Film Forum

U.S., 1951
Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Featuring the voices of Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn, Sterling Holloway
Based on the Lewis Carroll stories
Approx. 75 min. DCP.

“ADDS A DISTINCTIVE DISNEY TOUCH… Alice starts to daydream one lazy afternoon and finds herself following a white rabbit down a rabbit hole and into a magical world where everything is topsy-turvy, especially logic, something on which Alice prides herself. Along the way she meets such colorful characters as the smoke ring-blowing caterpillar, The Mad Hatter (who invites her to a wacky tea party), the mad March Hare, the Dormouse, the wily Cheshire Cat, and the vindictive Queen of Hearts. After climbing back through a keyhole and out of the bizarre world of Wonder-land, Alice awakens and discovers she's just had an astonishing dream. If The Mad Hatter sounds familiar to your kids, point out that it's the same man who later played Uncle Albert in Mary Poppins, Ed Wynn.” – Leonard Maltin’s Family Film Guide

“Alternating between spectacular episodes—cinematic long shots of a marching army of cards; a croquet game in which birds serve as the mallets and balls; and close-ups of Alice navigating her way through a dark forest of staring eyes — ALICE...is a vibrant cornucopia of animation that, by Disney’s orders, mimics the syntax of live-action filmmaking. And it is voiced by pros: Ed Wynn is the daffy Hatter, Sterling Holloway the sly Cheshire Cat, Verna Felton the forbidding Queen, Kathryn Beaumont the sweet-voiced, befuddled heroine. The ambitious film, however, failed on its initial release… But over the years the feature has been reevaluated and is now deservedly recognized as an animation classic.” – Foster Hirsch

Reviews

“One of Walt Disney's best efforts. He has adhered to the Lewis Carrol classic, adding enough Disney humor to make it a delight for all ages.”
– Bob Thomas, Associated Press