The Magic of 'Finding Neverland' (2005) (V)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Release Date:

22 March 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Short

Plot Keywords:

Movie Connection In Title

Cast

Nellie Bellflower	...	Herself
Andrew Birkin	...	Himself
Johnny Depp	...	Himself
Marc Forster	...	Himself
Richard N. Gladstein	...	Himself (as Richard Gladstein)
Dustin Hoffman	...	Himself
David Magee	...	Himself
Radha Mitchell	...	Herself
Kit Palmer	...	Herself
Joe Prospero	...	Himself
Nick Roud	...	Himself
Kate Winslet	...	Herself

Runtime:

16 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Company:

Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE)

Trivia:

This making-of is featured on the DVD for Finding Neverland (2004), released in 2005.

Movie Connections:

Features Finding Neverland (2004)

'Like Having Another Child'

Most of this bonus feature turned out to be actors praising each other. That can get tiresome but here it wasn't bad since you have one of the strangest actors of our generation being discussed. It's usually interesting to hear what people have to say about Johnny Depp.

"Working with Johnny Depp is like working with a fifth child," commented co-star Kate Winslet. "I have the four children in the movie...and I have Johnny."

Director Marc Foster said, "He (Depp) ultimately represents the man who never wants to grow up. He has this child within him which is still alive and you can see it in the choices of roles he makes. Like the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' stories, he carried those films."

Not only does Depp act young, Dustin Hoffman couldn't believe his looks. "When you stand next to him, you can't believe he's over the age of 20," noted the veteran actor.

There was high praise for Winslet, too. Listen to the some of the comments:

"A consummate actress. Whatever she attacks she attacks in the most original of ways.....One of the more important actress of this generation....Reminds me of Meryl Streep," etc. etc. Joe Propero, who plays one of the Barrie kids said Winslet "was as funny as Depp, and she's very kind and motherly."

Depp was thrilled working with someone of Hoffman's stature. "Going to work each day with Dustin Hoffman is an amazing gift. He's really a funny, funny guy. very quick, clever and creative."

Depp also was awed by his real-live character, J.M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. "Barrie's famous book is he work is pure genius; a masterpiece."

The filmmakers were most nervous about casting the boys. It was hundreds to choose from at first, then narrowed down to 70, and then observed how well the boys got along with each other. The final four fit the bill.

Depp commented, "These boys were so good, so well-behaved it was amazing. I love those kids." Winslet said the same. "They are intelligent, gifted, easy to work with."

In the formal dinner scene in the film, to loosen up the kids, Depp and Foster rigged "fart machines" under the table and it served its purpose, getting the kids to laugh and relax.

A nice finish to this feature was the reminder what Barrie did, meaning all the profits from Peter Pan went to the Great Ormand Street Hospital - the biggest gift the hospital has ever received.