Reviews & Ratings for
Alice in Wonderland More at IMDbPro »

18 out of 19 people found the following review useful:
This was the first significant version., 11 November 2002
Author: Cipher-J from USA

Finding a recorded copy may be hard to do, but not impossible. There are at least two versions that have survived from the original, both lasting approximately forty minutes. The original was a six-reeler, or about an hour long, which may also have included scenes from the "Through the Looking Glass" story. Minimally, what has survived is missing the defining scene early in the story where Alice grows very big and than small, then later the Mad Hatter scene. We know that these scenes were originally included because Grosset & Dunlap published a book version in 1916, illustrated with pictures from this film. This shows that in addition there was also an Oyster, Humpty Dumpty, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, chess room, and a Queen Alice Banquet scene, but whether as part of this film or another is not clear.

Viola Savoy was fifteen years old at the time, and a well known child actress for having toured the nation for several years in the road-show version of "The Littlest Rebel." Whether she was the first to perform the role of Virgie in that play, or not, clearly she was the most popular, which fact contributed to her being cast as Alice in this film. As interviewed in 1912 she had been acting since infancy in over one hundred and twenty different productions. After the "Alice" film, however, she appeared in no more than one or two more films before disappearing from the pages of history.

Attempting to evaluate the quality of a circa 1915 "photoplay" rather assumes too much. The industry was yet very young. The notion of "close-up" photography was only beginning to be experimented with and hence, more often, the camera just cranked away from a fixed position, rather like someone sitting in the audience of a typical stage play. While plenty of creativity went into the costuming and set design for this film, the camera remains conspicuous for its lack of imagination. Everything is shot from a distance, and as a result, often there is too much going on to keep track of, and the more subtle features cannot be seen. The nuances of facial expression, therefore, have a forced and exaggerated quality which does nothing to flatter the actress. Additionally, the restricted camera position forces her to be upstaged in all too many scenes. Even so, it is a hauntingly captivating film, delightful to see.

8 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Surreal., 30 September 2009
Author: JoeytheBrit from www.moviemoviesite.com

Viola Savoy plays Alice in this early silent adaptation of incidents from both Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass. She's good enough, but it's the creatures she encounters that capture the viewer's attention. This being 1915, long before the concept of CGI etc, all the creatures are actors in costumes that barely rise above pantomime quality but which were probably quite impressive for their day. The film shows most of the familiar scenes from the books although, possibly because of the technical difficulties involved, it fights shy of showing us Alice shrinking and growing. The Mad Hatter's tea party is also missing, which is something of a surprise.

Watching this film, it struck me how easily the story of Alice could be told as a horror story with babies turning into pigs, mad monarchs threatening everyone with decapitation, etc. As it is, the combination of outlandish costumes filmed against real rural or coastal locations and the absence of dialogue gives this film a strangely surreal, dreamlike atmosphere at times that is quite pleasant to watch.

Quaint. Not Half Bad As A Adaptation, 20 March 2012

Author: johnstonjames from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

i enjoyed this. but i usually enjoy most approaches on this subject since i find Lewis Carroll irresistible and fascinating history. i also really find silent cinema a lot of fun history too.

this was a really cute old silent. i don't think it was great cinema or D.W. Griffith or anything like that. it was actually pretty typical for the time period. aside from the goofy monsters and elaborate costumes. even the silent version of 'Peter Pan' was better cinema than this, and 'Pan' itself is a little pedestrian and unoriginal at times. but like the silent 'Pan' film, this is mostly for laughs and cuteness.

this was also not half bad as a adaptation. pretty much all the 'Alice' films only briefly mention the 'Father William' poem, where this film silent presents it in entirety. somewhat ironic that a non talking silent would do that. it also presents a startling image of the Tenniel illustration of Father William doing his somersault.

even some young children might find this amusing if they are familiar with the story. but most of today's high tekkie, younger generation, will probably find most of this to be a rickety old monster creep show. i thought it cute, but there were moments that repulsed me and gave me the creepy crawlies. a lot of silent movies can do that.

at least it wasn't all dark and scary like the silent version of 'The Bluebird'.

this film is a definite must see for 'Alice' fans and silent movie buffs.

4 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
A Special Silent Delicacy, 28 June 2006

Author: FerdinandVonGalitzien (FerdinandVonGalitzien@gmail.com) from Galiza

As the longhaired must know by now, this German Count has a likeness for the non-conventional (for example, my dearest German fat heiresses) and a particular and aristocratic taste for bizarre beauty. With this in mind, then you even can comprehend why this Teutonic aristocrat loves this film so much; it's one of the most remarkable silent discoveries from the last visit to the Schloss cinema.

The film is "Alice In Wonderland", a beautiful (always at the top of this aristocrat's criteria…) and astounding film adaptation of the well-know oeuvre by Herr Lewis Carroll. This film was the third film adaptation of that novel and was directed by W. W. Young. For this German count, it is among the best that he has watched with or without a monocle in his eyes.

The film, starred by the youngster Viola Savoy, is a continuous show of incredible and amazing costumes (which would be perfect for an aristocratic fancy-dress ball…). The pageantry enhances the fantastic spirit of the novel and displays a marvelous, bizarre and unique world full of fantasy and imagination that can be enjoyed by youngsters or even serious aristocrats.

The film has not completely survived until modern days (and it's a shame, certainly). In spite of this, the audience will enjoy the animal characters depicted in the film, which include a bizarre Cheshire cat, an astounding caterpillar or a funny Queen Of Hearts. This last one, as it happens with many of the aristocracy, has a special hobby. Namely it's to cut off their subject's heads (this German Count doesn't understand why some of you are shocked when this aristocrat merely whips his servants…). There's a special gallery of characters from dreamland.

The film has few special or optical effects. But in this case they are not necessary. Thanks to the craftsmanship provided by the art designer that's shown in the film, we have proof that in those silent days that imagination and originality is the only thing that counts in order to achieve marvelous results.

Thanks to its imagination, costume designer, boldness and skillfulness Herr W. W. Young film direction, "Alice In Wonderland" it is, for this German Count, the best film adaptation of the Herr Carroll's novel. It's a special delicacy: an early silent film masterpiece that every silent film fan shouldn't miss.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count has an appointment with that foolish heart Queen.

Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/

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