Jonathan Miller's terrific adaptation of Lewis Carroll's novel originally aired on BBC1 in 1966 featuring an all star cast.
Made in an era when the BBC stood for excellence, and gave bright young things like Jonathan Miller a chance. What a bewildering assortment of riches this is: a cast the likes of which can never be equalled, as most are no longer with us: Peter Cook, Peter Sellers, Leo McKern, Malcolm Muggeridge, John Gielgud, Wilfred Brambell, Michael Redgrave. An unknown girl in the lead, which probably was the only iffy thing about it. Wondrous black and white luminous photography, excellent and haunting choice of sounds and music, audacious at the time to include sitar and tabla- very Beatles. An uncredited young Eric Idle walks by in a procession scene.
Everything about it dreamlike, full of props which probably aren't available any more, locations which probably are now "executive refurbishments". It has stayed in the mind for such a long time, and has been a very large influence. One day I too will include a man in a hip bath by an overgrown garden greenhouse in one of my commercials, just another wonderful throwaway.
If only this was screened by the BBC so that the foolish young could start something just half as good. Perhaps that is why they haven't- it would remind them of an age when they made wonderful painstaking works of art such as this. Until then, I urge everyone to buy a DVD and keep showing it to your children. They will thank you for it.
We will publish your review of Alice In Wonderland [1966] on DVD within a few days as long as it meets our guidelines.
None of your personal details will be passed on to any other third party.
This site uses cookies.
More details in our privacy policy
