Down the Rabbit Hole: A Ranking of Films (Under)Grounded in Lewis Carroll's Alice Books
by Cineanalyst | created - 18 Aug 2020 | updated - 08 Sep 2020 | PublicSee my other "Alice in Wonderland" ranking, Through the Looking-Glass: A Ranking of Films Reflecting Lewis Carroll's Alice Books.
The two Alice books, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and its sequel "Through the Looking-Glass" by Charles Dodgson, under the pen name of Lewis Carroll, besides remaining the greatest writing in the history of children's literature, have provided for many motion-picture adaptations and even more cinematic allusions. Despite these films tending to (but not always) ignore the class-based Victorian age in which the books were written, the texts continue to provide cinema imaginative visuals, which are sometimes inspired by John Tenniel's illustrations, poems and songs for musicals, and the amusements of the literary nonsense genre, as well as for parables on the transition between childhood and adulthood, sexual interpretations (including for porn), and psychedelic drug-induced trips, and there's also the witty wordplay, parody of nursery rhymes and games of logic (from an author who was also a mathematician, as well as perhaps more relevant to film adaptation, a photographer).
I'm breaking these up into two rankings. This one includes mostly straightforward adaptations, paratextual reworkings, sequels based in the books and parodies that mostly focus on the texts, as well. The other and longer ranking is about films that significantly reflect or reference the Alice books but are otherwise not adaptations or are largely about things other than the books.
Links to my reviews of the films provided below. Also note that I've skipped some of the more kiddie-looking, usually TV, adaptations. Comments may be made at my corresponding list at Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/7IwJa
My average rating of ranked movies: 4.9 stars.
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1. Alice (1988)
Not Rated | 86 min | Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
A surrealistic revision of Alice in Wonderland.
Director: Jan Svankmajer | Stars: Kristýna Kohoutová, Camilla Power
Votes: 13,989
Surreal, Czech adaptation of the first Alice book, it mixes live-action and stop-motion animation. Many claim the Alice books and films--usually, falsely, I would argue--are surreal, but this one actually and intentionally is a piece of Surrealist art.
My Full Review
2. Alice in Wonderland (1966 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 72 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
A girl named Alice falls down a rabbit-hole and wanders into the strange Wonderland.
Director: Jonathan Miller | Stars: Anne-Marie Mallik, Freda Dowie, Jo Maxwell Muller, Wilfrid Brambell
Votes: 977
Arty BBC black-and-white TV adaptation of the first Alice book. Arguably, the most faithful one to the text despite the actors not appearing in animal costumes.
My Full Review
3. Thru the Mirror (1936)
Approved | 9 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Mickey has been reading Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There", and falls asleep. He finds himself on the other side of the mirror, where the furniture is ... See full summary »
Director: David Hand | Stars: Pinto Colvig, Clarence Nash, Purv Pullen, Walt Disney
Votes: 2,799
Disney color cartoon short parody of the Alice books and starring Mickey Mouse.
My Full Review
4. Dreamchild (1985)
PG | 94 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
Ian Holm is children's author Lewis Carroll in this poignant fantasy-drama set in 1930s New York and populated by the fabulous special effects creatures of Muppet master Jim Henson.
Director: Gavin Millar | Stars: Coral Browne, Ian Holm, Peter Gallagher, Caris Corfman
Votes: 1,750 | Gross: $1.22M
Paratextual reworking about the later life of Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for the books, with episodes from the first book, which include puppetry in the otherwise live-action feature.
My Full Review
5. Betty in Blunderland (1934)
Approved | 7 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
The White Rabbit materializes from a jigsaw puzzle and leads Betty Boop through the looking glass into Wonderland.
Directors: Dave Fleischer, Roland Crandall | Star: Bonnie Poe
Votes: 453
Fleischer Studios black-and-white cartoon musical short parody of the Alice books and starring Betty Boop.
My Full Review
6. Alice in Wonderland (1949)
Not Rated | 83 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
This exceptional theatrical version of Lewis Carroll's 1865 classic features a combination of live characters and stop-motion animation.
Director: Dallas Bower | Stars: Stephen Murray, Ernest Milton, Pamela Brown, Felix Aylmer
Votes: 877
Musical adaptation mixing live-action and stop-motion animation.
My Full Review
7. Alice in Wonderland (1951)
G | 75 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Alice stumbles into the world of Wonderland. Will she get home? Not if the Queen of Hearts has her way.
Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Jack Kinney | Stars: Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn, Sterling Holloway
Votes: 154,097 | Gross: $1.07M
Disney animated feature-length musical adaptation of both books, it has been the most popular and influential film version.
My Full Review
8. Alice at the Palace (1982 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 72 min | Family, Musical, Fantasy
Young Alice falls down a rabbit hole and meets a variety of fantastic creatures.
Director: Emile Ardolino | Stars: Meryl Streep, Betty Aberlin, Debbie Allen, Stuart Baker-Bergen
Votes: 323
Musical stage performance adapted from both books, filmed for TV, and starring Meryl Streep as Alice.
My Full Review
9. Alice in Wonderland (1931)
55 min | Family, Fantasy
A young girl named Alice falls down a rabbit-hole and wanders into the strange world of Wonderland.
Director: Bud Pollard | Stars: Ruth Gilbert, Ralph Hertz, Lillian Ardell, Mabel Wright
Votes: 201
The first talkie adaptation (at least that I've seen).
My Full Review
10. Curious Alice (1971)
11 min | Animation, Short, Family
This is an education film for public school children, about drugs, narcotics, psychedelics, alcohol, amphetamines, and barbiturates abuse in the context of the Alice In Wonderland story.
Stars: Elizabeth Jones, Sparky
Votes: 205
A psychedelic, supposedly-anti-drug PSA made out of the first Alice book.
My Full Review
11.
The Wednesday Play (1964–1970)
Episode:
Alice
(1965)
72 min | Drama
Written for THE WEDNESDAY PLAY (1964-70), which the BBC retitled PLAY FOR TODAY in 1970, ALICE has the earliest airdate (10/13/65) of the Potter productions to survive on tape. After THE ... See full summary »
Director: Gareth Davies | Stars: George Baker, Deborah Watling, Rosalie Crutchley, David Langton
Votes: 48
Paratextual biographical TV episode/movie of Dodgson's life mixed with episodes from the first book.
My Full Review
12. Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1966 TV Movie)
60 min | Animation, Family, Musical
Alice needs to do her homework but she ends up in televisionland where she meets characters from Alice in Wonderland and some Hanna-Barbera cartoons.
Director: Alex Lovy | Stars: Sammy Davis Jr., Zsa Zsa Gabor, Bill Dana, Howard Morris
Votes: 170
Hanna-Barbera TV cartoon special and loose musical adaptation.
My Full Review
13. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972)
G | 95 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Alice (Fiona Fullerton) falls down a rabbit hole and into a magical dream world populated by surreal characters and bewildering adventures. It's a journey of self-discovery for Alice as she... See full summary »
Director: William Sterling | Stars: Fiona Fullerton, Michael Jayston, Hywel Bennett, Michael Crawford
Votes: 1,831
Adaptation of both books with some paratextual episodes. By the word, one of the more faithful versions.
My Full Review
14. Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Fantasy (1976)
88 min | Adult, Comedy, Fantasy
Alice dreams of the White Rabbit, whom she follows into Wonderland, where she begins to experiment with her unexplored sexuality.
Director: Bud Townsend | Stars: Kristine DeBell, Bucky Searles, Gela Nash, Ron Nelson
Votes: 3,178
Loose musical and pornographic adaptation.
My Full Review
15. Alice in Wonderland (1933)
Passed | 76 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
In Victorian England a bored young girl dreams that she has entered a fantasy world called Wonderland populated by even more fantastic characters.
Directors: Norman Z. McLeod, Hugh Harman, Rudolf Ising | Stars: Richard Arlen, Roscoe Ates, William Austin, Gary Cooper
Votes: 2,616
All-star cast Paramount adaptation of both books, with an animated film-within-film sequence.
My Full Review
16. Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 83 min | Fantasy, Family
Alice visits the magical kingdom on the other side of the looking glass.
Director: John Henderson | Stars: Kate Beckinsale, Charlotte Curley, Penelope Wilton, Geoffrey Palmer
Votes: 1,665
TV adaptation of the second book.
My Full Review
17. Alice in Wonderland (1915)
Not Rated | 52 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Alice goes with her sister to a picnic and then she falls asleep and starts dreaming about a wonderland full of talking animals and walking playing cards.
Director: W.W. Young | Stars: Viola Savoy, Herbert Rice, Elmo Lincoln, Harry Marks
Votes: 725
Feature-length silent-film adaptation.
My Full Review
18. Alice in Wonderland (1903)
9 min | Short, Family, Fantasy
This is the first movie version of the famous story. Alice dozes in a garden, awakened by a dithering white rabbit in waistcoat with pocket watch. She follows him down a hole and finds herself in a hall of many doors.
Directors: Cecil M. Hepworth, Percy Stow | Stars: May Clark, Cecil M. Hepworth, Blair, Geoffrey Faithfull
Votes: 2,890
Short, silent early film illustrating selections from the first book.
My Full Review
19. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1910)
10 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Film "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" based on the novel "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll.
Director: Edwin S. Porter | Stars: Gladys Hulette, Yale Boss
Votes: 168
Another short, silent early film illustrating selections from the first book.
My Full Review
20. Alice in Wonderland (II) (1985)
TV-PG | 94 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Alice is in Looking Glass Land, where she meets many creatures and attempts to avoid the Jabberwocky (Tom McLoughlin), a monster that appears due to her being afraid.
Stars: Natalie Gregory, Sheila Allen, Red Buttons, Anthony Newley
Votes: 3,343
All-star cast TV musical adaptation.
My Full Review
21. Alice in Wonderland (1999 TV Movie)
PG | 150 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Alice falls down a rabbit hole, and finds herself in Wonderland, a fantasy land of strange characters and ideas.
Director: Nick Willing | Stars: Tina Majorino, Whoopi Goldberg, Robbie Coltrane, Ben Kingsley
Votes: 8,864
All-star cast TV adaptation.
My Full Review
22. Alice (2009)
Not Rated | 92 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Everything you know about Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is about to be turned upside down in this modern-day mini-series. The cast includes Kathy Bates, Caterina Scorsone, Matt Frewer, Harry Dean Stanton, and Tim Curry.
Stars: Caterina Scorsone, Andrew Lee Potts, Matt Frewer, Kathy Bates
Votes: 9,821
TV sequel to the books.
My Full Review
23. Alice in Wonderland (I) (2010)
PG | 108 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Nineteen-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.
Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway
Votes: 441,162 | Gross: $334.19M
Disney 3D, CGI sequel to the books.
My Full Review
24. Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
PG | 113 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Alice is appointed to save her beloved Mad Hatter from deadly grief by travelling back to the past, but this means fatally harming Time himself, the noble clockwork man with the device needed to save the Hatter's family from the Red Queen.
Director: James Bobin | Stars: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway
Votes: 122,286 | Gross: $77.04M
Disney sequel to the above sequel to the books.
My Full Review
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