J.M. Barrie wrote Peter Pan in 1911. A much loved classic about the boy who wouldn’t grow up.
Walt Disney who loved the story, wanted to make an eponymous movie on the story. His plan was that Peter Pan would be his second full length animated movie, after Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
After long drawn negotiations, Disney acquired the rights to the story from Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London. Production was to finally begin, when on 7th December 1941, after Pearl Harbour, America joined the World War.
The very next day the US military took control over the studio, and all movies were put on hold. Disney could only make war propaganda films. With the end of WW II in 1945, the studio’s fortunes had ebbed to an all time low and Walt Disney ultimately made Peter Pan only in 1953.
Peter Pan enthralled generations of kids across the US. And when I finally saw it in the 80s, Disney’s magic still shone bright.
Robin Williams’ genius and Dustin Hoffman’s brilliance still could not rival the original Walt Disney animated classic! And let’s not even get started about the strange Tinker belle that Julia Roberts made.
So when a friend asked whether I’d make a Jake and the Neverland Pirates cake for her son, I had no clue who she was referring to. It turns out that the Disney stardust is still enrapturing the current generation of kids.
Here is my rendition of Jake and Izzy and Captain Hook!
Which is your favourite Disney movie?