Alice in Wonderland The Masterpiece Edition

[Brian]

Has anybody ever seen Disney's animated classic "Alice in Wonderland?" I have seen bits and pieces of the film and I have been on the ride at Disneyland at least five or more times in my life. However, I have never seen this movie in whole. For Christmas, 2003 I asked for the movie on DVD. I was a little disappointed at first that day when I got a set of TV show classics on DVD instead of AIW. Then I learned that the DVD I asked for was sold out. In addition, on January 27, Disney would release the film in a masterpiece edition. I didn't know it came until today and it had been in the package unopened since Tuesday. The contents include two discs. The first one was the film, digitally restored and remastered along with a few bonus features, including the newly discovered Cheshire Cat song, "I'm Odd" and a Mickey Mouse Animated Short called "Through the Mirror." The second disc is loaded with even more bonus features. The second disc contains the two theatrical trailers, Walt Disney's TV Introductions of the film in 1954 and 1964, Operation Wonderland, an excerpt of The Fred Waring Show, deleted materials, art galleries, An Alice Comedy: Alice's Wonderland, and a one film called "One Hour in Wonderland." The last item mentioned is special to me because it contains a portion of a Disney film that the company apparently disowns today. That film is called "Song of the South." You can read more about what this movie is about here. The scenes from the film are the sequence where the star of the film, James Baskett as Uncle Remus, sings "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah" and then speaks to Br'er Rabbit, who is running away to escape his troubles only to run into Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear.

After making this post, I read that three more Disney favorites are going to be released and available for the first time on 2-disc Masterpiece Editions. Those films are "Pocahontas", "Mary Poppins", and "Lilo & Stitch." I'm definitely getting Mary Poppins, as that is one of my favorite films ever.

I can't wait to see Alice in Wonderland and all these other bonus features tomorrow. Does anyone else like this classic?

[Liza]

I love the book so much, and this isn't nearly as good (which is typical for Disney adaptations) but I still love it. I'm gonna get the special edition, there's no use in my denying it

Are there any bonus features on Kathryn Beaumont? She was the voice of Alice, and Wendy in Peter Pan. And the new song, I thought that was just added in recently. Is it really 'just discovered' cuz Disney seems to be going new-song-happy with all of their original movies (Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King all had new songs added in). Hmmm.

[webuster]

I'd heard of the dvd- but after hearing the special features on it I think I'll rent it out some time. The book 'Through the Looking Glass' is fantastic (it's kind of complicated at times though, even though it's a 'childrens story'), but I haven't read Adventures in Wonderland. I had seen the movie before the book, I'd been watching the movie from as far as I can remember, then read the book a few years ago. I'd like to see a separate movie for each book too- I've seen a few live action alice movies, which are all terrible. I really wanna see the deleted song, the cheshire cat was a great disney character.

As for Song of the South, Disney is struggling a bit now, no Pixar contract (right after getting rid of the animation studio in orlando- but they'll probably get another CGI contract), less animators, so they should really consider getting a good print, polishing it up- and giving this film the release it deserves.

[Liza]

Originally posted by webuster
I'd heard of the dvd- but after hearing the special features on it I think I'll rent it out some time. The book 'Through the Looking Glass' is fantastic (it's kind of complicated at times though, even though it's a 'childrens story'), but I haven't read Adventures in Wonderland. I had seen the movie before the book, I'd been watching the movie from as far as I can remember, then read the book a few years ago. I'd like to see a separate movie for each book too- I've seen a few live action alice movies, which are all terrible. I really wanna see the deleted song, the cheshire cat was a great disney character.

I grew up reading both books - Through the Looking Glass is better, but you should definately read both There are so many good movies out there. The Fiona Fullerton version is the most faithful adaption I've ever seen, and it's available on DVD now

Natalie Gregory was in a two part live-action version in the early 80s that did both Wonderland and the Looking Glass. It's pretty good, pretty loyal, and has Ringo playing the Mock Turtle - I kid you not!

[webuster]

I've only seen 2 live action alices, the more recent versions- and didn't like them that much. Too many directors for complicated stories like Alice (it is a bit complicated) always want to explain things, or put a dark spin on them. I've heard of an 80's arthouse very dark version of Alice, I think it may have got an R rating- it's a french film I think.

[Liza]

Yeah, the more recent ones haven't been as good. I saw the one with Whoopie Goldberg, yuck. It's one of my favorite books and I could barely follow that movie The Fiona Fullerton version is from the early 70s I think, and Natalie Gregory is the early 80s. An R rated Alice? I gotta see that!

[Brian]

Originally posted by webuster
I've only seen 2 live action alices, the more recent versions- and didn't like them that much. Too many directors for complicated stories like Alice (it is a bit complicated) always want to explain things, or put a dark spin on them. I've heard of an 80's arthouse very dark version of Alice, I think it may have got an R rating- it's a french film I think.

A search at the IMDB turned up nothing. But then I didn't put much of an effort into it.

I did find a rather interesting version of Alice in Wonderland. There was a 70s live-action version. Here's the twist: It's a porn film. I kid you not.


I want to see the 1985 TV movie version. That film has a ton of famous stars. Steve Allen, Scott Baio, Ernest Borgnine, Lloyd Bridges, Red Buttons, Sherman Hemsley, and Ringo Starr. And that is only like 20%.

[webuster]

The darker Alice film is actually only rated for the UK- a 15 rating, which is usually R in the US. It's called Neco z Alenky, here's the link to it;

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095715/

I have a very morbid curiosity in this movie, I wanna see it!

[Liza]

Originally posted by Brian
I want to see the 1985 TV movie version. That film has a ton of famous stars. Steve Allen, Scott Baio, Ernest Borgnine, Lloyd Bridges, Red Buttons, Sherman Hemsley, and Ringo Starr. And that is only like 20%.

That's the version I grew up with. You've gotta see both movies though, Wonderland and The Looking Glass, cuz they overlap a bit. Steve and Edie as Tweedldee and Tweedledum... Carol Channing as the White Queen... Sally Struthers as the Tiger Lilly... this is one you've gotta see!

There was also a live-action version in the 30s that I still haven't seen all the way through. Cary Grant was the mock turtle in that one

[Brian]

Originally posted by Liza


There was also a live-action version in the 30s that I still haven't seen all the way through. Cary Grant was the mock turtle in that one

I saw the beginning of it. It had a great cast at the time but you couldn't recognize the actors and actresses under their heavy makeup. That's sort of why it failed at the box office.

[barwars]

I ordered it online.
Not one of Disney's best.... yet still a great film.