to NBC’s Peter Pan Live! starring Allison Williams as Peter and Christopher Walken as Captain Hook. I hope it captures the spirit of the original, which Mary Martin described aptly in the aforementioned biography: “Neverland is the way I would like real life to be...timeless, free, mischievous, filled with gaiety, tenderness, and magic."

3 on 3: Disney Animated Films

Each week this month, the Cafe will present a "3 on 3 panel" in which three experts will answer three questions on a single classic film topic. This week, the Cafe poses three questions on Disney animated films to:  Brandie from True Classics: The ABCs of Classic Film; Alex from The Disney Films; and Toto, our resident Disney authority at the Cafe.

1. What is your favorite Disney animated feature-length film and why?

Alice in Wonderland.

Brandie: Alice in Wonderland (1951). I'm well aware that this is not a popular choice, but it has been one of my favorites since childhood. Even though many literary purists would likely disagree with me, I think Disney's Alice is faithful to the anarchic, satirical spirit at the heart of Carroll's work. Everything about the movie, from the gorgeous animation to the numerous musical snippets to the seemingly random organization of the film's segments, speaks to the innate playfulness embedded in Carroll's original stories. It's a surrealistic piece of pop culture candy, and I enjoy every "mad" minute of it.



Alex: While my answer is partially sentimental, my favorite Disney animated film is Peter Pan. The artistic influence of Mary Blaire is very apparent in the color scheme of Neverland, the characters are memorable and the animation is top notch. It also breaks with convention from other Disney animated films. For starters, Captain Hook is a comical villain. When compared to more sinister antagonists, such as Lady Tremaine from Cinderella or Scar from The Lion King, the obstacles in this film somehow never feel as high, but this adds to its charm. And the fact that the comical villain has a goofball sidekick adds to his appeal. Romance is nowhere to be found in this film. Wendy obviously has a crush on Peter, but the feelings are not reciprocated and his fairy companion Tinker Bell displays her disdain for having another girl around since she too has feelings for the boy who will never grow up. It may not have the emotional weight of some of the other classics, but the ending certainly leaves the viewer with chills when stern Mr. Darling, who wants nothing more than for his children to grow up fast, sees clouds in the form of a pirate ship over the moon and reflects “I have a strange feeling I’ve seen that ship before… when I was a small boy.” It is never established if Neverland was real or a dream, similar to Wonderland, which adds to its appeal.

Beauty and the Beast.

Toto: From its bookend storybook stained-glass window frames where we are introduced to the selfish prince and the curse placed upon him, Beauty and the Beast captured a place in my heart. Belle is a lovely girl who adores her father, reading, and singing. Gaston is a puffed up muscular bore. And we meet a host of charming personalities in the enchanted castle where Belle chooses to live with the Beast to save her father (including dear Mrs. Potts the tea pot, Chip the young cracked cup, Lumiere the charming candlestick, Cogsworth the proper clock, and the dog-like footstool). The music and lyrics by the profoundly gifted team of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman are perfection, especially the Busby Berkeley-like “Be Our Guest,” “Something There,” and the title song numbers. I was surprised at how well I liked Robby Benson as the prince/Beast and was delighted that Broadway performer Paige O’Hara was cast as Belle. Animation studios typically seem to think it is imperative to cast movie stars as their lead vocal talent. I was a little apprehensive about viewing Beauty and the Beast because I love Jean Cocteau’s exquisitely atmospheric La Belle et La Bete. But I learned a very important lesson a few years earlier with Disney’s The Little Mermaid. I adore Hans Christian Andersen’s story and avoided that Disney film because I was afraid it would ruin the classic work. When I finally saw The Little Mermaid and really enjoyed it, I learned how important it is to regard each work separately. Every book or film should stand on its own merits. Disney’s movie ends very differently than Andersen’s and really should.


2. TIME magazine movie critic Richard Corliss recently listed his top 25 best animated films. Most of the list was dominated by recent films. How do you believe the digitally animated films of today compare with the traditional classics of the past?

Brandie: I think Pixar proved back in 1995 with the first Toy Story film that digital animation has the potential to have as much heart and artistic value as the traditionally-animated films that preceded such technological innovation. That being said, not every studio that jumps on the digital animation bandwagon can produce the same level of films as such stalwarts of animation history as Pinocchio, Bambi, Cinderella, etc. As beautiful and thrilling as digital animation can be, if the story is not strong (Alpha and Omega, Igor) and the characters are uninteresting (Space Chimps, Planet 51) or too broadly comedic (Open Season, Over the Hedge, Madagascar), all the technical "razzle dazzle" in the world is not going to make such movies stand the test of time like their predecessors. But movies like Up, WALL-E, The Incredibles and Ratatouille (both of which Corliss ridiculously left off his list), Finding Nemo, the first two Shrek films, and the three Toy Story movies--all of which combine great characterization and storytelling with wit and sheer joy--will, I believe, be among those that will be considered undisputed classics in the future.

Alex: The Walt Disney Animation Studio throughout the years seemed to have their finger on the pulse of what moviegoers wanted to see until about the mid-late 1990’s. Many cite The Lion King as the end of the second golden age. I personally love all of the films from the 1990’s and feel the decline really started in the early 2000’s. I wouldn’t say that any of those films are truly bad (yes, I even enjoy aspects of Home on the Range), but the quality of these films certainly doesn’t match up to most of their predecessors. Even though Pixar is owned by Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studio seemed to be competing with mediocre pictures like Chicken Little and Meet the Robinsons. Now the John Lasseter oversees both studios, this seems to have stopped and Disney is getting back to making films that people want to see. I think a few of the more recent films could go on to become classics, particularly Lilo & Stitch and Tangled. Bolt and The Princess and the Frog were good, but left something to be desired. They could, however, grow in popularity over the years and become true classics. After all, Alice in Wonderland and Sleeping Beauty were both box office bombs when first released. Only time will truly tell.

Toto: Story and direction will win out over flawless look for me any time. Sometimes the pristine quality of digital films can be marred by old or damaged theatre screens.


3. If you could spend a day with one Disney animated character, who (or what) would it be?

Brandie: Genie from Aladdin (1992). I want those three wishes, man!

Alex: I’ve always been intrigued by characters from Fantasia since they never speak (except when Mickey Mouse approaches Deems Taylor). In particular, Yensid, the sorcerer whose name is Disney spelled backwards. I’d love to know his story and how Mickey came to be his apprentice. His face is so stern that he could almost be a villain. While he may not be as fun as some of the more loveable characters in Disney’s cannon, I expect he would be interesting (and hopefully I could try on his really cool hat!).

Toto: I would love to spend a day with the beautiful horse, Maximus, from Tangled. He is brave, intelligent, and faithful. Unlike other Disney animals, Maximus doesn’t speak, yet he is a very good listener and excellent judge of character. He also has a most endearing personality. I think I would have a wonderful day with him and would have to share my time with my sisters Jane and Shelley and nieces Nina and Kara, who all love horses.