This has DEFINITELY been added to the story, and never happened,

I think that dialogue between Barrie and his friend about molestation was added to Finding Neverland not because the makers thought it happened, but for the modern audience's sake. It's bound to cross their minds - indeed whenever I discuss the story of Barrie, someone always asks this. The subject is briefly in The Lost Boys as well (with Arthur and Sylvia) and we know Andrew Birkin is not questioning it! Both films do not dwell on it, but bring it up as someone else saying it, and dimiss it as outrageous. It's not discussed or even thought of again by either films, and Barrie's relationship with the boys is looked down upon for other reasons, much more emotional than dangerous.

Despite his looks, I was so moved by the actor performance as Arthur. Even when re-watching it, I always find myself awash at the scene in which he returns home from the hospital, when Michael abandons him and then he ends up talking to George and Jack about Barrie. He makes me cry in other scenes too.

I think I agree with all Andrew's opinions above, so it will be pointless to just repeat them, but will comment on the draught scene with Michael and Barrie that it is an incredible, not only the actors, but just the dialogue itself, thrilling and heartbreaking. That scene is on youtube, and whenever I get stuck writing, I find myself listening to it and exeperiencing a thick mist with bits of fire.

I also must say, I think Barnaby Holm was awesome as "the one who started it all"...the closest kid I've seen to show the devil in Peter, especially when he smiled.

true, true, and I deleated my own ramblings. As Andrew said, they have nothing to do with Peter Pan, and weren't really a response to the original topic...

Speaking of which, as for the casting of Peter Pan (that is, if one were to use an adult as Speilberg did), I would have definately given a chance to MJ - he's got the movement, which I've never seen really done in any version. I wonder if he could have pulled off the boy in carelessness as well as emotion though? Mia Farrow had that devil in her, I thought so anyway. MJ seemed very shy in his personality...I'm certain he could do Pan's cries in the nightmares as well as his pain in coming into Wendy's nursery or memory of his mother in a soft and unique way. I'm not referring to his controversial life, but as a performer, could he play a murderer, having a love affair... someone that you can't really say is the devil or hero? If his pitch in heartlessness and innocence can vary as much as his dancing, than certainly! I really haven't seen him in anything on screen, so others will have to elaborate on that, or maybe one day I'll spend some time and watch his stuff on youtube. One thing is for certain, I'd be more interested in watching him than Robin Williams, who didn't remind me of Peter at all! But then I don't think MJ could play such a character as the "Pan" that was designed in Hook's not-anything-like-Barrie storyline (as Andrew already pointed out).

I know Barrie wouldn't have liked Hook, but I wonder what he would have said of MJ, or who we would have picked if not Michael. Jumping back to another decade and time in film, didn't JM Barrie once want Charlie Chaplin to play Peter? I remember that from somwhere, but correct me if I'm wrong. Hmm...well, he certainly had the atheletic ability, and emotional/physical affection, and I'm sure I'd fall off my seat laughing to see his humour in killing pirates, but I don't know if I can quite see him as Peter, not exactly a child, nor is he devlish. Charlie was bold in his politics and techniques, but with danger and death, he seems too safe for Peter in flickers. But I'm a poor judge for film, and maybe I'm just thinking of films in those days, and too much of the Little Tramp now! Barrie must have known what he was talking about. 

Ah, would've been nice if we all could see the original Pan performance. I've heard nice descriptions, of course, but I wonder what she was like...

Been gone all day but was hoping to type something to MJ here. The wise words that Mr. Birkin said did an awesome message of RIP far better than I ever could, not to mention breathes a rare breath of fresh air about the Peter Pan connection. And I couldn't agree more...that would have been awesome to see him try the boy who never grew up years ago (though not in any of the versions produced then - or since then even!).

Saw the news yesterday with some people who were talking on and on of all that blah, blah bullshit about Jackson we usually hear, my mum and I both scoffed at the same time for them to shut the F*** for at least one second. But like 96% of the world, they didn't. After which, we both moved away and were quite for awhile until it made my mum sad and she started talking about the half n half. "Don't know 1/4 of the things that really happened! But poor boy, poor man. Michael was so different from Barrie," she said. "Such different kinds of lives and suffering, but he wanted to connect to him." I replied, "now he's met an awfully big adventure."

As for you, Michael, I never really checked out your music, listened to news or ever debated on you, cared for that ranch, nor even knew much about you, but I can't deny that I too was blown away by your frailty and power as you went about your music. There was so much crap in experiencing other people and fame -such is life. Because of all that, you were really a child. So glad you're free and flying now. BTW, my little brother still dances as the wild lost boy that he is to that orca song by you, which I gave him when he was small. We'll both join you and many others in flights through Neverland one day too. Sweet dreams of waking...

good points, Alex. I admit I certainly don't judge the Peter Pan versions fairly as I just can't see Peter without Barrie, but if I had to judge the films on their own, I probably wouldn't care for them. I certainly didn't as child before I knew Barrie even existed. And I'm NOT gonna see them again for a second opinion. Googling PP, I just found the Mia Farrow one on youtube. Never seen it before and am watching it now. Only about 15 minutes in, and I thought I would hate it. Andrew Birkin wrote it, and his scripts are awesome, but artwork usually gets mauled, and indeed, I think we could do without the songs and have more from the story. Still when I'm not fast-forwarding their singing, I find that the rest has somehow captured me. Mary Martin versions and others make me want to throw up (and not just because of the songs!), but Farrow seems so real as Peter...a careless boy, there's something about her emotion. Can't exactly say. Maybe I'll write more later after I finish watching it, but for now, this is the only performance of Peter's character I've seen that I've actually liked - really liked!

i don't know about those glitches, i'm just a member, but if you want to watch the Boy Castaway video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lhktWxen3c&feature=channel_page

but i loooooove the love story and the fairy dance and utterly hearted the "i do believe in fairies" sequence i thought that was soooo sweet!!

Yes, i did too. Both those scenes were two I could bear and quite enjoyed. I only wish they showed more kinds of children like barrie imagined (eg not just several nippers in London, but elsewhere like "and naked papooses in their baskets hung from trees." but that's asking a little much for a film budget. And it was cool how they added the adults in - Mr. Darling saying it to his coworkers made me laugh!) Still the scene was moving. In fact, a few years ago, my baby nephew was dying in the hospital, and after doing all we could do, except wait, I remember, sobbing on the floor, praying and then popping in this blasted video, and crying along with the scene (and then sending letters across cyberspace for others to clap with me, "I do believe, I do, I do!") My nephew made a sudden recovery and came home the next day...true story!

Ah, I wish I remembered this sooner! 

Also, not enough death in any of the Peter Pan adaptations.