By Steven Suskin
A very different band of British lost boys comes with the "Two-Disc Platinum Edition" of Disney's Peter Pan. This is the 1953 film version, which predated the 1954 Mary Martin-Jerome Robbins stage musical. The best songs came from Sammys Fain and Cahn, including "You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!" If the score can't begin to compare with the songs written for the stage version by Charlap & Leigh and Styne, Comden & Green, the movie is nevertheless pretty nifty. That's Hans Conried as Captain Hook, who followed the film with his featured role in Broadway's Can-Can. Newly restored and enhanced, with deleted songs, featurettes, an alternate opening, games, you name it; all sorts of bonuses that will keep "Peter Pan" fans busy. Walt, himself, even appears to tell you just why he made "Peter Pan."
****
And as a change of pace we have the gripping The 49th Parallel, a 1941 World War II movie that is immensely satisfying despite the fact that it was sponsored in part by the British Ministry of Information. The story tells of a group of escaped Nazis on the run in Canada; they must get to the 49th parallel — the U.S. border, that is — and freedom. The United States was officially neutral at the time, and it was hoped that this film would help convince America to join the Allies. The film seems to have had an effect; it set a new record as the biggest-grossing foreign film in the States. And it picked up an Oscar, too, with Emeric Pressburger winning for original story (beating out "Holiday Inn," "The Pride of the Yankees," and "Yankee Doodle Dandy").
In addition to the considerable suspense generated — will the Nazis make it to freedom in America? — "The 49th Parallel" features some top-notch performers. (Given the governmental backing, this was a patriotic effort with the stars working at reduced rates.) Raymond Massey, Laurence Olivier, Leslie Howard, Anton Walbrook, Eric Portman and a teenaged Glynis Johns. Plus a stirring score by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The two-disc Criterion release features a high-definition transfer, which enhances the numerous shots of the Canadian countryside. Quite a dandy little thriller, which in dealing with enemy aliens raises questions about democracy and freedom which have new resonance 60 years later.
25 Mar 2007
THE DVD SHELF: "Borat," Peter Pan," "Full Monty" and More
(Steven Suskin is author of "Second Act Trouble," "A Must See! Brilliant Broadway Artwork," "Show Tunes," and the "Opening Night on Broadway" books. He can be reached at Ssuskin@aol.com.)
