Disney released Alice in Wonderland on 28 July 1951 but held its premiere two days earlier in London.
It was during what I think of as the second phase of the Disney animated features. It’s still a wonderful film. But it doesn’t have the grit of early films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio.
I understand the desire to bring Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to the screen. It has so many cool characters and ideas. But there really isn’t much of a story. “Girl has colorful dream.” And she wakes up just when we start to get some conflict.
Don Quixote has had a similar problem over the years. Gustave Doré illustrated a French translation of the books much later. Today, they are more iconic than the books. And filmmakers seem more interested in them than the story. I believe that’s why most Don Quixote films fail. (Probably the best is The Man Who Killed Don Quixote but it really isn’t a telling of the story and again is more about Doré than Cervantes.)
But I think Alice has received better treatment in film. This version stays very close to the book. The book is a romp and the film is a romp. If you don’t like it, I fear you are dead inside. (Or you’ve watched it too much!)
I rather like the Tim Burton version. I think Linda Woolverton’s screenplay is brilliant in making the book background. Alice is older and she thinks she dreamed of Wonderland only to learn that it was all real! In this way, the two films would work well as a double feature.
If you want to watch it, Alice in Wonderland is available to stream on Disney+. I certainly don’t think it is so great that one must watch it. But it’s pure pleasure. I think of it more along the lines of Fantasia than Lady and the Tramp. It’s more a visual delight not really an engrosing story.
Here is the trailer for the original release:
Other 28 July Anniversaries
Filmmakers
- Joe E Brown (1981-1973): Actor known for Some Like It Hot and The Comedy of Terrors.
- Laird Cregar (1913-1944): Character actor in films like I Wake Up Screaming.
- Carmen Dragon (1914-1984): Early in his career, he composed films scores — most notably for Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
- David Brown (1916-2010): Producer with Richard D Zanuck of Jaws, The Verdict, and more.
- Charles Cyphers (1939-2024): Character actor known for his collaborations with John Carpenter.
- Bruce Abbott (1954-): Actor in many genre films but especially Re-Animator and Bride of Re-Animator.
Films
- The Cyclops (1957): Giant man with a single eye attacks visitors in Mexico.
- National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978): Hijinks at an under-achieving frat house.
- Deep Blue Sea (1999): Scientists create big, smart sharks with typical results.
- Haunted Mansion (2023): A woman buys a house where ghosts follow you when you leave.
Alice in Wonderland via Wikimedia. It is in the public domain.
