Peter Pan (1960) (TV)

Director:

Vincent J. Donehue

Writers:

J.M. Barrie (play)
Jerome Robbins (adaptation)

Release Date:

8 December 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Musical | Fantasy

Plot:

In this magical tale about the boy who refuses to grow up, Peter Pan and his mischievous fairy sidekick Tinkerbell visit the nursery of Wendy...

Plot Keywords:

Aviation | Boy | Childhood | Clock | Crocodile

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Mary Martin	...	Peter Pan
Cyril Ritchard	...	Captain Hook / Mr. Darling
Maureen Bailey	...	Wendy / Jane
Margalo Gillmore	...	Mrs. Darling
Sondra Lee	...	Tiger Lily
Joe E. Marks	...	Smee
Joey Trent	...	John
Kent Fletcher	...	Michael
Jacqueline Mayro	...	Liza
Edmund Gaynes	...	Slightly
Bill Snowden	...	Curly
Carson Woods	...	Nibs
Benedict Herrman	...	First Twin (as Brad Herrman)
Luke Halpin	...	Second Twin
David Komoroff	...	Tootles

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Trivia:

Mary Martin and Cyril Ritchard recreate their Tony Award winning performances in this production.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The wires to aid Michael in flying are clearly visible in the scene in the bedroom when Peter is teaching the children to fly.

Quotes:

Peter Pan: [singing] I'm flying... / Look at me, / Way up high, / Suddenly, / Here am I, / I'm flying.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996)

A television triumph three different times.

It should be clarified that the wonderful Mary Martin actually did "Peter Pan" on television three different times, and I'm relatively sure that only the last version is available on home video. The 1955 broadcast was done on bona-fide live television, as a chapter in the PRODUCER'S SHOWCASE anthology a few years before videotape- and I imagine must've been a sight to see. It was re-staged all over again, live, the following year, and I suspect that this version is on kinescope- but is probably only viewable at the MT&R in New York or L.A. (There are production stills of all the performances, and Martin's costume and hair color are slightly different each time.) It was finally videotaped, in 'living color,' in 1960, and if you are as old as I am, you may remember the network re-broadcasts always being preceded by the blooming NBC peacock. The tape is now a DVD, and still includes the original network cards, but sadly, not the peacock. It holds up quite nicely, although the heavy stage makeup and flying wires are now painfully obvious. But it is a marvelous time capsule of an earlier, gentler, period of TV entertainment.