mark.waltz The rebroadcast of this on T.V. in the 1980's was my first of many musical trips into the mind of James Barrie, the author of this theatrical classic. Since then, I've seen this on stage live with Cathy Rigby, took a trip into how Peter got the hook on the notorious captain in a Broadway prequel, and took on an adventure with Barrie himself in his own Broadway musical. There have also been viewings of the recent live remake as well as the Disney version, and research on the many stage interpretations of the story, several of them with completely different songs.So how does this version stand up to the test of time? It's a mixed bag, but I would be compared to a legendary Charles Dickens character if I were to diminish the reputation of this family favorite. Mary Martin is certainly more famous than just "being J.R. Ewing's real life mother". She scored legendary status by starring in the Broadway smashes of several Rodgers and Hammerstein shows and already had done this on tour, on Broadway and on live television when she repeated the part for a videotaped version. With strings obviously attached, she kept the spark going, even though she was nearing 50.The score is pretty complete and the choreography at times emulates what Jerome Robbins had done on stage. In cramped camera quarters, it comes off a bit stagy and claustrophobic, but the dancers are eager to please even though it's often a bit juvenile.Cyril Ritchard is funny and sometimes scary as Hook, although he's not dangerous in the typical pirate sense. His soliloquy over his character's legend is very funny, as is his description of the lovable Smee (Joe E. Marks). It's obvious to me from having been more surprised of how much I loved this on stage that it does work better in the theater. As long as there is an ageless woman around like Martin and the likes of Jean Arthur, Sandy Duncan and Cathy Rigby, this will continue to get produced and audiences will not become sick of it.

echoch1 This thread has some confusing information in it. I think I can add some information.The 1955 version of Peter Pan was done live from NY and then redone the following year. That version was preserved on Kinescope, but not videotape.In 1960, NBC re-staged the production and videotaped it in their wonderful old Brooklyn studios - by the way, I believe that The Cosby Show in the '80s was produced at the same NBC Brooklyn Studios.The 1960 production was videotaped and rebroadcast a number of times, and may be available on VHS now.As the 4-year old son of an NBC publicity flack, I had the wonderful privilege of attending the taping of the show and I have a magnificent b&w photograph of me, in a gray flannel suit - in gray shorts no less - with Mary Martin in full costume.It is one of the treasures of my childhood and Peter Pan has always been a favorite of mine.By the way, there is/was a cast recording of Peter Pan - I want to say that it was on RCA Victor records, since of course, RCA owned NBC. But I have always been under the impression that is was of the Broadway play. This thread implies that the show never made it to Broadway, so I am not sure. However, I am certain that there was a record - vinyl, 33 1/3, long play, etc."I know a place where dreams are born...."Eric

frenchjr25 The version of Peter Pan that we have available to the public today was done in 1960 and done on video. There is a 1955 version, the second one that Martin was in for NBC, that was done on kinescope and still survives but not available to the public. A piece of this version was used on the "TV Guide & TV Land Present: The 100 Most Memorable TV Moments". It should be noted that Mary Martin and her husband had this version of Peter Pan written for them to do on Broadway, according to her autobiography. They also added the classic songs that are now so familiar to many of us, like "I Want to Crow". Mary was also in the original Broadway production of "The Sound of Music", but by the time the movie was made she was considered to old. While she was doing "The Sound of Music" on Broadway, she was in rehearsals for the stage version "Peter Pan". While in the harness made for her to fly there was a problem and she ended up breaking her arm and had to do "The Sound of Music" in a sling. I do wish that NBC would release a special version of Peter Pan that includes both versions (1955 and 1960) and it could include interviews with surviving cast members, and her son Larry Hagman.

suzyqfd what the medium for this production was. It was one of the first Broadway stage productions that had been duplicated exactly for television. The idea was ahead of it's time, and also has preserved Mary Martin's and the rest of the cast's memorable performances which otherwise would have been lost forever. People today are too much into "special effects" instead of good down home theater. All of the performers perform admirably. My son cannot get enough of this video and I'm happy to say that I was able to obtain it when it was reissued a few years back. I wish we had more of this type of entertainment of the "classics". If anyone knows of any, let me know if at all possible.