Musicals On TV - Peter Pan (1960)

NBC, 1960
Starring Mary Martin, Cyril Ritchard, Joe E. Marks, and Maureen Bailey
Directed by Vincent J. Donehue
Music by Moose Charlap and Jules Styne; Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green

This was NBC's third go-around for this adaptation of the 1954 Broadway show. They broadcast live versions in 1955 and 1956, but this was their first taped showing. We saw Disney's animated retelling of this story back in January. How does a live-action version - with a woman playing Peter - look now? Let's head back to the Darling family's home in London and find out...

The Story: Wendy Darling (Bailey) loves telling her brothers Michael (Kent Fletcher) and John (Joey Trent) stories of Peter Pan (Martin) and his exploits in the magical island Neverland. Their father (Ritchard) isn't as amused by them, their noise, or their nursemaid dog, Nana. Mrs. Darling (Margalo Gilmore) says she frightened off a boy who flew in the window, but he won't hear it. Turns out the boy was Peter Pan himself, and he wants the shadow Nana got off him. After Wendy sews the shadow back on, he shows them all how to use the pixie dust from his fairy friend Tinkerbell and fly to Neverland.

Wendy is shot down by Peter's Lost Boys, who think she's a bird, almost as soon as she arrives. After Peter admonishes them that she's to be their mother, they build a home for her. Thankfully, she's fine. She even stops them from eating cakes that were left by Peter's adversary Captain Hook (Ritchard), admonishing that they aren't good for them. Having been foiled in that plot, Hook tries again, kidnapping Tiger Lilly the Indian princess (Sondra Lee), but Peter, and then her Indian braves, rescue her.

Wendy and Peter play mother and father, but Peter's sad song at this point reminds the Darlings of home. They want to go back, and the Lost Boys insist on coming with them. Peter has no desire to grow up and insists on remaining. Hook and his boys are still determined to get the Boy Who Won't Grow up and take him out for good, but Tinkerbell won't let that happen!

The Song and Dance: You'd think Martin, a middle-aged woman, would be creepy as Peter. She's actually a lot of fun, especially when she's goading Hook with "Mysterious Lady" or leading the Boys in capturing the Indians. Ritchard easily matches her as a hilariously mincing Captain Hook. There's some nifty choreography too, especially with Lee and the Indians right before the kids arrive and Hook and the pirates towards the end.

Favorite Number: Jerome Robbins' dances were recreated for the first three versions in all their rousing glory. "I'm Flying" has Peter showing the Darling children how to take off, and it's pure joy (even when you can see the wires in the flying harnesses). Richard, Joe E. Marks as Smee, and the pirates have a great time with all their numbers, especially "Hook's Tartanella" and "Captain Hook's Waltz" on the ship after they've captured the Lost Boys and Wendy. The Boys and Peter get the lilting "Wendy" as they put up her little home. The most iconic number besides "I'm Flying" may be "I Won't Grow Up," Peter and the Boys' rousing manifesto as they seek adventure and claim they'll always remain young and have fun.

There's two lovely lullabies here. Mrs. Darling sings "Tender Shepard" to her children as she sets them down to sheep, just prior to Peter's arrival. "Distant Melody" is Peter's response to a request for a song as he gently explains why he wants to remain a child.

Trivia: Peter Pan debuted on Broadway in 1954, with Martin and Ritchard in the lead roles. The show was actually closed early to film for television with its original cast in 1955, and again in 1956. It was even more successful in a 1979 revival with Sandy Duncan. Gymnast Cathy Ridgby made several short-lived appearances in Broadway revivals throughout the 90's. Her last appearance was filmed in 2000. Peter Pan showed up in another live NBC broadcast with Allison Williams as Peter and Christopher Walken as Hook in 2014.

What I Don't Like: While the campy Indians depicted here are slightly less offensive than the ones in the Disney version (their big song sticks to nonsense lyrics like "ugga wugga meatball"), they're still obviously white dancers playing Native Americans in stereotypical costumes. I find Martin to be charming and funny, if a bit noisy, but some folks may think her too old or creepy for the role. Older TV prints cut a reprise of "Wendy" and a dance sequence with the housemaid Eliza and the animals of Never Land.

The Big Finale: Worth seeing for Martin and Ritchard's performances and the spirited choreography alone.

Home Media: The 1960 broadcast is currently DVD-only.

DVD