"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is a children's novel published in 1865 by English mathematician Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson using the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. He wrote the book for young Alice Liddell, who asked him to write it after he told her the story. The original title was "Alice's Adventures Under Ground". In 1871 he wrote the sequel "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There". Both books are classics and considered the best examples of the genre "literary nonsense".
Over a dozen cinematic adaptations of the book have been produced since 1903, usually with the abbreviated title "Alice in Wonderland". There have also been plays, operas, ballets, and songs based on Alice. Because there is so much Alice to choose from, this review is of the two-part 1985 adaptation of both books. It is a made for TV special with an all-star cast that was broadcast December 9, 1985 (part 1) and December 10, 1985 (part 2) at 8 p.m. on CBS. The movie was released on VHS January 31, 1995 and on DVD August 1, 2006.
Seven year-old Alice (Natalie Gregory) helps her Mother (Sheila Allen) set the table for tea, then goes outside to see her sister (Sharee Gregory). While playing with her cat Dinah, The White Rabbit (Red Buttons) runs by and says he is late. Alice follows and falls down a dark and frightening rabbit hole into Wonderland. She finds herself in a hall with many locked doors. There is a key for one small door and a bottle labeled "Drink Me". She drinks and shrinks, but now cannot reach the door. A box of candy appears labeled "Eat Me". She eats, grows over nine feet tall, then cries. The White Rabbit runs by and drops a fan which shrinks Alice again and she swims in her pool of tears.
While swimming she meets The Mouse (Sherman Hemsley). Later she catches up with The White Rabbit and in his house becomes normal size. She meets The Caterpillar (Sammy Davis Jr.) and goes to the house of The Duchess (Martha Raye). Alice takes the Duchess' baby away, but it turns into Pat the pig (Scott Baio). Then she meets The Cheshire Cat (Telly Savalas) who sings, "Somehow you strayed and lost your way, and now there's be no time to play, no time for joy, no time for friends--not even time to make amends. You are too naive if you do believe life is innocent laughter and fun."
The Cheshire Cat directs her to the March Hare (Roddy McDowall) and the Mad Hatter (Anthony Newley). In the garden of The Queen of Hearts (Jayne Meadows) she plays croquet. Next Alice visits The Gryphon (Sid Caesar) and the Mock Turtle (Ringo Starr), but is called to attend a trial.
Queen: "In that case, would you be good enough to grovel?"
Duchess: "Grovel?"
Queen: "Yes. Right here on the gravel."
Duchess: "Do you think I'm ready for gravel groveling?"
At the trial The Knave of Hearts (James Joseph Galante) is accused of stealing The Queen's tarts. There is no evidence, and when Alice defends him she grows larger again. The Queen angrily yells "Off with her head!" and has her pack of cards guards chase her. Alice runs, trips, falls, and finds herself back home. Nobody is there, but she notices her cat Dinah on the other side of a mirror with her parents. She starts reading a poem "Jabberwocky" about a scary monster that suddenly materializes. End of Part 1.
Part 2 opens with The Jabberwocky (Tom McLoughlin) scaring Alice, but she wishes it away. The Owl (Jack Warden) in a painting tells her it was a creation of her own fears. After a conversation with talking flowers, Alice meets The Red Queen (Ann Jillian), who is taking the place of The White Queen (Carol Channing) on a chess board. Alice is a pawn and The Red Queen tells her she can only return home if she becomes Queen.
Alice: "It's the Cheshire Cat! Oh, hello, Cheshire Cat."
Cat: "Hello. How do you like the Queen?"
Alice: "Not at all. I don't like that of losing my head. Would you?"
Cat: "I could hardly afford that."
On her way to the eighth square, she meets The Goat (Patrick Duffy), The Horse (Pat Morita), The Gentleman in a Paper Suit (Steve Allen), The Gnat King (George Gobel), Tweedle Dee (Eydie Gorme) and Tweedle Dum (Steve Lawrence). Alice bumps into The White Queen who turns into a sheep. Then she is chased by a giant bird and meets Humpty Dumpty (Jonathan Winters), but runs away when The Jabberwocky comes after her. Next she meets The White King (Harvey Korman) and his Messenger (John Stamos) who take Alice to The Lion (Ernest Borgnine) and The Unicorn (Beau Bridges). The White Knight (Lloyd Bridges) sings and dances with her. Finally she reaches the eighth square, goes into a castle where a feast is held in her honour.
Alice tells everybody she wants to go home and then The Jabberwocky appears and terrorizes everyone. The White Knight tries but fails to rescue Alice. She finds her way back to the mirror and into her house, only to be confronted by The Jabberwocky. Alice tells him he is just her imagination and he disappears. Mother walks in and tells her that she is old enough to join the grown-ups for tea.
Also in the cast are: Donald O'Connor (Lory Bird), Charles Dougherty (The Duck), Shelley Winters (The Dodo Bird), Billy Braver (The Eaglet), Ernie F. Orsatti (The Lizard), Scotch Byerly (Fish Footman), Robert Axelrod (Frog Footman), Imogene Coca (The Cook), Arte Johnson (The Doormouse), Michael Chieffo (Two of Spades), Jeffrey Winner (Five of Spades), John Walter Davis (Seven of Spades), Selma Archerd (Queen of Diamonds), George Savalas (Courtier), Candace Savalas (The Lady in Waiting), Troy Jordan (The Black Cat), Barbi Alison (Oyster), Dee Brantlinger (Lady of the Court), Laura Carlson (Daisy), Patrick Culliton (Red King), Dana Daniels (Court Jester), Merv Griffin (Conductor), Kristi Lynes (Oyster), Douglas Maida (Courtier), Karl Malden (Walrus), Don Matheson (Horseman), Donna Mills (The Rose), Pat Morita (The Horse), Louis Nye (Carpenter), John Stamos (Messenger), Sally Struthers (Tiger Lily), Desiree Szabo (Oyster), and Janie Walton (Oyster).
The teleplay was written by Paul Zindel from Lewis Carroll's two novels. Music was composed by Stephen Deutsch and Morton Stevens. Steve Allen wrote the original songs. Irwin Allen produced. Cinematography is by Fred J. Koenekamp. Special effects are by Stanley Amborn and Joseph A. Unsinn. Harry Harris directed.
This wonderful and enchanting ALICE IN WONDERLAND is one of the best and perhaps the definitive movie version. It's a lavish production with beautiful sets and an amazing all-star cast who give great performances. Some people love the songs, but some viewers hate them. Be aware that it has a dark, sinister undertone running through it because Alice is confused, scared, and homesick. But the timid, frightened little girl matures into a strong and confident young lady. Highly recommended.
