Alice in Wonderland (BBC)

Almost all people are familiar with Walt Disney's take on the Lewis Carroll novel Alice in Wonderland along with the live-action films it inspired. However, BBC created their own version of the story in 1966, just fifteen years after Disney.

The black-and-white film is a faithful adaptation of the novel with one unique twist: humans play the supposedly animal characters (the white rabbit, the dormouse, etc). One problem, though, is that their animal names appear in the credits. Because of it, I could not easily picture all the "animal" characters in my head.

One character who remained an animal, though, was the Chesire Cat. He even spoke to Alice through a mist in the sky during one scene. Plus, Alice carried a baby out of a cottage only to watch it flee as a pig. The woman caring for that baby brags about spanking him, so the pig's escape gave me a sense of relief. I also remember these scenes only from the book; they did not appear in the Disney version.

I appreciate how this version tells Alice in Wonderland in a more realistic manner by making the animals humans; in Disney's live-action version, the animals all look more fit for Dreamworks films. 

Another highlight of the film are the scenes showing typical English country parties. It was also pleasant to watch Alice and her sister walk into the meadow wearing fairy tale-esqe farm girl hats. The hymn that plays during the court scenes is another pleasantry, but it's obviously better played in a church.

Alice, seemingly a preteen or young teenager, has minimal speaking lines; she mainly watches events unfold and switches locations. The Mad Hatter also has a memorable performance, especially when repeatedly chanting "no room" and dancing front-and-back in court. However, the other characters are more forgettable. The only notable thing the Queen of Hearts does is exclaiming "Off with her head!"

Most of the surreal situations Alice finds herself in are fairly entertaining. It was especially fun watching Alice follow the "rabbit" down several hallways and stairways. It was also interesting when Alice gets called "Mary Ann" while inside a house. 

The problem with the story, though, is one common in older movies: the pace can slow down. I found it difficult to retain my interest when Alice had to give a speech, for example. This has to do with the film's faulty faithfulness making it predictable, but high engagement and surprises always make up for it. one of the few surprises occurred with the shore story happening late compared to Disney's version.

One more compliment I have to top this review of, though, are the illustrations that accompany the credits. They look like actual book illustrations, the type I usually find in classic novels. 

While not as memorable as Disney's version (no colors, no songs), the BBC's take on Alice in Wonderland is a short and surreal alternative that will enthrall fans of Gothic Victorian England and classic literature. 

Have you seen the BBC's Alice in Wonderland? What do you think about it?