Alice in Wonderland (1951)

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This is one among the Disney animation collection that I have seen, but it was long enough ago that seeing it now may as well be a first time. I actually forgot just how enjoyable this movie was for me as a kid. When certain characters in this tale of wonder popped up, I was hit with waves of nostalgia, and I concluded after seeing it again this time around that it must have been a part of where I got my imagination from. Much like Alice, I found things like schooling rather dull and had "my own little world", while in the meantime I took reality for granted.

The film opens with Alice (Kathryn Beaumont) in the middle of a history lesson from her older sister, expressing her desire for adventure to her cat, Dinah. She suddenly spots a white rabbit in a waistcoat, seemingly running late for something important. When Alice gives chase, the rabbit leads her down a large rabbit hole, which leads to a room with a tiny door that leads to Wonderland. Once she drinks a shrinking potion, she finds her way into Wonderland where she meets the likes of several strange characters like Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the smoking Caterpillar, and of course the dreaded Queen of Hearts who doesn't even make an appearance until about 20 minutes before the film ends - admittedly a tense 20 minutes though.

Personally, I found that there's a lot of similarity between this and 'The Wizard of Oz'. Both Dorothy and Alice end up in magical lands, meet some very interesting characters on a journey, and are (at least eventually) just trying to get home. Both characters also seem to realize how much they take reality for granted when they're basically overwhelmed with too much strange. This is a valuable lesson for the kids watching, but both films make sure there's plenty of fun to be had along the way. To top it all off, both are based on classic books, but the thing to note is that 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' came first.

Although nowadays it's often seen as one of Disney's many masterpieces, it's funny to think that it was actually critically panned upon its release. The year was 1951, so a part of me wonders if things like having a day-dreamy imagination were a little more frowned upon; accepted, but considered a "waste of time" or something along those lines. It even bombed at the box office for its initial release, forcing Disney to write-off over a million dollars. It wouldn't take long, however, until this became a cult classic of sorts, and Disney's everlasting wish of making money would once again come true, when it was re-released in 1974. Nowadays, it's a little less about daydreaming and a little more about Alice potentially experiencing some sort of drug trip. Honestly though, either way works just fine, as long as that lesson is there at the end.

Going back to the 'Wizard of Oz' comparison, I will say that final lesson is really where they differ. In "Oz', Dorothy is on a constant journey to try to get home, and in the end, it's very much a lesson about taking what you have for granted. In 'Alice', it touches on that slightly, but at the end life just kinda goes on. No twists, no turns, Alice wakes up and the movie just ends. However, in the book, upon waking up, she convinces her older sister to sit by the riverbank and experience the fantasy for herself. So that leads me to believe that while a similar lesson is in place, a part of the takeaway from 'Alice' is also to not be afraid to daydream and let your imagination run wild. I'd be curious to actually read the book for myself and see what similarities/differences there are, as this is still seen by many as the best film adaptation of the book.

The follow-up story, 'Through the Looking-Glass' never saw the light of day with Disney animation, but I often wonder if that may be for the best. What I really like about this movie in particular is that any way you look at it, it's the perfect example of a film that allows you to escape; perhaps my favorite thing about movies in general. For me, this is like the film equivalent to whatever dream you experience during a light nap; when you just drift off for an hour and a half to two hours, wake up and suddenly remember where you are. It's one of those films that's actually a bit of an experience because it's so fantastical, and it's definitely a personal fave among the Disney classics. It's the very definition of a film you can freely lose your mind to. But don't mind us fans - we're all a little mad here.

5/5

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