I am a fan of Maude Adams, the first American (1905) to play Peter Pan on the stage. In this movie (1924), Betty as Peter had athletic legs and thighs. Resting back on her haunches, and folding her arms, reminded me of how Maude must have looked. They were both women playing a boy's part.
Betty looked quite masculine, but I had to remember that she was female when she kissed the women on the lips. Do I remember right? Did she kiss Wendy and Mrs. Darling? They weren't full blown romantic kisses, and were just little pecks, but directly on the lips and lingering a little too long. It was just a little smarmy for my comfort level. Couldn't the kisses have been on the cheek? Wasn't Peter supposed to hate human emotion, and anything remotely masquerading as sexuality? It was quite creepy.
The Captain Hook in this movie was wonderful. Nana had just the right amount of head wiggling, and communicatively funny nuances. The dad was right-on stuffy, with his becoming more human at the end when he welcomes the Lost Boys into his home. Mrs. Darling was just beautiful. Tinker Belle was awesome when she tried to open the dresser drawer, with her headband reminding me of Wonder Woman. Her flowing gown in the wind, with her long hair, as she struggled with the drawer handle, were just divine. The shadow was well done, and Betty's efforts to use it, after Wendy sewed it on, were just balletically flawless. The pirates were great, and so was Princess Tiger Lily. Using "Indians" as characters seems today quite racist, however. I did feel a strangeness when I saw them pursuing a lion, which we usually see in jungle movies.
I kept looking in the credits to find the same actor portraying Mr. Darling and Captain Hook, which I thought was the tradition, but it was not to be.
I have seen several other Peter Pan movies, including "Peter Pan 2003", "Hook" and "Finding Neverland". I have also seen PP both as a stage play and as a beautiful ballet. In the ballet, Hook danced an hilarious waltz with the upright crocodile, drifting across the stage. It was wonderful. The ballet Peter was played by an adult male.
For finally being able to see "Peter Pan 1924" (silent movie, with sepia coloring and beautiful music), I am totally fascinated. There were excellent acting and special effects in this movie. I am giving it a 15/10 for overall excellence.
Betty looked quite masculine, but I had to remember that she was female when she kissed the women on the lips. Do I remember right? Did she kiss Wendy and Mrs. Darling? They weren't full blown romantic kisses, and were just little pecks, but directly on the lips and lingering a little too long. It was just a little smarmy for my comfort level. Couldn't the kisses have been on the cheek? Wasn't Peter supposed to hate human emotion, and anything remotely masquerading as sexuality? It was quite creepy.
The Captain Hook in this movie was wonderful. Nana had just the right amount of head wiggling, and communicatively funny nuances. The dad was right-on stuffy, with his becoming more human at the end when he welcomes the Lost Boys into his home. Mrs. Darling was just beautiful. Tinker Belle was awesome when she tried to open the dresser drawer, with her headband reminding me of Wonder Woman. Her flowing gown in the wind, with her long hair, as she struggled with the drawer handle, were just divine. The shadow was well done, and Betty's efforts to use it, after Wendy sewed it on, were just balletically flawless. The pirates were great, and so was Princess Tiger Lily. Using "Indians" as characters seems today quite racist, however. I did feel a strangeness when I saw them pursuing a lion, which we usually see in jungle movies.
I kept looking in the credits to find the same actor portraying Mr. Darling and Captain Hook, which I thought was the tradition, but it was not to be.
I have seen several other Peter Pan movies, including "Peter Pan 2003", "Hook" and "Finding Neverland". I have also seen PP both as a stage play and as a beautiful ballet. In the ballet, Hook danced an hilarious waltz with the upright crocodile, drifting across the stage. It was wonderful. The ballet Peter was played by an adult male.
For finally being able to see "Peter Pan 1924" (silent movie, with sepia coloring and beautiful music), I am totally fascinated. There were excellent acting and special effects in this movie. I am giving it a 15/10 for overall excellence.