Peter Pan (1953)

77 min. Director: Wilfred Jackson. Cast: Hans Conried, Kathryn Beaumont, Bobby Driscoll.

conventional

Aspect ratios: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 3

Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, Dolby Digital Mono

Street date: 2/5/2013

Distributor:

Disney

introduction by Diane Disney Miller (1:09), recorded at San Francisco's Walt Disney Family Museum,

Viewing options include DisneyView, with artwork by Cristy Maltese replacing the black sidebars, and

Disney Intermission comes to life when your disc goes into "sleep mode," displaying a screen saver made up of clips and games.

brand-new documentary "Growing Up with Nine Old Men" (41:08, HD). Ted Thomas, son of Frank and director of Frank and Ollie and Walt & El Grupo, talks to other offspring of Walt's famed nine animators.

A new Deleted Scenes and Songs section

a return home (4:38) and an alternate arrival in Never Land (5:22) -- make use of pinned-up black & white storyboards, score, and character recordings. demos of "Never Smile at a Crocodile" (2:13) and Smee's "The Boatswain Song" (3:15).

The Classic DVD Bonus Features begin with "Disney Song Selection" (HD) of five songs from the film (HD) with sing-along subtitles.

2002 audio commentary hosted by the late Roy Disney and featuring Leonard Maltin, historian John Canemaker, Wendy's voice Kathryn Beaumont, animators Marc Davis, Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, and Tinker Bell's model Margaret Kerry, et al. 

Classic Music & More includes deleted song "The Pirate Song" (2:22, SD)

"Never Land: The Lost Song" (2:39) explains how Richard Sherman completed an unfinished number penned for the film.

"Never Land" gets a music video (3:16) in which it is performed by Paige O'Hara, the voice of Beauty and the Beast's Belle, in a fancy blue dress, accompanied by a small orchestra, on sets inspired by and excerpting the film.

music video of pop group T-Squad's cover of "The Second Star to the Right" (1:03, SD).

Classic Backstage Disney

1997 featurette "You Can Fly: The Making of Peter Pan" (15:59, SD) Maltin, Thomas, Davis, Beaumont, and Kerry.

Introduced by Ron Clements and John Musker, "In Walt's Words: Why I Made Peter Pan" (7:46, SD) has an actor read a 1953 Walt Disney magazine article explaining his experiences with Barrie's play and how animation allowed for a close adaptation.

"Tinker Bell: A Fairy's Tale" (8:27, SD) Kerry

Clements and Musker also host "The Peter Pan That Almost Was" (21:01, SD), presenting parts of early story treatments that differ from the final film. Line readings are set to storyboard artwork.

"The Peter Pan Story" (12:04, SD) is a vintage short 

Review gear:

  • Panasonic Viera TC-P55VT30 55" Plasma 1080p 3D HDTV
  • Oppo BDP-93 Universal Network 3D Blu-ray Disc Player
  • Denon AVR2112CI Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver
  • Pioneer SP-BS41-LR Bookshelf Speaker (2)
  • Pioneer SP-C21 Center Speaker
  • Pioneer SW-8 Subwoofer