The Definitive Alice

Plot
The plot of this movie is the well-known story of Alice in Wonderland. However, since it is longer than most versions, you get a fuller version of the story. There are more characters that are more strongly developed.

It starts out with Alice going through the garden of her home and seeing a rabbit scurrying by. She follows him and enters an incredible fantasy world. She meets all kinds of characters. But it doesn't take her long to wish that she were home again.

Along the way she meets a Cheshire Cat, Rabbit, talking flowers, white knight, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, talking Caterpillar, Red Queen and White Queen, and a plethora of other characters.

My Opinion
There is no version of Alice in Wonderland that is better than this one. Though I love the cartoon Disney version and I've seen the recent Alice in Wonderland, neither compare to the quality of storytelling and acting that is in this version. The sets and costumes are lovely. The casting is wonderful. Each actor really becomes their character. It is a truly fantastic fantasy world that this movie has lavishly created.

I first saw this on television when I was quite young. We taped it, so I watched it MANY times! (If only it were on DVD!) My absolute favorite scene is of Alice and Father William/Caterpillar(Sammy Davis, Jr.) doing the Father William number. I liked it so much I memorized the entire poem so that I could recite it whenever I wanted to remember the scene.

Looking back, it amazes me what an impressive cast made up this version. It's almost ashame that anyone went to the trouble of remaking it, when this version would be so hard to top and the new one definitely didn't come close to the quality.

Starring
The cast list for this movie is impressive and lengthy. Alice is played by lovely little Natalie Gregory (whose hair I always tried to mimic when I was little). I love Carol Channing everytime I see her in something and this time was no different. Here are the most famous actors in this movie:

Alice (Natalie Gregory)
Mother (Sheila Allen)
The Pig (Scott Baio)
Lion (Ernest Borgnine)
Unicorn (Beau Bridges)
White Knight (Lloyd Bridges)
Gryphon (Sid Caesar)
White Queen (Carol Channing)
Caterpillar/Father William (Sammy Davis Jr)
Goat (Patrick Duffy)
Conductor (Merv Griffin)
Red Queen (Ann Jillian)
White King (Harvey Korman)
Messenger (John Stamos)
Mock Turtle (Ringo Starr)
Tiger Lilly (Sally Struthers)
Humpty Dumpty (Jonathon Winters)
Dodo Bird (Shelley Winters)