The Late Movies: Alice in Wonderland

Miss Cellania
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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was written by Lewis Carroll in 1865. The fanciful story was tailor-made for film adaptation, although Carroll had no way of knowing that in the 19th century! Here are ten film versions at which you can take a peek.

1903

The first movie version of Alice in Wonderland was filmed in 1903, only 37 years after Lewis Carroll wrote the story. Directed by Cecil Hepworth and Percy Stow, the film was twelve minutes long, but only eight minutes survive.

1931

The first film version with sound was made in 1931. It was not financially successful.

1933

Paramount Pictures staged a big budget version in 1933, featuring appearances by W.C. Fields, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, and other stars of the day. The story covered both Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking Glass. The entire movie is available at YouTube in ten parts.

1951

Disney's animated version from 1951 is the movie that introduced more people to Alice than any other. Available in eight parts at YouTube.

1966

Jonathon Miller directed Alice in Wonderland for the "Wednesday Play" series on the BBC in 1966.

1983

This 1983 version was an episode of the TV show Great Performances. It starred Richard Burton, James Coco, Nathan Lane, and Eve Arden. Here you see Geoffrey Holder as the Cheshire Cat.

1985

In 1985, a two-part made-for-TV movie featured familiar names like Red Buttons, Sherman Hemsley, Donald O'Connor, Shelley Winters, Sammy Davis Jr., and Scott Baio. The second part follows the story of Through The Looking Glass. This movie can be seen at YouTube in ten parts.

1999

Hallmark presented a made-for-TV version in 1999 starring Miranda Richardson, Martin Short, and Whoopi Goldberg among others. This movie is on YouTube in 14 parts.

2009

The SyFy channel presented the story as a modern miniseries called Alice in 2009. Watch for appearances by Kathy Bates, Tim Curry, and Matt Frewer.

2010

Tim Burton's vision of Alice is in theaters now.

Bonus: Betty In Blunderland

Bettty Boop visited "Blunderland" in this 1934 parody of Alice in Wonderland.

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