LeoGlossary: Alice in Wonderland (1933 Film)

Cast

• Charlotte Henry as Alice
• W. C. Fields as Humpty Dumpty
• Edna May Oliver as the Red Queen
• Cary Grant as the Mock Turtle
• Gary Cooper as The White Knight

Director: Norman Z. McLeod

Writer: The screenplay was based on Lewis Carroll's books "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass," with a recent stage adaptation by Eva Le Gallienne and Florida Friebus influencing the script.

Box Office Gross: The movie faced mixed reviews and was considered a box office bomb.

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Genre: Fantasy.

Theme

The 1933 film Alice in Wonderland is characterized by a dark and sinister theme that contrasts with the whimsical and fantastical nature of Lewis Carroll's original story. The movie delves into the inherent darkness present in Carroll's writing, portraying characters with exaggerated and often monstrous features, such as massive jowls, wide toady mouths, bulbous noses, and fright-wig mustaches. The visual depictions of characters like The Duchess, the White Knight, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and Humpty Dumpty contribute to the eerie and unsettling atmosphere of the film. This adaptation presents a subversion of the serious and polite world children expect when growing up, with kings and queens acting petulant and a tea party descending into madness. The eerie score by Dmitri Tiomkin further enhances the unsettling tone of the movie, making it a fascinating yet unintentionally disturbing take on the classic tale of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Reception

The 1933 film Alice in Wonderland received positive reception for its faithful adaptation of Lewis Carroll's story, maintaining the strange and colorful characters and the odd yet captivating story structure. The movie is praised for its surrealistic and somewhat nightmarish elements, which add depth to the whimsical tale. Reviewers appreciated the film's visual appeal, noting the wonderful costumes, carefully crafted scenery, and warm cinematography that contributed to its overall charm. The music, including memorable incidental music and delightful songs like "Beautiful Soup," was well-received for complementing the narrative without being intrusive. The cast, led by Charlotte Henry as Alice, received commendation, with standout performances from supporting actors like Cary Grant as the melancholy Mock Turtle and Gary Cooper as the White Knight. Despite some minor pacing issues in the beginning, the film was described as enchanting and warm, earning a positive rating of 9/10 for its adaptation of a beloved story.

Production Challenge

The 1933 film Alice in Wonderland faced significant production challenges, leading to its ultimate box office failure. Despite being a big-budget production with an all-star cast, the film struggled due to various issues. One major challenge was the heavy makeup and costumes worn by the actors, which made them barely recognizable and hindered their performances. The elaborate costumes, based on John Tenniel's illustrations, were painstakingly detailed but ended up looking wooden and toyish on screen. This affected the portrayal of iconic characters like the Mock Turtle played by Cary Grant and the White Knight played by Gary Cooper, who were both required to wear overwhelming costumes that detracted from their performances. Additionally, the film deviated from Lewis Carroll's original story by combining elements from both "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass," creating a narrative that differed significantly from the source material. The decision to cast Charlotte Henry as Alice instead of the initially considered Ida Lupino, along with the mismatched casting of other characters, further added to the production challenges. Despite some notable performances like W.C. Fields as Humpty Dumpty and Edna May Oliver as the Red Queen, the film failed to resonate with audiences and critics, ultimately becoming a major flop at the box office.

Setting

The settings in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" play a crucial role in shaping the narrative and the contrast between reality and fantasy. The story unfolds in two distinct settings:

1. Riverbank: The story begins with Alice sitting on the bank of a river, feeling bored and tired of her surroundings. This initial setting is depicted as normal and mundane, creating a stark contrast to the fantastical world of Wonderland that Alice later enters. The riverbank scene serves as a grounding point for the story, emphasizing the transition from wakefulness to dreaming as Alice falls down the rabbit hole.

2. Wonderland: Upon falling down the rabbit hole, Alice enters the whimsical and surreal world of Wonderland. This setting is characterized by its absurdity, with strange creatures, illogical events, and a dreamlike logic that challenges Alice's beliefs and perceptions. Wonderland is a place where reality is distorted, and Alice encounters a series of bizarre characters like the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, and the Queen of Hearts. The setting of Wonderland represents a departure from the ordinary, inviting readers to explore a world of imagination and fantasy.

Visual Styles & Techniques

The visual styles and techniques used in illustrating "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" have evolved over time, with various artists bringing their unique interpretations to the beloved story. Here are some key points from the provided sources regarding visual styles and techniques:

1. Evolution of Illustrations: The illustrations of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" have undergone significant changes over the years, with different artists offering their own creative spins on Lewis Carroll's vision. Early editions of the book featured the work of multiple artists, each contributing to the visual representation of Wonderland. These diverse interpretations helped solidify Alice in Wonderland as a cultural touchstone and set the stage for numerous adaptations that followed.

2. Iconic Imagery: The characters and settings in Alice in Wonderland have inspired countless artists due to their vivid and imaginative nature. Elements like the Cheshire Cat, with its mischievous grin and disappearing act, have become enduring symbols of the story. Artists, both past and present, have put their own spin on these iconic characters, adding new layers of depth and meaning to the narrative through their interpretations.

3. Influence of Sir John Tenniel: Sir John Tenniel, the original illustrator of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," played a crucial role in bringing Carroll's characters to life. Tenniel's illustrations, though initially met with some controversy due to clashes with Carroll over details, have become iconic representations of Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts. His contribution to the world of Alice in Wonderland art is highly regarded, with his depictions adding depth and visual appeal to the story.

4. Carroll's Caricatures: Lewis Carroll's illustrations, though not as widely recognized as Tenniel's, also hold significance in the visual representation of Alice in Wonderland. Carroll's use of caricature techniques, such as comic comparison, allowed him to position Alice next to objects and creatures of varying sizes to create visual effects that emphasized her changing stature and perspective within the story.

Trivia & Fun Fact

1. Real-Life Inspiration: Alice, the protagonist of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," was a real girl named Alice Liddell, the daughter of Lewis Carroll's boss, Henry Liddell, the dean of Christ Church College at Oxford. Carroll formed a close friendship with the Liddell family, and the characters in the story were inspired by Alice and her siblings.

2. Title Evolution: The original title of the novel was "Alice's Adventures Under Ground," but it was later changed to "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" before publication. Lewis Carroll considered other titles like "Alice's Hour in Elf Land," "Alice Among the Fairies," and "Alice Among the Goblins" before settling on the final title.

3. Character Symbolism: The characters in Alice in Wonderland are rich in symbolism and have become iconic figures in English literature. Characters like Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts represent different archetypes and have become ingrained in popular culture.

4. Visual Representation: The original Alice in the novel was depicted as a brunette, contrary to the popular image of her as a blonde in illustrations. Lewis Carroll himself illustrated the original novel, adding a personal touch to the visual representation of the story.

5. Adaptations and Influence: "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" has inspired numerous adaptations, including two Disney films, stage productions for both adults and children, comic adaptations, and successful third-person video games like American McGee's Alice and Alice: Madness Returns. The story's enduring popularity has led to its depiction in various forms of media and entertainment.

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