One of the most unusual projects ever undertaken by a studio was done by Paramount in 1933. Casting young Charlotte Henry in the title role of Lewis Carroll's beloved fantasy, Paramount then cast over 25 of their best known faces, apparently whoever was not working on another film at the moment, as the fantasy creatures she meets on her journey.

Today, these same people would just be called on to lend their voices for animation. In fact in the middle, there is an animated version of The Walrus and the Carpenter, showcased for Henry by Jack Oakie and Roscoe Karns as Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Walt Disney later took that easier route in the Fifties with his animated version. But these stars are mostly unrecognizable beneath all that makeup.

Yet the voices of such people as Ned Sparks, W.C. Fields, Gary Cooper, and Cary Grant are unmistakable. People like Edna May Oliver, May Robson, and Edward Everett Horton can be recognized. Quite frankly it was a stroke of genius to cast Horton as The Mad Hatter. It's a tossup between Horton and Ed Wynn in the Disney version as to who was the zanier.

Horton is probably my favorite from the film, but running a close second is Cary Grant, hidden underneath all that Mock Turtle makeup. This was at the beginning of his career when he was not an icon as of yet. Probably even five years later Paramount might have had trouble casting him that way. His Mock Turtle song and Mock Turtle crying are something to see and hear.

Paramount almost closed down during the early Thirties because of the Depression. Alice In Wonderland lost money badly at the box office and got tepid reviews. Seen today it's not as bad as all that and really kind of interesting in a way.

"Alice in Wonderland" is one of the more misguided projects I've ever seen. Apparently, Paramount studio was in trouble in the early 30s and those in charge were worried about bankruptcy. So, in a crazy bid to make a blockbuster, some idiot hit upon taking most of the stars at the studio and putting them into a glossy film where could couldn't even recognize them!!! That's like taking the greatest singers of their age and putting them into a silent movie!

The story is a mishmash of "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" and consists of a VERY old Alice (19) going on adventures with super-creepy characters--too creepy! It's not at all enjoyable and was a chore to watch from start to finish. Horrible and difficult to enjoy.

I love Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, and for me my personal favourite film adaptations of this great story are the 1951 Disney animated film and this. This film is really quite interesting especially for its wonderful cast.

This 1933 film also is to me one of the more faithful adaptations of the story, still maintaining the strange but colourful characters and episodic, oddball yet bewitching story structure while having a surrealistic and somewhat nightmarish element to it. The film does look great for its time, the costumes are quite wonderful and the scenery looks as though a lot of care has gotten into making it look good and presentable. Also the cinematography has a warm feeling to it.

I also like the music very much. The incidental music is memorable and doesn't feel intrusive, while the songs are like little bon-bons. I am especially fond of Beautiful Soup. The characters are still fun and colourful, especially the White Knight, the writing is still nonsensical and witty and the story is delightfully strange and has many unforgettable scenes, Walrus and the Carpenter I am looking at you.

The acting is fine too. Charlotte Henry is good and appealing as Alice, but she is overshadowed by the supporting cast who range from very good to just wonderful. Richard Arlen is a witty Cheshire cat and Mary Robson is a suitably shrill Queen of Hearts. The scene stealers though for me were Cary Grant(almost unrecognisable except for the voice) as the melancholy Mock Turtle and especially Gary Cooper who is amazing as the White Knight.

All in all, while there may be parts of the beginning that feel slightly laboured, this is an enchanting and warm film adaptation of a fine story. 9/10 Bethany Cox