TriStar Pictures
Steven Spielberg adapted J. M. Barrie’s famous fable of “Peter Pan” through a distinctly modern but disappointing sensibility, resulting in a charmless picture (and one of the director’s artistically weak films).
In this version, Peter Pan is Peter Banning (Robin Williams), a middle-age lawyer specializing in mergers and acquisitions, constantly on his cellular phone.
Banning has lost memory of being Peter Pan, and he is also in danger of losing his wife Moira (Caroline Goodall) and two children, Jack (Charlie Korsmo) and Maggie (Amber Scott) due to neglect.
Peter and his family travel to London to visit Granny Wendy (Maggie Smith) who recalls Peter’s lost youth. Peter’s children are asleep in the same bedroom where the original story began.
When Peter goes into the room, he finds a note from Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) that he had kidnapped his children. Granny Wendy tells him who he really is and encourages him to reclaim his happy past.
Transforming himself into Peter Pan, he sets out to rescue his children. In the process, friendship with Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts) helps him to recall the birth of his children and rescue them.
Despite mixed to negative reviews, which criticizes the production for being overwrought, the movie was a box-office hit.
MPAA: PG.
Running time: 126 minutes.
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Written by James V. Hart, Nick Castle Jr., Malia Scotch Marmo
Released December 11, 1991 Wide
DVD: March 21, 2000
Cast
Robin Williams as Peter Banning/Peter Pan
Dustin Hoffman Captain James Hook
Julia Roberts Tinkerbell
Bob Hoskins Smee
Maggie Smith as Granny Wendy Darling
Caroline Goodall as Moira Banning
Oscar Nominations: 5
Art Direction-Set Decoration (Color): Norman Garwood; Garrett Lewis
Song: “When You’re Alone,” music by John Williams, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Costume Design: Anthony Powell
Makeup: Christina Smith, Monty Westmore, and Greg Cannom
Visual Effects: Eric Brevig, Harley Jessup, Mark Sullivan, Michael Lantieri
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
Bugsy won the Oscars for Art Direction and Costumes. The Song Oscar went to Alan Menken and Howard Ashman for Beauty and the Beast.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day won the Oscars for MakeUp and Special Effects.
