Piter Pen
(aka PETER PAN)
With: (in order of appearance) : Serezha (i.e. Sergei) Vlasov (Piter Pen/Peter Pan), Lena Popokova (Vendi/Wendy), Dennis Zaitsev (John), Zhenia (i.e. Evgenii) Bulat (Michael), Aleksander Trofimov (Captain James Kriuk/Hook), Natalia Proshunina (Mrs. Darling), Lembit Ulfsak (Mr. Darling), Katia Cherchenko (Din-Din/Tinkerbell), Maksim Turchak, Kirill Lavor, Vania Kashutin, Sasha & Ura Voskoboinik, Anatolii Rudakov, Viacheslav Sokolov (Lost Boys), Georgii Shtil, Aleksander Nazarov, Aleksander Denisov, Vladimir Khlestov (Pirates), Marina Savicheva (Fire Lilly/Tiger Lilly), Galan Mamedov (Chief Tiger Cub).
***
The recently released P.J. Hogan version of PETER PAN provides a good opportunity to examine another live action non-theatrical version of the J.M. Barrie tale, PITER PEN, a 1987 USSR two-part television production.
First and foremost, it must be mentioned this film is more faithful to Barrie’s original novel and play than Hogan’s movie, but perhaps this comparison is not entirely fair. The Russian movie is a ‘teleplay’ and most of the dialogue therein is a direct translation of Barrie’s text into Russian.
To its credit, every plot-point is at least brushed up on here -- even the obscure bits sidestepped by every other director: the Neverbird, the poisoned cake, Peter’s hiding in a cabin and crowing after killing Hook’s men one by one before the final duel with Hook, as well as the amusing circular hunting of Lost Boys, pirates, and Indians.
There are some interesting interpretations of the text as well. Here, Hook actually "bites" Peter’s hand with his teeth on Skull Rock, and the pirate's cake is "poisoned" with rum -- hence all the pirates are very covetous of it.
There are also some additions -- notably a flashback Hook (or Kriuk, as he is called here, played by Alexander Trofimov) has about his childhood which gives some insight into his ambitions, as well as a sequence (decidedly not based on Barrie), in which the crocodile swallows Hook’s hand while the pirate is ‘dueling’ Peter with a game of chess. Although much of the dialogue was very faithful to the book, some of the humor was lost in the delivery and/or translation.
One cannot review a musical without mentioning the numerous songs. Most of those in the movie have unmemorable melodies, with the exception of a few sung by the Indians and pirates. There are sometimes too many songs in a single segment (i.e. the beginning in London) that hamper the story’s progress, and sometimes one particular song is protracted (the mermaids in the lagoon were interesting, but only for the first five minutes of their appearance).
The special effects are overall unimpressive -- sometimes painfully so, especially after the CG technowizardry of the latest movie version of the story. Perhaps the only exception is Tinker Bell (or Din Din, as she is called in this movie) who is done tolerably well by child actress Katia Cherchenko, although still far outclassed by Ludivine Sagnier’s fairy.
Costumes and scenery are uncomplicated and mostly minimalist, the awkward flying is probably disappointing to those used to the ease in Cathy Rigby plays, and the actor who plays Hook has a hard time making it look difficult to swordfight with Peter in the fight scenes. The filmmakers apparently couldn't get the crocodile to swallow Hook realistically for while the croc (a costumed actor) is seen throughout the picture, it is nowhere to be seen when the villain falls overboard at the end!
Ironically, though, it is precisely the visuals that are sometimes the strongest element in this movie. Every character looks his part, even the Indians to an extent -- despite all actors looking recognizably Russian. In particular, Peter Pan (Serezha Vlasov) is appropriately short and young (shorter than the other Lost Boys, Wendy and John). Captain Hook is perhaps less like Barrie described, and is costumed and made up in a more severe style than the usual dandyish one used. Instead of a Louis XIV wig, he has a tight pony tail and swept back hair and wears a rather sober looking black outfit. He does exude menace as a lanky, withering man on the cusp of old age.
There is, in fact, a gorgeous shot of Hook standing face to face with Pan on rocks, silhouetted against the water -- a melancholy, unhurried moment with an intensity unmatched in any scene of Hogan’s movie. Watching this scene one feels as though Barrie’s true vision, suddenly coming to life on the screen. The forests of Neverland, and its rocky shores, are not entirely synthesized inside pavilions as in Hogan’s movie, and appear rather drab in comparison, but give this film a more gritty taste that sometimes pays off.
Overall, this movie is a must-see at least once for purists who speak Russian. For those who do not, I would not really recommend it, unless a copy with subtitles can be obtained. Hogan’s movie is much more lavish, and most performances are better, but a few moments in PITER PEN made me glad I watched it.
-- Hanna Tukachinsky
Video/DVD availability: VHS (Russian language only)
Links of related interest:
(1987, U.S.S.R.) color 142 minutes
Broadcast in the U.S.S.R. in 2 parts on January 1, 1987
Story: J.M. Barrie
Screenplay: Yelena Barinova
Cinematography: Anatolli Kalashnikov
Music: Igor Yefremov
Production Designer: Vladimir Yefremov
Costumes: N. Sardarovai
Directed by Leonid Nachaev
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