It retains a lot of the details from the book and play later adaptions discarded, J.M. Barrie supervised the production, so it's definitely in the spirit of his work. The biggest exception being the "American-isms" added in. Wendy defiantly leading the boys in singing "My Country `Tis of Thee," Michael and John willing to join Hook's crew "if they're faithful to the stars and stripes," raising the U.S. flag after capturing Hook's ship, and Peter asking if he'd grow up to be president were all jarring. There was a version for the UK with alternate title cards and a Union Jack, I just don't know why anyone thought we needed an "American version."

Special effects ranged from movie to stage play quality, I liked the added drama of the parents seeing their children flying as they raced home, the mermaids appear, don't do much, and awkwardly crawl across the beach into the water. It was a minor disappointment that Mr. Darling and Captain Hook weren't played by the same actor. The actress playing Mrs. Darling (Esther Ralston) was only three and a half years older than Wendy (Mary Brian). True to stage roots, you have a woman as Peter, and casting an eighteen-year-old over a middle-aged woman helps. Anna May Wong as Tiger Lily and a pirate in blackface won't be everyone's cup of tea, but keep in mind when it was made and what it's supposed to be. Speaking of things you wouldn't get in a lot of modern adaptions, Michael stabs a pirate, checks for a heartbeat, and proudly proclaims "I've killed a pirate!" to Wendy.