# Is Alice in Wonderland filmable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alice-in-wonderland-filmable/756175 "2016-05-31T17:13:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alice-in-wonderland-filmable/756175/41 "2016-10-26T22:32:20Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > A great cast…but a miserable, sad movie. Look at the mad people going about the caucus race: they look like real “mad” people, i.e., people suffering from mental illness. They aren’t daft and goofy; they’re confused and lonely and frightened… > > Still… I’m glad someone likes it! Well hell. The first several Wonderland scenes are filmed in a real 1800s lunatic asylum. Alice acts the way she does throughout because she’s clearly an insane child. When Leo McKern in a dress says that he beats his little baby when it sneezes, you take one look at his expression and know he means it literally. I never said it’s a jolly, fun-loving pic. Yeah, I like morbid and weird. Carroll is for MY type of person, too! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alice-in-wonderland-filmable/756175/42 "2016-10-27T01:03:29Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Does no one remember the animated made-for-TV version in the '60s? With Sammy Davis Jr as the voice of the Cheshire Cat? I even remember his song…What’s a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This? > > Or did I dream that? 🙂 Alice through the TV screen, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alice-in-wonderland-filmable/756175/43 "2016-10-27T01:23:43Z")
I think I may be the only person who ever saw the [1985 Made For TV version with Natalie Gregory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_in_Wonderland_(1985_film)). It was quite faithful (if not comprehensive) with an age appropriate Alice, and I thought it was quite lovely. It’s my favorite version by far. And nobody else ever remembers it when the topic comes up. But if you’re looking for a straight version of Alice in Wonderland, that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alice-in-wonderland-filmable/756175/44 "2016-10-27T03:20:21Z")
If I had to pick someone to make a spiritually faithful Alice movie, I’d pick Hayao Miyazaki (now retired). I don’t really think there’s all that much really separating My Neighbor Totoro or Spirited Away from Alice. Spirited Away, especially, has a very loose plot but is in many ways an excuse for Chihiro to interact with all of these weird spirit world inhabitants, while engulfed in Japanese cultural, religious, and folkloric allusions. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alice-in-wonderland-filmable/756175/45 "2016-10-27T18:01:08Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Well hell. The first several Wonderland scenes are filmed in a real 1800s lunatic asylum. Alice acts the way she does throughout because she’s clearly an insane child. When Leo McKern in a dress says that he beats his little baby when it sneezes, you take one look at his expression and know he means it literally. I never said it’s a jolly, fun-loving pic. > > Yeah, I like morbid and weird. Carroll is for MY type of person, too! I get that, but I think it would have worked better as an “inspired by”. Suppose it started with Alice in the admitting psychiatrist’s office, then walking down a long hallway (like the rabbit hole!) and having lunch with the other patients (like the Mad Tea Party!) and so forth. The events, and the tone, of the original, except all real-world. Well, there could be a dream sequence. Anyway, that could work. As it is, it falls flat on its face as an adaptation. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alice-in-wonderland-filmable/756175/46 "2016-10-27T22:08:39Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I think I may be the only person who ever saw the [1985 Made For TV version with Natalie Gregory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_in_Wonderland_(1985_film)). It was quite faithful (if not comprehensive) with an age appropriate Alice, and I thought it was quite lovely. It’s my favorite version by far. And nobody else ever remembers it when the topic comes up. But if you’re looking for a straight version of Alice in Wonderland, that’s it. I was also going to mention this one. I enjoyed it as a kid, and I actually watched it not that long ago, and it was still enjoyable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alice-in-wonderland-filmable/756175.md?page=2)