A subversive and haunting retelling of the classic children’s story featuring legendary actors Sir Michael Redgrave, Sir John Gielgud, Leo McKern, and satirists Peter Sellers, Peter Cook, and Alan Bennett. This surreal masterpiece was filmed for the BBC by stage and screen director Jonathan Miller. Miller’s Victorian Gothic version of “Alice in Wonderland” captures the menacing undertones of Lewis Carroll’s story while poking fun at middle-class England.
Fans of Lewis Carroll’s classic novel for children will be fascinated by this startling 1966 interpretation by Jonathan Miller, a noted British theater director. Influenced by surrealism and Victorian architecture, Miller’s black-and-white version of Wonderland is a dour and creepy place, not the frenetic and charming bustle usually depicted. A brunette Alice (Anne-Marie Mallik) wanders like a sleepwalker, rarely looking anyone in the eye, and has fractured conversations with the likes of the Mad Hatter (Peter Cook, Bedazzled), the Caterpillar (Sir Michael Redgrave, The Lady Vanishes), the Duchess (Leo McKern, Rumpole of the Bailey), and the Mock Turtle (Sir John Gielgud, Brideshead Revisited, Arthur). The result is probably an accurate picture of the adult world seen through a child’s eyes–an unsettling and intriguing vision. Also featuring Peter Sellers as the King of Hearts and music by Ravi Shankar. –Bret Fetzer
This 72-minute BBC B&W production is done with all live actors, no animation, yet is faithful to the book. Quoting from the enclosed folder, “…there was no script; Miller (the director) simply typed out the dialogue from Carroll’s book each day and presented it to the cast on the set, and after a few rehearsals, they would do a take.” Principal characters are portrayed in human form in Victorian period costume, making full utilization of the Tenniel illustrations where possible. For example, the white rabbit (Wilfred Brambell in an outstanding portrayal) is a fussily dressed, brisk-gaited English gentleman with pocket watch, top hat, braided uniform with tails, bow-tie, white gloves, and a white fan. Alice’s dress and hair style is perfectly realized.
In black and white.
Starring Peter Sellers, John Gielgud, Michael Redgrave, Wilfrid Brambell, Peter Cook.
Note: This version was not made for children. The DVD includes Director’s commentary, Cecil Hepworth’s 1903 silent film version of Alice in Wonderland, Dennis Potter’s 1965 biopic, Alice, about the real-life Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Carroll’s creation, Ravi Shankar Plays for Alice, Behind-the-scenes photo gallery by renowned photographer Terence Spencer