Based on the classic Lewis Carroll novel, Disney’s animated adventure is a cornucopia of craziness, saturated with silliness from the moment we enter Alice’s wonderland. For Carroll's story, the lucidity of animation seems perfect, and the Disney animators are up to the task in this underrated gem.
Alice (Kathryn Beaumont, PETER PAN) is a young daydreamer who finds herself chasing a white rabbit with a pocketwatch (Bill Thompson, LADY AND THE TRAMP) down a rabbit hole into a strange new world. At first Alice is taken in by the nonsense of the land, but after some time becomes tired of the insanity.
The film is one delightful set piece after delightful set piece, which have a subversive message of predators on children underneath. In addition, depending on your persuasion, the film either has an anti- or pro-drug message as well. The top highlights of the film include the manic un-birthday party led by the Mad Hatter (Ed Wynn, MARY POPPINS), March Hare (Jerry Colonna, MAKE MINE MUSIC) and Dormouse (James MacDonald, THE RESCUERS) and the pompous, hypocritical Queen of Hearts (Verna Felton, PICNIC).
But I would be remise to exclude such memorable characters as the Cheshire Cat (Sterling Holloway, THE JUNGLE BOOK), opium smoking Caterpillar (Richard Haydn, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN), Doorknob (Joseph Kearns, TV’s DENNIS THE MENACE), the pelican named Bill (Larry Grey, PRIVATE PARTS) and Tweedledee and Tweedledum (J. Pat O’Malley, SON OF FLUBBER). Few Disney films have such perfect voice casting as this one does. It's hard not to associate these iconic characters with these voices after having seen the film.
Like many children's tales, there is a subtle message underneath. Alice loves nonsense and isn't focused on her studies. But through her journey to Wonderland, she realizes that nonsense all the time is nonsense. It's quite interesting that a fantasy film would be endorsing logic and responsibility.
Of all the Disney films, this one is the most anarchic, which makes it so delightfully fun to watch. The songs aren’t as memorable as other Disney films, but the zaniness sure makes up for the weaker moments. The structure also barrows a lot from THE WIZARD OF OZ. Mary Blair’s amazing design work adds a surreal and often spooky quality to the Wonderland world. The film is a treat for the eyes and celebrates the silly side in all of us, while reminding us that there is a time for everything.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
