"Alice in Wonderland" - The Whimsical and Loony, But Semi-Panned Disney Adaptation of Lewis Carroll`s Classic Who Became a Classsic At Last

Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies. 

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And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize

 

 

I know you want to enjoy this :) But you`ll have something to look forward to when you grow up :)

 

 

Don`t ask me why I did
this :) I`m just a child
after all :)

Regardless of the different opinions there are about Disney (for all their scrutinies, criticisms or whatever), it still would be fair to say that they`ve been mostly stuck with staple of quality. They`ve been known for creating well-known, cherished and enchanted classics that have lived on for generations. However, with that said, not all of their films have been universally praised. While Disney are usually divided for their different periods (where some of their timelines have been given more praise than others), there`s been a couple of features in their Golden periods who`s been stuck with a dud-staple. 

The White Witch From
Narnia gave us this spell
:)

However, there are also some who`ve been stuck a staple that`s in between: With a dud-reputation, but still with a stamp with a recognition and redemption which has followed with time. From the Renaissance we cannot look further than Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Who have their fanbases, but were perceived as the Black Sheeps of the Renaissance during their releases (despite how some critics called Hunchback for Disney`s best since Beauty and the Beast). However, from Walt`s era there have been one certain feature: Which is Alice in Wonderland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Alice in Wonderland`s Reputation and My Own Personal History With It

 

It`s without Guns
N` Roses :)

Regardless of how Disney`s versions of the stories are often perceived as the quintessential versions, Lewis Carroll`s (his original name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) Alice in Wonderland happens to be one of the most well-known stories in childrens litterature (which was based on a real life girl Carroll knew from a family he got to know, Alice Liddell. Who he was fond of. Carroll improvised the story when they were on a boat on the Thames River on a Summer`s day when Alice was ten years old. 

And Alice begged Caroll to write it down). And as hackneyed as it sounds, it`s premise lends perfectly for animation. But as for Walt`s version, released in 1951, Alice was a ambitious project and certainly a movie that has been marketed and promoted among Walt`s Pantheon. In many ways, it was also a full circle for Walt. Having already adapted the successful Alice Comedies in the early 1920`s (which was a blend of live action and animation. And was about a little girl who had fantastic adventures in a cartoon universe). A series that ran for several years (Walt made them until the distributor wasn`t interested anymore). And one of them being called Alice`s Wonderland. Despite how it didn`t have connection to Carroll`s stories.

But don`t dream to
come to Wonderland
:) And don`t ask
why :)

However, Alice in Wonderland has also been stuck with a dud-reputation for many years. Some critics completely panned it back at it`s release. And even Disney themselves perceived it as a failure. Mostly because it was a Box Office failure during it`s premiere (which is why it even aired in 1954 as a part of Walt`s Disneyland TV show during his lifetime). And it was never re-released again Theatrically during his time. But the appreciation for the film increased through years: It gained a following during the 1970`s to the Hippie`s (which was the same audience that embraced the re-release of Fantasia). And the appreciation for Walt`s version was certainly increased when Tim Burton`s 2010 remake came along (which this entry won`t be about).

I`m on top of
the chain :)
Because I can
burn those who
dares to climb
up to me :)

It`s a pity that
Johnny Depp
couldn`t be here
with us:)

As for my own personal experience with Walt`s Alice, I remember actually tricking my parents to rent it when I was 9 years old (forgive me, I was just a kid after all). And I remember liking it quite well. It was never a film that I personally owned (despite wanting to). And I only happened to see it twice as a child (revisiting the film again as an adult made me realize how much I had forgotten about it. Besides it`s first and last scenes). But becoming the Disney obsessed buff that I ended up being as a child (and adult), I happened to learn during my childhood about it`s dud staple. And some acquaintances of mine happened to not like it for it`s episodic nature and structure. And yes, that revelation was somewhat of a surprise for me at the time, since I`ve happened to like the film a lot.

Behind the Scenes Information

 

At least I`m glad this mirror
can`t talk. Like the one from
the Wikced Queen :)

The original Alice in Wonderland book was a favorite of Walt (his favorite one from any English author). And as for Disney`s everknowing staple of Disneyfication, Walt actually wanted to stick close to the book. But it took Walt many years before he got Alice on screen.

It may be small, but at least
it`s my castle :)

It was suggested during the 1920`s and it could`ve been Walt`s very first feature. As he bought the rights to the illustrations in 1931. But when Paramounts Pictures made their own version in 1933 (which some of the Disney crew saw and didn`t like, because it was too dark), Walt postponed the project (despite how it somehow surfaced in Mickey Mouse`s Through the Mirror in 1936. In 1937, Walt gained interest in the story again and registered the story in 1938. The 1939 draft was actually pretty faithful to the Novel. A story guy named David Hall made various pictures who were put in as a reel (with many discarded characters). But Walt was not happy about the results, so it was once again postponed. 

I`m a furless version :) So
don`t worry, you can eat me :)

Another problem with Alice was that it was a story all about nonsense. With few sympathetic characters who had just monologues to themselves. So there were suggestions of changing the story. Walt even brought intellectual screenwriters like Aldous Huxley, Frank Nougent and other literally types to write the screenplay.

I`m not sleeping, I`m just
pretending :)

The former sat on the first five story meetings and was never seen again. But Walt wanted those guys for publicity. Alice was suggested again during the 40`s, but delayed due to the war.  Still Walt was toying whether the project should`ve been live action oriented or a blend (which it certainly was in the 1945 treatment. When Alice was transforming herself into a cartoon character while entering Wonderland. And looking for Dinah, who was going to be the Chesire Cat. And the Queen was the only one who could break the spell. And when the animated Alice would wake up, she would still have the watch from the Rabbit). They considered of having an live action Alice entering an animated Wonderland. Yet they realized that animation was the most suitable medium for the story in 1946.

Don`t worry, I`m not allergic,
so I can do this :)

Walt had even fashioned Alice with actresses like Mary Pickford and Ginger Rogers (who funny enough did her own recordings of the Alice story with some songs). But the story had a lot of problems (with the comedy and how to adapt the puns from the book). Walt bought the rights to the John Tenniel illustrations, but found they were too intricate to use in animation (and too dark). with the exception of character designs. The true challenge with Alice was to transfer the verbal nonsense into visual animation. Cliff Edwards (Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio) had originally voiced a character who was deleted. The scene with the Caterpillar is pretty much identical with the original scene in the book. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Behind the Scenes Information Part II

 

No, this expression doesn`t
mean trouble :) It means that
I`m conceited :)

Alice was essentially the most troubled production from Walt. Originally the gags were going to be more Donald Duck-oriented. But Walt encouraged them to look at the book. They wanted to be as musical and funny as they could and not stick so much to the litteral qualities, but to the spirit of the book. Milt Kahl and Marc Davis animated a lot of Alice. Eric Larsson animated the Caterpillar (which was almost a self-portrait). Ward Kimball directed the sequences with the Chesire Cat (who thought he was cool), while John Loundsberry was his animator. Kimball was also in charge of Tweedeldum/Tweedeldee, The Walrus/The Carpenter and the Mad Tea Party. And since Kimball liked the crazy characters, it was right up his alley. 

We are the new Popples :)

The crew decided to give every segment it`s own song. Which made Alice the movie with most songs (among 14). And giving the situations musical numbers was a fun thing about the project. Originally the songs were going to be more syrupy, but Walt realized the songs needed to be more novelty. That`s why he called Cinderella`s songwriting team, Tin Pan Alley`s Mack David, Jerry Livingston and Al Hoffman, Bob Hilliard and Sammy Fain. And many of the original lyrics were lifted directly from Carroll`s texts. And one deleted song, Beyond the Laughing Sky, ended up in Peter Pan as The Second Star to The Right. And despite Alice`s dud-reputation, it was nominated for an Academy Award for it`s score.

You`ll be as adorable as me
with those glasses:)

Each sequence of the story had it`s own director, because it was so easy to do for to it`s episodic structure. The Poem about the Jabberwocky inspired the Tulgey Woods. Originally Alice was going to encounter danger in the Tulgey-woods by a Jabberwocky and other characters from the sequel book, Through the Looking Glass. But the Jabberwock lyrics survived in The Chesire Cat`s song. The Cards had live action footage and was even deliberately choreographed. The man who worked with the choreography worked so much with it that he didn`t tell anyone at the studio. So they worried about him. 

Yes, this is an attraction ride :)
I wasn`t captured by the cat. I
would never admit that :)

And believe it or not, but originally the "Drink Me"-bottle was going to have a voice. The White Rabbit would even break his glasses and Alice would originally find another pair to him. Originally the story would be a nightmare as a result of Alice eating too many tarts. And another deleted version had Carroll himself encountering Alice at a tea party, where she wanted to grow up. And Alice herself was dreaming when Carroll was reading her the story. But the idea worked against the nonsense and the purpose of the story. But another hurdle that Walt`s Alice faced, was a French puppet version released the very same day. Disney fought to not have it open the same day, but unfortunately it did. And yes, believe it or not, but the opening titles spelled Carroll`s last name wrong.

The Reasons for Alice`s Bad Staple

We are deliberately cute, in
order to not make you want to
eat us :)

So the big question is to scrutinze why Alice in Wonderland was so shunned? Wel, there was two major reasons. The first one was very simple: It lacked heart. The characters were cold and unappealing. It was too mechanical. Even some of the Nine Old Men has confirmed how Alice lacked heart. Alice herself gave the animators little to work with. As she had no sidekick to confide in, so it was just taking her from a loony situation to another. Even Joe Grant felt that it was too much material.

I wanted to make Mermaids
blonde again :) No offense,
Ariel :)

The second reason was that it was impossible to please Lewis Caroll purists. Considering how Disney has always been scrutinized for their Disneyfication, it may be a redundant issue. But in Alice`s case it truly was. Even Walt himself tried to depart himself from the project, stating to Disney Author Bob Thomas in 1963 that "he never wanted to make it in the first place, but was persuaded by people who wanted him to do it. And that she got what she deserved".

These are our versions of
Willy Wonka`s Golden
Thickets :)

Walt tried to include a little sentiment into Alice by involving White Knight from Through the Looking Glass. Which was going to be a charicature of Walt himself. But the crew couldn`t temper with such a classic. But Walt wasn`t particularly engaged with the story process for Alice. He was bothered by the lack of a story. And yes, both Walt and the animators deliberately blamed each other for the result of Alice. Still when Alice managed to rise upon it`s ground, the animators were asked of "what they were on" when they worked on it. But regardless of the negative staple, the original novel gained more interest thanks to Disney`s version. So it was a full circle after all.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Comparisons to Alice`s Counterparts of it`s Time

Blonde vs Brunette. Take your
pick :)

Alice in Wonderland was sandwhiched between the more successful likes of Cinderella and Peter Pan. Released the year after the former and two years before the latter. But in fact, Alice happens to resemble them both a lot. Like Cinderella, it features a fair young maiden as the lead (despite how there`s an age gap between the two maidens).

Don`t worry, when you`ll grow
up, I`ll pinch ya harder :)

You`re my baby
and not my pet :)

Like Pan, Alice featured a child lead (the first one to feature a female child. And Alice was at times included in the famous Princess franchise). Like Pan again, the female lead is voiced by Kathryn Beaumount (who happened to love the original Alice stories as a child and was thrilled about playing the part). Like Pan again, it`s based on a famous English litterature for children (and has an English setting). Like Cinderella again, it has a female villain. Like Pan again, the villain is comical. Like Cinderella, it has a pivotal cat (despite being just similar in size). 

I`m a predecessor til Princess
Aurora in Sleeping Beauty :)

Like Pan, our heroine enters a lush, strange place where not everyone is particularly friendly. And just like Pan, it has actually a moral that is pretty similar: That only nonsense isn`t something that somebody should yearn for. Like both of them, it has an art style by Mary Blair. And like all of them, it has a similar songwriting team (even with a introspective, subdued ballad by our heroine late in the game. Which was deliberately made to make Alice more sympathetic). 

Yes, we made it our selves :)
With no help of any fairy
godmother or any magic
whatsoever :)

Since Disney are synonymous with splendid visuals, Alice has been known for them. For having the crisp and whimiscal style of Blair. There was a distinct style between Walt`s first films and the one for the 50`s. Where the latter style became more clearer and whimiscal. Alice may be the pinnacle of that style. As it`s whimsical story and premise certainly suited a whimsical style (which the creators deliberately wanted). When they saw Blair`s atwork, they were able to make the film.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alice`s Iconic Moments, Cameos, Villain, Songs & Voice Actors

 

This is what puberty will be
like, kids :)

Just like most of Walt`s properties, Alice in Wonderland is known for it`s iconic moments: The introduction of the White Rabbit. Our heroine falling down the rabbit hole. Her growing and shrinking size. The Caterpillar and the Chresire Cat. The Mad Hatter`s tea party and last, but not least the garden of the Evil Queen (who`s has a King on her side who`s insignificant).

Yes, I`m Fred Flintstone
in drag :)

Yes, it`s duplicated :) Without
any help from the Genie :)

Yet Alice happens to have several nods to Walt`s predecessors. The birds in A World of My Own happen to resemble those from Let`s Sing a Gay Little Spring Song from Bambi. The fishes in the in the sea reminds of those from Pinocchio. The cat caterpillar is remarkably like Figaro in Pinocchio. The fanfare that it`s played during the climax by The White Rabbit is similar to the one from Dumbo. And speaking of Dumbo, the march with the cards is somewhat akin to Pink Elephants on Parade. 

Don`t worry, the tea is
especially made for rabbits :)

As for the songs, while not all of them have become standout Disney hits, at least some of them have been ingrained in the Disney song pantheon. Like the opening song, A World of My Own, I`m Late and Unhappy Birthday (Painting the Roses Read is indeed one of the most ironic songs in Disney, due to it`s ending). Recurring Disney veterans were behind the voices. Sterling Holloway voiced the Cat, while Verna Felton voiced the Queen. As for our Queen`s position among the Villain Pantheon, while she`s not being recognized as one of the greatest villains, she`s still given some attention. She was based on gossip columnist Louella Parsons. Who had her tantrums and temper and had her dark hair tied up in a bun.

For all the criticism against Alice, one pivotal one is how it`s episodic in structure (which was one of the easiest things about translating the story). But truth to be told, many of Walt`s features were (like Peter Pan and The Jungle Book). But at least it`s a rare story that is centered around a dream. What makes Alice more distinctive, was how it was a rare feature to list the actors after the "The End"-title (something that Disney wouldn`t do until The Jungle Book and Winnie the Pooh shorts. Where the actors were credited in the opening ). Even the posters credited the actors. Another thing that Alice shared in common with Jungle Book, was having famous voice actors at the parts. Like Ed Wynn (who also did the live action reference with Beaumount. Where his improvisation was funnier than his line recordings), Jerry Colonna, Bill Thompson and Richard Haydn (who were also filmed).

 

Epilogue

Don`t be fooled, it`s
harder than it looks :)

So the big ending question about Alice in Wonderland is if it deserved it`s dud reputation? From my personal opinion, no. While it would be tempting to be completely biased about it, I`ve always thought that Alice was a charming and compelling little film. But regardless of belonging to Walt`s everlasting Pantheon, it`s nice to see that the love for Alice has increased during the years. And how it`s legacy has been akin to the other Walt classics who were dismissed initially, but managed to grow througout the years. While Alice may be a whimisical little tale of nonsense, it`s still a captivating and enchanting little tale of nonesense. Which justifies it`s nonsense. So at the end, as this entry was written to synergize with it`s 70th Anniversary, there`s nothing left for me to wish Alice in Wonderland it`s Happy Past 70th Anniversary and may you continue to have many more.

 

 

 

 

Yes, the purpose was to freak ya out with our party :)

 

 

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References:

Alice in Wonderland 60th Anniversary Edition

Alice in Wonderland An Illustrated Journey Through Time (Mark Salisbury)

Disney`s Art of Animation From Mickey Mouse to Hercules (Bob Thomas)

Mouse Under Glass (David Koenig)

Peter Pan Platinum Edition