Rating: 
Summary: A Proper Alice and a Dreadful DVD Execution
Review: Joseph Shaftel's 1972 production (directed by Will Sterling) of Alice's Adventures In Wonderland is unbalanced, hazy and ponderous, and as such does a far better job of capturing the essence of Lewis Carroll's fiction than any other film I've seen. Relying on a cast of largely established - some legendary - English actors (Ralph Richardson as the Caterpillar, Dame Flora Robson as the Queen of Hearts) and accompanied by some of the most haunting music that John Barry has ever written, the movie is in many ways a sheer delight. The sets are beautiful, the costumes and makeup inspired and the script in most instance adheres respectfully to the content of Carroll's work. That also constitutes the film's sole deficit, as the plot is a secondary consideration to the series of strange encounters that Alice (Fiona Fullerton) experiences. But if you are of a mind to see the story done properly, I strongly suggest this over the efforts of Disney and even 1999's Alice starring Tina Majorino (which was grand but more distant from the literature). As for the DVD transfer itself, egad! This is bare bones and sloppy work. The menu of options is the most limited I've come across. Scene selection is the only real option. The film is grainy, the color poor and the sound merely passable. No letterbox option. This is a bargain DVD, however, so expectations were not high. You get what you pay for. Still, if you remember the film from childhood as I do, you might prefer to own it in any format rather than hope for a "someday" better version. I'm certainly glad to own it regardless. Look for Peter Sellers as the March Hare (a brief but excellent turn) and Michael Crawford in one of his earliest roles as the White Rabbit. Curiouser indeed!
Rating:
Summary: Alice's Adventures Underground
Review: Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland has been adapted to the stage, television and silver screen so many times, its fairly easy to lose count. This 1972 adaptation is really no exception. To be fair, this version vastly sticks closely to the origanal book but the silly, syrupy songs don't quite blend into Carroll's origanal ethos of the famous story. There were intentionally dark undertones in the book as though you were drawn into a childs nightmare but there has barley been any screen version that has captured the true spirit of Wonderland apart from a spooky, modern-day re-telling of the familiar story by Jan Svamkmajer in Alice (1988).
In this version Fiona Fullerton makes a pleasantly bland Alice in a somewhat confectionary telling of the story. With its uncomfortable transistion to the DVD format, the sets seem even more shaky and unreal. The cardboard-like sets seem far more suited for a theatrical production and it often loses the feel of its intended effect. If only more work had been put into the sets this might seem a lot better. On saying that what the film does often encapsulate is a dreamy, hazy-like feel and at times coming close to the origanal vision of Carroll. The film is engaging at the beginning which follows the enchanting scenes of Alice waking up in a giant, story-book garden. Its there where she sees the white rabit (played by Michael Crawford) and follows him into a dark tunnel. Its here where the adventure begins as she falls down a large rabbit hole into the whimisical, topsy-turvy world of Wonderland. These effective sequences work well and the music is masterful and hauntingly atmospheric. However once Alice reaches Wonderland the film is something of a hit and miss affair and at times its pace is a little tedious. Still there are some points of interest and lovers of the story will most likely deem this to be one of the most satisfactory film version made. There are plenty of other famous British actors/esses on show here with Dudley Moore playing the Doormouse during the amusing Mad Hatters Tea Party sequences, Ralph Richardson as the Caterpilla, Dame Flora Robson putting in an effective performance as the Queen Of Hearts, Spike Milligan as the gryphone, Peter Sellers as the March Hare, Dennis Waterman as one of the pack of cards painting the roses red, Robert Helpmann as the Mad Hatter, Michael Hordem as the Mock Turtle, Michael Jayston as Sir Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carrolls real name - Jayston is in the opening sequence telling Alice a story on the riverbank which is where she falls asleep and the adventure begins) and Patsy Rolands taking the role of the Duchess's demented, plate-throwing cook to new heights.
The film was widely criticised and regarded by some as an unadventurous adaptation. Contrary to that the film could be praised for being such a loyal and faithful adaptation though like most other versions it tends to draw segments from Carrolls sequel, Alice Through The Looking Glas. Fiona Fullerton at this point was being promoted as the new Julie Andrews (though wasn't) but this did little to ignite the films fortunes and overall Alice's Adventures In Wonderland proved to be a relative failure. That year also saw the Roald Dahl book, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (retitled Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory) adapted to the silver screen which won favourable reviews and was a big box office draw in comparison to this. To make matters seemingly even worse, Peter Sellers caused a minor stir by criticising the film himself before it had even opened at cinemas.
Still on the whole the film has some enchanting moments, some great playing from a capable cast and an often masterful score that helps build the intentionally edgy and atmospheric feel to Alice's adventures and on pushing some of its blatant shortcomings aside and focusing on more of its merits, its defintley worth a look and fans of the story will undoubtedly be enthralled.
Rating: 
Summary: A delightful rendition of the Lewis Carroll classic.
Review: Much better than other versions, this film creates in the viewer a sense of awe. This version also stays truer to Carroll's novel. A definite must-see.
Rating: 
Summary: A near perfect version of Lewis Carroll's classic.
Review: Of all the version's of Lewis Carroll's classic, this is the most faithful, with the glarring exception of editing out the meeting between Alice and Cheshire Puss, and adding the Tweedle brothers from Through the Looking Glass. Fiona Fullerton is a beautiful Alice, and has the voice to bring Don Black's exceptional song's to life. Well worth the viewing, and owning.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your time or money...
Review: PU. All that talent, a significant budget, a perfect story, and incredible characters cannot overcome this utterly wasted effort in bringing Lewis Carroll's beloved tale to the screen. Disregarding all media issues such as sound and image quality, the slap-dash editing alone is enough to make one nauseated. Don't waste your time (even if you're rotting in prison) or your money (even if someone offers to pay you to view it) on this disaster.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor quality spoils enjoyment
Review: So, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland has been released on DVD. That's the good news. The bad news is that the print is so bad, I've got a ten-year old video taped from a TV with a faulty aerial in better shape! So, only get this if you are desperate (it is cheap) and even then think twice and do without it.The company concerned is Platinum Disc Corporation of La Crosse, WI, USA, and may God have mercy on them for having the nerve to put this out for public consumption. It's pan and scan, unsurprisingly and appears to be region free. Pity the whole thing wasn't! It's such a shame that it's not a decent transfer as it's an excellent film. In fact, I was quite surprised to find so much music not on the original Warner Brothers soundtrack LP. The film itself is still delightful viewing, with Fiona Fullerton giving a very self-assured performance for one so young. And she, at least, is recognisable. I suppose the drawback of employing some top actors and actresses in a film of this nature is that disguised as many are, it could be almost anybody! But always good to see Peter Bull (The Dutchess) and Michael Hordern (The Mock Turtle) in any production. So, definitely worth seeing but maybe wait for a better transfer to DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Poor quality spoils enjoyment
Review: So, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland has been released on DVD. That's the good news. The bad news is that the print is so bad, I've got a ten-year old video taped from a TV with a faulty aerial in better shape! So, only get this if you are desperate (it is cheap) and even then think twice and do without it. The company concerned is Platinum Disc Corporation of La Crosse, WI, USA, and may God have mercy on them for having the nerve to put this out for public consumption. It's pan and scan, unsurprisingly and appears to be region free. Pity the whole thing wasn't! It's such a shame that it's not a decent transfer as it's an excellent film. In fact, I was quite surprised to find so much music not on the original Warner Brothers soundtrack LP. The film itself is still delightful viewing, with Fiona Fullerton giving a very self-assured performance for one so young. And she, at least, is recognisable. I suppose the drawback of employing some top actors and actresses in a film of this nature is that disguised as many are, it could be almost anybody! But always good to see Peter Bull (The Dutchess) and Michael Hordern (The Mock Turtle) in any production. So, definitely worth seeing but maybe wait for a better transfer to DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Dude, where's my sitar?
Review: Soft isn't it? I have to say that I agree with the majority of viewers, and lets hope a proper salvation happens someday. Unlike most who love this version because they saw it as a child, I first saw this as a teenager and it went right along with my Syd Barrett records, my paisly shirt and my rose tinted shades (Mid-80s LA was a little on the retro weird side). The only version that doezzzzn't get just plain dull. Though other versions have great moments, this is the only one I could ever get all the way through still smiling and was a great way to start or round up an evening. And Dude! Fiona is a babe! John Barry's score is nice and subtle if a bit unambitious (maybe) I actually like the way Alice seems to just sing song to herself instead of big musical numbers. It just seems to fit its own inspiration better.
I'm so happy I found this, and suffice to say, low quality?... this movie always was a bit submerged and fuzzy. Like a yellow submarine.
Rating:
Summary: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972)
Review: Surrealism takes over in this overlong, butentertaining version of the classic ALICE stories starring some
of Britain's best actors and actresses. Fiona Fullerton does a
satisfying job of Alice, and so do the other actors in their roles. The music was haunting and the songs were catchy. I just
felt this film could have been edited a little more because it is very long. Overall, this film was quite good, as it is one of the versions that stuck closely to book while adding and changing a few things to make it better.
Rating:
Summary: A dreamlike atmosphere that incites a childs imagination.
Review: The last time I saw this adaption of Alice in Wonderland I was 10 years old. However, I saw plenty of movies in my childhood and none stands out as haunting as this version of Alice in Wonderland. Its hazy dreamlike atmosphere thrilled me as a boy and any version I saw afterwards was a grave disappointment --especially Disney's which came out about 20 years before. I still remember this film very much and was excited to see it again only this time I noticed things that were very adultlike. The music added to this film's charm and itself was very erie but beneficial to the story. I must say that there will never be a movie that comes close to his book like this one did.
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