Alice in Wonderland

This version was done in 1933 and features some major actors of the time, including Gary Cooper, Cary Grant and W.C. Fields. Cary Grant plays the part of the Mock Turtle. W.C. Fields plays the part of Humpty Dumpty. The White Knight is played by Gary Cooper. It's obvious, then, that this version of the film will mix Alice Through the Looking Glass with Alice in Wonderland.

It's not a very good version at all, actually. They start it all wrong by starting it in the winter. Parts are totally left out like the trial. The ending is like a nightmare and totally different from the way Alice in Wonderland ends. The special effects are what would be normal for that long ago, which is not much.

NRA=National Recovery Act. (explain)

Title

Alice. The film starts during the winter with it snowing, so right off it's different from the traditional film version.

Then she sees a white rabbit in the snow. There is also a croquet game set up.

It's clearly established that Alice has fallen asleep. A short time later Alice enters the looking-glass room.

The talking chess pieces.

Then the film moves into Alice in Wonderland territory with Alice spotting the White Rabbit.

Alice falls down the rabbit hole.

Alice in the room of doors. When she drinks the potion she grows taller rather than shorter. Note the rather decrepit nature of the room. Then it goes into the sea of tears section.

She meets the Dodo. There is no caucus race.

Alice meets the caterpillar.

Then its on to the scene with the Duchess.

The Cheshire Cat.

The Tea Party.

The Queen of Hearts. During this section Alice is carrying around a live Flamingo which is struggling to escape. It's a little upsetting, actually, and I don't think something that would be allowed in a film today.

In another very odd redoing of the actual story, the gryphon appears at the croquet game.

The Tweedles.

The Walrus and the Carpenter is actually a cartoon.

The Humpty Dumpty scene.

Then it goes to the party for Queen Alice. The party gets out of hand pretty quickly. Then the Red Queen actually tries to strangle Alice.


Main Index

Main Alice in Wonderland index page