Hook (1991)

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers (WGA):

J.M. Barrie (books)
J.M. Barrie (play)

Release Date:

11 December 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

What if Peter Pan grew up?

Plot:

When Capt. Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy.

Plot Keywords:

Captain | Villain Played By Lead Actor | Boat | Peter Pan | Swashbuckler

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Capt. Hook
Robin Williams	...	Peter Banning
Julia Roberts	...	Tinkerbell
Bob Hoskins	...	Smee
Maggie Smith	...	Granny Wendy
Caroline Goodall	...	Moira Banning
Charlie Korsmo	...	Jack 'Jackie' Banning
Amber Scott	...	Maggie Banning
Laurel Cronin	...	Liza, Wendy's Housekeeper
Phil Collins	...	Inspector Good
Arthur Malet	...	Tootles
Isaiah Robinson	...	Pockets
Jasen Fisher	...	Ace
Dante Basco	...	Rufio
Raushan Hammond	...	Thud Butt

Runtime:

144 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | South Korea:All | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/6 | Netherlands:AL (DVD rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8/5 | France:U | Germany:6 | Ireland:G | Israel:PG | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:PG | Norway:10

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

When the Bannings fly to England, the pilot's voice is that of Dustin Hoffman (Captain Hook) -- "This is your captain speaking..."

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Cordless phone buried by dog is clearly a toy phone (display is a sticker).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Maggie: [playing Wendy] Boy, why are you crying?
Boy playing Peter Pan: I was crying 'cause I couldn't get my shadow to stick. Besides, I wasn't crying.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: The Kiss Seen Around the World (#3.8)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

Hooked on Sentiment

Here is the second of Spielberg's three great disasters (with 1941 and AI).

His approach to film is heavily sentimental, highly refined. He sticks a coathanger through this narrow keyhole and sees what images he can snag.

Sometimes it connects, at least in enough spots in the film to keep us on the path to wistful hopefulness, to a world that works the way we wish it would, But I am increasingly convinced Spielberg's success has more to do with this core vision of the world, and some mastery at storyboarding, than with any innate understanding of the medium.

And here is an example. Some rather good material in actors by his standards. His support team is at or above average for his productions: Stalwart producer Kennedy, the writer of Contact, production designers of Brazil and Private Ryan, Cinematographer from Casper.

He is no less restrained in Hook than say in Close Encounters. No less sentimental than in Schindler. No less artificial than in Jurassic. No less preachy than in ET.

Hook is Spielberg through and through, but it didn't stick because it was a smidgen over the line, hit the tipping point and turned us off by his pandering.