I was lucky enough to see him in Peter Pan live onstage in Anaheim around '66 or '67. He was so deliciously wicked he stole the whole show. Thanks for this clip.
Thank you for posting this. My favorite part in the whole musical and Cyril pulling it off with panache. I listen to this recording all the time. I love his voice.
I remember seeing it on TV in 1955 and again in 1956. One year we watched it at my next door neighbor's house because our TV was broken and theirs wasn't - even though we hated them. I’ve recently been wondering whether this song influenced Menken/Ashman for the song “Gaston” in Beauty and the Beast
I think "Hook" has to be in the show, and in Barrie's original play, I believe Hook was double-casted as Mr Darling, the father of Wendy and the boys. Barrie had a complicated and confusing visions of parenting, women and romantic love and its responsibillities. "Darling" is a Scots name and there is "clan" atmosphere surrounding Peter, the stalwart, innocent, never-aging leader of the Boys. Richard's brilliant interpretation is that the "Hooks" of the world MUST be larger than life, most be erratically tempremental (the show off shooting members of this crew in the over the shoulder mirror trick, with only a shrug at their demise), yet, like all villians, for all their wretched skullduggery, have themselves an arch nemesis in the indefatigable alligator, constantly circling, the swallowed clock ticking ever louder for his remains. And, a faithful Smee always lumbers behind a Hook, adorable and winswome one moment and following rapacious Hooks orders to the letter in another. Disney does NOT capture anything like this in their cartoon versions. Peter Pan should never be taken off the stage and only children allowed to watch it; their parents have already flown home from NeverLand at dawn to live as adults, beyond hope. And if they do not clap to save Tinkerbell, she dies.
![Peter Pan [1960]:](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EecrNTxaUy0/mqdefault.jpg)
![Peter Pan [1960]:](/img/tr.png)
I feel like this whole show is so criminally underrated. Its an excellent take on the Peter Pan story all round and it really deserves more attention
No one has ever played this better than Cyril. No one.
Not even close
I was lucky enough to see him in Peter Pan live onstage in Anaheim around '66 or '67. He was so deliciously wicked he stole the whole show. Thanks for this clip.
Cyril Ritchard was utterly wonderful.
Thank you for posting this. My favorite part in the whole musical and Cyril pulling it off with panache. I listen to this recording all the time. I love his voice.
What an absolutely brilliant piece of theatre; it holds up, maybe better than ever: timeless! Thank you, so much for sharing this with me.
Cyril Ritchard, The greatest Hook of them all.
My childhood memories right here
This is so wonderful!😅😅 I saw the rebroadcast in 1960.
I remember seeing it on TV in 1955 and again in 1956. One year we watched it at my next door neighbor's house because our TV was broken and theirs wasn't - even though we hated them.
I’ve recently been wondering whether this song influenced Menken/Ashman for the song “Gaston” in Beauty and the Beast
If I were Christopher Walken - I would have quit and bowed to the GREAT Captain Cyril Ritchard - and sighed I am UNWORTHTY - I am UNWORTHY!!!
I do feel a bit sorry for Walken though, apparently he really wasn't well at all on the night of the performance. Still unusual casting.
This number got a standing ovation during the theatre production. Mary Martin was not happy and tried unsuccessfully to get it cut.
Cyril Ritchar was the best Hook, Mary Martin wasn't the best Peter Pan. That would be Cathy Rigby
Here here!
Imagine the real Caribbean pirates of the old "bounding main", partying below decks [and watching this]...!
I think "Hook" has to be in the show, and in Barrie's original play, I believe Hook was double-casted as Mr Darling, the father of Wendy and the boys. Barrie had a complicated and confusing visions of parenting, women and romantic love and its responsibillities. "Darling" is a Scots name and there is "clan" atmosphere surrounding Peter, the stalwart, innocent, never-aging leader of the Boys. Richard's brilliant interpretation is that the "Hooks" of the world MUST be larger than life, most be erratically tempremental (the show off shooting members of this crew in the over the shoulder mirror trick, with only a shrug at their demise), yet, like all villians, for all their wretched skullduggery, have themselves an arch nemesis in the indefatigable alligator, constantly circling, the swallowed clock ticking ever louder for his remains. And, a faithful Smee always lumbers behind a Hook, adorable and winswome one moment and following rapacious Hooks orders to the letter in another. Disney does NOT capture anything like this in their cartoon versions. Peter Pan should never be taken off the stage and only children allowed to watch it; their parents have already flown home from NeverLand at dawn to live as adults, beyond hope. And if they do not clap to save Tinkerbell, she dies.
Hugh Laurie could play and sing as Hook in an audio production of Peter Pan the Musical with Mark Williams as Smee and Grey Griffin as Peter.
Seriously, who was Bluebeard and who was Nero?
Hugh Jackman wasn't the first Aussie to conquer Broadway!
What happened to the actor who have played him?
Heart attack in 1977 he was even Elrond in the animated movie of The Hobbit
Sssaas