Turns out it’s Disney. Peter Pan very different from the book on which it is based.
“All children except one grow up.” In these words, the British writer J. M. Barry began his classic 1911 children’s novel, Peter Pan and Wendyfilm adaptation of his 1904 play, Peter Pan; or The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Grow Up. The generation-loved story of a boy who refused to grow up and his adventures in Neverland with Wendy and the Lost Boys has been made into movies many times. The most faithful retelling of the story is probably 2003. Peter Pandirector PJ Hogan. However, the most famous and respected cinematic version of Barry’s book is by far the small animated film produced by another creator of the children’s classic: the Walt Disney Studios. Released in 1953 by Disney Peter Pan practically became every child’s introduction to the world created by J. M. Barry. However, there are many differences between the Disney version of Peter’s story and Barry’s original novel. Here are all the ways Peter Pan and Wendy different from the Disney movie.
Tinker Bell isn’t evil, she’s just small
This isn’t really a difference between the book and the movie, but rather an explanation of why Tinker Bell is the way she is. In the 1953 Disney film, Tink is shown to be a very sour and mean fairy. In a scene that definitely wouldn’t go through now, she is fierce because her thighs are too big to fit through the keyhole in Wendy (Katherine Beaumont) box. Throughout the film, she constantly hurts Wendy out of pure jealousy and eventually even betrays Peter (Bobby Driscoll) and the Lost Boys only to get rid of her. But while her actions are questionable, Tinker Bell isn’t a bad person (or fairy). According to J. M. Barry, it is too small to contain more than one emotion at a time. In the author’s words, “Fairies have to be one or the other because, being so small, they unfortunately only have room for one feeling at a time.” This means that when Tink gets mad, she just gets mad. However, she can also be very happy or very sad, it’s just that there are never two things at the same time.
Peter Pan, on the other hand, is a bit sneaky
Peter, on the other hand, is much meaner and more selfish in Barry’s novel than in the 1953 film. He doesn’t care about JohnPaul Collins) and Michael (Tommy Laske), and only sees them as a guarantee that Wendy is there. His reason for fighting HookHans Conried) and, after all, chopping off his hand is not something noble and does not involve self-defense: the Lost Boys simply challenge him to kill the pirate captain, and he agrees. Although Captain Hook remains the villain of the story, you feel a bit sorry for this guy because he actually lost his arm because a group of kids thought it would be fun. However, Peter’s meanness should not be interpreted as a sign of evil either. Like Tinker Bell, Peter is too small for big and complex feelings - or rather, too young. Peter is described as “cheerful, innocent and heartless”. Since he practically grew up in Neverland, he was never taught such things as politeness and morality. His selfishness and cruelty are just the result of completely uncontrollable childish behavior.
The Lost Boys Shoot Wendy’s Bird
In the 1953 film, when Peter and Wendy arrive at Neverland, Tinker Bell flies to the Lost Boys and informs them that Pan has ordered them to destroy the terrible creature hovering over the island. The boys quickly obey their leader’s command and move into position to shoot down the so-called Wendy Bird with pieces of wood and slingshots. They miss all their shots, but manage to destabilize Wendy, causing her to fall out of the sky. Luckily, Peter swoops in and catches her before she hits the ground. In Barry’s version of the story, Wendy is not so lucky: the Lost Boys hit her with an arrow and she falls, seemingly dead. However, Wendy is saved by Peter’s “kiss”: an acorn he gave her as thanks for planting his shadow back at his feet, and which she turned into a necklace.
Mr and Mrs Darling learn that their children are missing.
Both Disney and Mr. Barry agree on one very important point regarding the night Wendy and her brothers flew to Neverland: Mr. and Mrs. Darling (Hans Conried and Heather Angel) were at a fancy adult party. However, while in the Disney film Wendy, John and Michael return home before their parents, in the book they spend countless days in Neverland. Mr. and Mrs. Darling return from a party to find their children missing. The two go through intense pain, not knowing where their children are or if they will ever return. Mr. Darling, in particular, blames himself for his children’s disappearance, as he was the one who chained Nana outside instead of giving her the freedom to guard the children.
Peter is critically injured during a fight at Marooners’ Rock.
“Dying will be an awfully big adventure.” This classic quote by J. M. Barrie, presented in Steven Spielberg1991 Hook, appears in the original novel immediately after Peter’s battle with Hook at Marooner Rock, where the pirate captain held Princess Tiger Lily prisoner. While in the movie Peter defeats Hook and flies away with Tiger Lily safely in his arms, things are a bit different in the book. Peter is severely injured during the fight and even loses his ability to fly, albeit temporarily. While the Lost Boys take Tiger Lily to safety, Peter is left stuck in a rock and believes his time has come. However, his life is saved by Neverbird, who allows him to use his nest as a boat so he can return home.
Tink doesn’t give away the location of the Lost Boys hideout
We’ve already gone through Tinker Bell’s meanness and how she was somewhat exaggerated in the movie. Peter’s right-hand fairy version of Barry may have her issues, but she’s nothing more than loyal to her friends. For example, she never gives away the location of the Lost Boys’ hideout out of jealousy for Wendy, as in the movie. Instead, Captain Hook and Smee accidentally discover the Boys’ secret hideout while walking through the woods.
Hook tries to poison Peter Pan
After learning where Peter lives, Hook immediately goes to kill him in the meanest way possible. However, his plan differs from the book to the film. In the film, Hook sends Peter a bomb disguised as Wendy’s gift, which he keeps captive on his ship. In the novel, Hook tries to poison Peter’s “medicine” while the boy is sleeping. This medicine is actually a harmless liquid that Wendy gives Peter at night as part of her maternal persona, mimicking her mother and Nana’s actions towards her and her brothers.
Hook eaten by a crocodile
Despite Hook’s best efforts, Peter Pan manages to survive until the end of the story. However, the same cannot be said about the fearsome pirate captain. In the Disney movie, the last we see is Hook frantically swimming away after losing his battle with Pan, trying not to be eaten by the ticking crocodile that has been following him since Peter fed his hand to the beast. The audience is left to wonder if Hook will be able to avoid this terrible fate. There is no room for doubt in Barry’s novel: the author makes it quite clear that Captain Hook was devoured by a crocodile.
Peter and Tink try to stop the kids from coming home
After his final fight with Hook, Peter takes command of the Jolly Roger and travels to England to take home Wendy, John, and Michael. But in the original novel, he doesn’t quite agree with the Darling children’s decision to leave Neverland. Instead, he tries to convince them that their parents have forgotten about them so they decide to return to Neverland with him. You see, ever since her children disappeared, Mrs. Darling has kept the nursery window open so they can climb back into their beds at night if they want to. Peter’s plan to convince Wendy, John and Michael that they are no longer needed is to close the window and lock it. However, Peter abandons this plan when he enters the room to find Mrs. Darling sleeping by the window with a sad expression on her face.
Lost boys adopted by loved ones
Wendy, John, and Michael aren’t the only members of Peter’s party who decide to leave Neverland. Whereas in the film the Lost Boys return to the island with Peter after taking the children Homeward Road, in Barry’s book they remain, hoping that Mr. and Mrs. Darling will adopt them. And indeed they do. Barry describes how little by little the boys forget to fly and get used to life in English society. It’s a fitting ending given how much the Lost Boys dreamed of a family, to the point that Peter took Wendy to Neverland, at least in part, to give them an imaginary mother.
Wendy isn’t the only cute girl who flew with Peter to Neverland.
At the end of J. M. Barry’s book Peter Pan, the boy who won’t grow up, returns to Neverland, but promises Wendy that he will return every year to take her on new adventures. At first, he keeps his promise, but when he returns, he no longer remembers Wendy and the boys. In fact, he even forgot about Tinker Bell, who sadly passed away due to the short life of fairies. The next year, Peter forgets to pick them up. He disappears for a long time, until one day he decides to return, only to find out that Wendy has grown up. Although she still yearns to go to Neverland with Peter, she has forgotten how to fly. However, she now has a little daughter named Jane, who is ready for her first journey to the second star on the right, and so on until morning. The book ends with a hint that Jane’s daughter will also visit Neverland with Peter Pan, as well as her granddaughter, her great granddaughter, and so on… This part of the story does not appear in the 1953 Disney film. However, Peter Pansequel 2002, Return to Neverlandall about Peter’s adventures with Jane.
Source: Collider
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