J.M. Barrie Movies

Despite its target audience, the tale of Peter Pan offers a plethora of darker implications ranging from the natural fear of aging and responsibility to discovering sexuality despite the strong inclination to resist all that clashes with youth. A far cry from Steven Spielberg's Hook, director Damion Dietz taps into this seldom seen side of Pan in Neverland. When a seductive Peter Pan (Rick Sparks) and his vocally reluctant sidekick Tinkerbell (Kari Wahlgren) convince adopted siblings Wendy (Melany Bell), Michael (Marcus Reynaga), and John Darling (Wil Wheaton) to join him in Neverland, they had no idea that their destination was a deteriorating amusement park serving as home to scads of confused and startlingly attractive youths. Once there, the Darling family becomes victim to Chief Hook's (Gary Kelley) plot. Obsessed with the youth and beauty of Peter Pan, the disgruntled park maintenance man (Kelley) jumps at the opportunity to kidnap the lost boys after Tinkerbell reveals their location in a drug-induced stupor, realizing that only such an action would prompt a face-off with Peter. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

Steven Spielberg filters J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan through a distinctly 1990s sensibility in Hook. Peter Pan has become Peter Banning (Robin Williams), a 40-year-old mergers and acquisitions lawyer with a permanent scowl on his face and a cellular phone in his belt. Banning has lost any 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). Peter and his family travel to London to visit Granny Wendy (Maggie Smith) who recalls Peter's lost youth and asks him, "Peter, dear, don't you know who you are?" With Peter's children asleep in the same bedroom where the original Peter Pan story began, there is a blinding flash. Peter comes into the room to discover a note from Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman), informing Peter that he has kidnapped his children. Granny Wendy now tells him who he really is and encourages him to re-discover his happy thoughts, transform himself into the Peter Pan of the past, and go rescue his children. With the encouragement of Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts), Peter recalls the birth of his son and once again takes wing. Then it's off to Never Land to rescue his kids. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Paradise Lagoon is the American release title of the British The Admirable Crichton. In this Technicolor adaptation of James M. Barrie's oft-filmed stage play, Kenneth More stars as Crichton, the super-efficient butler for a family of haughty British aristocrats. Though More is true master of the household, he keeps his place, honoring the tightly regulated social structure of turn-of-the-century England. When the family, and its servants, are shipwrecked and marooned on a desert island, only Crichton has the skill and resourcefulness to keep everyone alive. Within a few months, the social order has been reversed: Crichton is the "governor", while his former employers are his willing and eager servants. Lady Mary (Sally Ann Howes), assuming that she will never be able to return to her veddy proper fiance, falls in love with Crichton. But once the castaways are rescued and returned to their London estate, the original master-servant status quo is restored. His marriage to Lady Mary now an impossibility-a fact stressed in no uncertain terms by the young lady herself-Crichton calmly packs his bags and leaves, in the company of maidservant Tweeny (Diane Cilento), who has loved him all along. Barries' satirical jabs at class consciousness (notably in the closing "interrogation scene", conducted by the imperious Lady Brocklehurst Martita Hunt) were not altogether relevant in 1957; thus, Paradise Lagoon concentrates on the property's farcical and romantic elements. Taking advantage of its tropical setting, the film also permitted the tired businessmen in the audience to gaze upon the luscious Sally Ann Howes and Diane Cilento in halter tops and short-shorts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A pet project of Walt Disney's since 1939, this animated version of James M. Barrie's Peter Pan reached full fruition in 1953. Eschewing much of Barrie's gentle whimsy (not to mention the more sinister aspects of the leading character), Disney and his staff fashioned a cheery, tuneful cartoon extravaganza, which cost $4 million and reaped several times that amount. The straightforward story concerns the Darling family, specifically the children: Wendy, Michael and John. Wendy enjoys telling her younger siblings stories about the mythical Peter Pan, the little boy who never grew up. One night, much to everyone's surprise, Peter flies into the Darling nursery, in search of his shadow, which Wendy had previously captured. Sprinkling the kids with magic pixie dust, Peter flies off to Never-Never Land, with Wendy, Michael and John following behind. Once in Peter's domain, the children are terrorized by Captain Hook, who intends to capture Peter and do away with him.

After rescuing Indian princess Tiger Lily from Captain Hook, Peter must save the children, not to mention his own "Lost Boys," from the diabolical pirate captain. In addition, he must contend with the jealousy of tiny sprite Tinker Bell, who doesn't like Wendy one little bit. Breaking with several traditions, Peter had been played by a girl in all previous incarnations, Tinker Bell had always been depicted by a shaft of light, etc ... this "Disneyized" version of Peter Pan may not be authentic James Barrie, but it has never failed to enthrall audiences of all ages. Adding to the fun are the spirited voiceover performances by Bobby Driscoll (Peter), Hans Conried (Captain Hook and Mr. Darling), Kathryn Beaumont (Wendy) and Bill Thompson (Smee), and the sprightly songs by Sammy Cahn, Sammy Fain, Ollie Wallace, Erdman Penner, Ted Sears, Winston Hibler, Frank Churchill and Jack Lawrence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This film version of the famed Shakespearean comedy features Laurence Olivier as Orlando and Elisabeth Bergner as Rosalind. As the story goes, Rosalind, smitten by Orlando and not able to get his attention, disguises herself as a boy to more easily remain in Orlando's vicinity. Eventually Orlando grows to like his new friend and Rosalind is stuck playing a boy with a boy with whom she'd rather be a girl. Confusing? Maybe only Shakespeare could come up with the idea, but director Paul Czinner does a fine job executing the concept. ~ All Movie Guide

We're Not Dressing is a bouncy musical-comedy variation of J. M. Barrie's The Admirable Crichton -- complete with a happier ending, as befitting its jaunty star Bing Crosby. Der Bingle is cast as Stephen Jones, a lowly crew member on yacht owned by wealthy Doris Worthington (Carole Lombard). During one memorable voyage, Doris' inebriated Uncle Dudley (Leon Errol) mans the controls of the yacht, and the result is a shipwreck on a tropical isle. Doris and her marooned society friends are then obliged to take orders from Stephen, the only one among them who knows how to fend for himself. He even manages to win over the icy Doris, though it's quite a struggle right up to the fade-out. Ethel Merman is on hand for a song or two (including a rollicking duet with Leon Errol), while George Burns and Gracie Allen show up on the not-so-deserted island as anthropologists with a full quota of rib-tickling verbal gags. Everyone involved in the making of We're Not Dressing harbored happy memories of the film, though Ray Milland (cast as Doris' snooty society fiancé) had less pleasant memories of the trained bear which figures prominently in the opening scenes. Bing Crosby's musical numbers include two of his best, "May I" and "Love Thy Neighbor." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Le Secret du Docteur is a Gallic rendition of The Doctor's Secret, a play by James M. Barrie. Marcelle Chantal plays Lilian Garner, the bored, disenchanted wife of Richard Garner (Leon Bary). Preparing to run off to parts unknown with her lover Jean Colman (Jean Bradin), Lilian is prevented from doing so when Jean is killed in a motor accident, right before her eyes. The attending physician at the scene of the tragedy is Dr. Brady (Maxaudian), Garner's best friend. Brady is aware that Lilian and Jean were lovers, but he intends to remain mum when invited for a weekend party at the Garland's home. The method by which the truth is revealed is at once clever and cruel but in complete accordance with the mood of the rest of the story. This adaptation of The Doctor's Secret is the French version of the 1929 English-language talkie, which starred Ruth Chatterton as the errant wife and Robert Edeson as the discreet physician. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Doctor's Secret was adapted by director William C. DeMille from James M. Barrie's play Half an Hour. After marrying wealthy Richard Garson (H.B. Warner) for his money and prestige, Lillian Garson (Ruth Chatterton) grows weary of her stuffed-shirt husband and decides to run off with another man. While disembarking from a cab to meet Lillian, her lover is struck down and killed by a hit-and-run driver. On the scene of the accident is Dr. Brodie (Robert Edeson), who happens to be an old friend of Garson's. That evening, at a cocktail party held by Garson, Dr. Brodie begins relating the story of the unfortunate accident victim and his beautiful paramour. As the story unfolds, Garson begins to suspect that Lillian, who is late for the party, is the "woman in the case." When Lillian finally shows up, her husband confronts her with his suspicions. But Dr. Brodie saves the day by lying like a gentlemen, denying that he and the errant wife have ever met before. Doctor's Secret was one of the first Hollywood talkies to be simultaneously filmed in foreign-language versions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As a whimsical adaption of James M. Barrie's stage version of the Cinderella story, this film was not immediately appreciated for the magic created by its cinematography. It has become a classic masterpiece, in the genre of similar films like Peter Pan. The story begins with a very young woman (Betty Bronson) and a ray of light that violates the blackout during a WW I air raid in London. A policeman (Tom Moore) investigates the light, and is beguiled by the young woman and her vivid imagination. In a splendid dream sequence that begins as the woman falls asleep in the snow, this little house maid undergoes a stunning transformation. First she leaves her scullery self behind as she waits for her Fairy Godmother, and then she becomes a glorious Cinderella. She joins the ball of her dreams, where she finds people from her regular life mixed in with the imaginary dancers at the ball. The London bobby's enchantment grows as the story reaches its charming end. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Tommy Sandys (Gareth Hughes) is a poor Scottish boy who has an endless imagination. At the age of 16, he comes to the town of Thrums with his sister, Elspeth (Leila Frost). They meet Grizel (May McAvoy), a sweet young girl whose mother is known as the Painted Lady (Mabel Taliaferro). This woman was deceived by a man and is now unhinged; Grizel is actually head of the household, and she takes care of all the chores. Tommy protects Grizel from the taunts of the local boys, and she falls in love with him. Because of his vivid imagination, Tommy eventually goes to London and becomes a very successful novelist. He returns to Thrums where he finds that Grizel still loves him. In a sentimental moment, he proposes to her. Grizel realizes that he doesn't really love her and she turns him down. So Tommy returns to London where he is lionized by Lady Alice Pippinworth (Virginia Valli) and her friends. This whimsical film was based on two of Sir James M. Barrie's novels, Sentimental Tommy and Tommy and Grizel. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide