Alice in Wonderland (TV 1966)

Director:

Jonathan Miller

Writer:

Lewis Carroll (novel)

Stars:

Anne-Marie Mallik, Freda Dowie, Jo Maxwell Muller

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anne-Marie Mallik	...	Alice
Freda Dowie	...	Nurse
Jo Maxwell Muller	...	Alice's Sister (as Jo Maxwell-Muller)
Wilfrid Brambell	...	White Rabbit
Alan Bennett	...	Mouse
Finlay Currie	...	Dodo
Geoffrey Dunn	...	Lory
Mark Allington	...	Duck
Nicholas Evans	...	Eaglet
Julian Jebb	...	Young Crab
Michael Redgrave	...	Caterpillar (as Sir Michael Redgrave)
John Bird	...	Frog Footman
Anthony Trent	...	Fish Footman / 2nd Gardener (as Tony Trent)
Leo McKern	...	Duchess
Avril Elgar	...	Peppercook

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

hare | rabbit | tea party | queen | duchess | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 December 1966 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min 72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Jonathan Miller explained that the reason that none of the actors (even those playing non-human characters) wore costumes aside from Victorian period dress, was that he thought it was ridiculous to get big name stars to play parts (as he did in this version of Alice and MGM had done in their 1933 film version) and then cover them up in big costume animal heads so they were unrecognizable.

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Goofs

When the Mock Turtle is singing, the sound does not match up with his lip movements.

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Connections

Referenced in Ravi Shankar Plays for Alice (1966)

User Reviews

Curiouser and Wonderfully Curiouser!

Alice in Wonderland is one of the most astounding works of literature. It has therefore inspired many entertainers to do many different variations of Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking Glass.

Jonathan Miller's BBC version is extremely different from most adaptations of Alice, especially the Disney version (which is not really the most accurate portrayal of Lewis Carroll's logically illogical world). Miller evokes a rather haunting and surrealistic Victorian dreamworld filled with stuffy grown-ups numbly adhering to propriety and social etiquette. Alice is lost in this landscape, trying to find herself and trying to understand the process of growing up.

This variation is clearly more suitable for adults, since the mood is darker and none of the characters have any makeup at all. But the cast is excellent, with appearances by such legends as Sir Michael Redgrave, Sir John Gielgud, and Peter Sellers. Anne-Marie Mallik portrays a more sullen Alice but is perfect for this version of Wonderland.

A unique and artistic production- a must for Alice fans who like to see Lewis Carroll in all forms!