I love Disney’s animated Hook very much, but, if I am honest, Cyril Ritchard is my favorite.
On a side note; aside from the original Hook written by Barrie, I am most inspired by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s Black Stache.
I love how each different Hook means something and inspires each of us differently and that we do not always look at Hook as a wholly irredeemable character.
I grew up with the Cathy Rigby and Paul Schoeffler version for the musical so I’m partial to them, but yeah, the musical version of Hook is also fun. It’s interesting how almost all of Hook’s musical numbers in the show involve specific types of dance (“Hook’s Tango,” “Tarantella,” “Captain Hook’s Waltz”). I have wondered why they decided to do that and what they’re trying to say about the character by associating him with such things.
The tango originated in South America in the late 1800s and was common in port cities in bars and brothels. It’s a sort of “spicy” couples’ dance. The tarantella came from Italy and is a very fast, upbeat sort of dance that supposedly got its name from the fact that dancers moved in an almost crazed, hysteric manner in response to the bite of a spider (Lycosa tarantula)…though there is also a couples’ version that can either be romantic and courtly or almost mimic sword fighting. The waltz is a graceful ballroom couples’ dance from Germany that originated in the 1700s. It’s odd but interesting that Hook has so many romantic/couples’ dances associated with him, particularly when he doesn’t really have a romantic interest…unless you count the number “O, My Mysterious Lady” with Peter pretending to be a young lady flirting with him…which was later removed from the show entirely. I’d be curious to see if you or anyone else has thoughts on this.
I admit, I really have a hard time with Black Stache because he’s just so…not Hook to me. He seems like a totally different character from most versions of Hook. But to each his own.
