DVD Review: Peter Pan (1924)

It is maddening to realize the amount of silent films that remain lost, despite so many efforts to find and preserve them. So much of cultural history remains missing. The first screen version of J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan" was considered lost until the 1950s when a print was discovered by James Card at the George Eastman house. Other copies turned up, and a full-on restoration was made by the George Eastman house in 1994 by combining two sources. Phillip C. Carli composed and recorded a score, and the finished restoration premiered at the Pordenone Silent Film Festival in 1996.

"Peter Pan" has now been released on DVD and blu ray by Kino Lorber via a new 2K restoration from 35mm film elements, and retaining Carli's beautiful orchestral score. It includes, as special features, commentary by the always brilliant Kat Ellinger, as well as an essay by film historian Fredrick C. Szebin, and an audio interview with actress Esther Ralson.

One of the most magical films of the silent era, "Peter Pan" is remarkable in its use of visual effects while rather closely following the original play, including the original dialog in the movie's intertitles. It is likely everyone is at least generally familiar with the story of Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up, and who takes three children to Neverland where they battle the evil Captain Hook.

It was tradition for the title character to be played by a slender woman on stage, in movies, and even on 1960s telelvsion (by Mary Martin). Betty Bronson, personally chosen for the part by Barrie himself, is warm and brilliant in the role, exuding the magic that the character requires. Mary Brian, although in her late teens when playing the role of Wendy (her screen mother Esther Ralston only four years her senior) is effectively charming, while Jack Murphy and Phillippe De Lacy nicely round out the remaining two children of Mr. and Mrs. Darling. Ernest Torrence appears to be having a wonderful time chewing the scenery as Captain Hook, while George Ali's clever turns as both the pet dog Nana and the alligator that causes Hook to meet his end are among the film's highlights.

But it is the visual effects that really stand out. The flying sequences, the scenes with Virginia Brown Faire as Tinker Bell, and the aforementioned work by George Ali especially (this is the first instance where Tinker Bell is played by an actor and is not just a beam of light as in the stage versions).

Kino Lorber's restoration is typically outstanding with great special features. It is highly recommended to libraries, research centers, historians, and fans of silent cinema.

The blu ray is available at this link: Peter Pan (1924)