Alice in Wonderland (1985)

Alice in Wonderland (1985) starring Natalie Gregory, Sheila Allen, Carol Channing, Harvey Korman, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Ernest Borgnine, Beau Bridges, Lloyd Bridges, Merv Griffin, Sally Struthers, Donna Mills, Jonathan Winters

Synopsis of Alice in Wonderland

Sometimes she’s too big. Or much too small. Sometimes things are backwards. And there’s always too much pepper in the soup! Nothing is quite right since Alice chased a very unusual White Rabbit and stumbled into an adventure that grows curiouser and curiouser. One of the greatest childhood fantasies ever is captured in Irwin Allen’s colorful, all-star production adapted from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Steve Allen wrote the jolly, witty songs and more than a dozen Hollywood stars join in the wondrous fun. Alice is looking for a way home. And happy to be welcomed into yours.

Editorial Review of Alice in Wonderful courtesy of Amazon.com

Alice returns from Wonderland only to discover she’s on the wrong side of her living room mirror at the beginning of the second half of Irwin Allen’s 1985 production, with teleplay by Paul Zindel and songs by Steve Allen (the three-hour film was broken into two parts for video, the first title being Alice in Wonderland). Before you can say “curiouser and curiouser” the Jabberwocky is after her. It chases Alice back to a strange land where life appears to be one giant game of chess with pieces portrayed by the likes of Carol Channing and Harvey Korman.

The 7-year-old longs to be home, but that doesn’t stop her from enjoying some song and dance with Tweedledum and Tweedledee (Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme), watching a bout between the lion (Ernest Borgnine) and the unicorn (Beau Bridges), or being rescued by the White Knight (Lloyd Bridges). Despite the oddly low-tech visual effects from Star Wars’s John Dykstra–the Jabberwocky is so clearly a guy in a dragon suit–this thrillingly kitschy movie ably entertains. Where else will you see Merv Griffin as a train conductor, Sally Struthers and Donna Mills catfighting with Vegas-worthy flower headdresses, and Jonathan Winters as a crabby Humpty Dumpty before the fall?

Adults who fondly remember the ‘70s and ‘80s and children 4 and older should enjoy this version of the fabled tale. —Kimberly Heinrichs

Songs

• I Hate Dogs and Cats, Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Sherman Hemsley
• You Are Old, Father William, Music by Steve Allen, Lyrics by Lewis Carroll, Performed by Sammy Davis Jr.
• There’s Something to Say for Hatred, Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Martha Raye and Imogene Coca
• There’s No Way Home, Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Telly Savalas
• Laugh, Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Anthony Newley
• Why Do People…, Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Lana Beeson / Natalie Gregory
• Off With Their Heads, Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Jayne Meadows
• Nonsense, Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Ringo Starr and Natalie Gregory
• How d’you do, Shake Hands, Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé
• The Walrus and the Carpenter, Music by Steve Allen, Lyrics by Lewis Carroll, Performed by Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gormé,Karl Malden, Louis Nye, and the Oysters
• Jam Tomorrow, Jam Yesterday, Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Carol Channing
• The Lion and the Unicorn, Music by Steve Allen, Performed by Harvey Korman, John Stamos, and Natalie Gregory
• We are Dancing, Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Lloyd Bridges and Natalie Gregory
• Can You Do Addition?, Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Ann Jillian and Carol Channing
• Emotions, Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Ann Jillian
• Hush-a-Bye Lady, Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Ann Jillian
• Welcome Queen Alice, Music by Steve Allen, Lyrics by Lewis Carroll, Performed by Red Buttons and Natalie Gregory
• Can You Hear Us, Alice?,Music and Lyrics by Steve Allen, Performed by Ann Jillian, Carol Channing, Red Buttons, Anthony Newley, Arte Johnson, Roddy McDowall, Lloyd Bridges, Jayne Meadows, and Robert Morley

Cast of Characters

• Natalie Gregory as Alice
• Red Buttons (The Big Circus) as The White Rabbit
• Sherman Hemsley as The Mouse
• Donald O’Connor (Singin’ in the Rain) as The Lory Bird
• Shelley Winters (A Patch of Blue) as The Dodo Bird
• Scott Baio as Pat the Pig
• Sammy Davis Jr. (Robin And The 7 Hoods) as The Caterpillar/Father William
• Martha Raye (Billy Rose’s Jumbo) as The Duchess
• Imogene Coca (Your Show of Shows) as The Cook
• Telly Savalas (Horror Express) as The Cheshire Cat
• Anthony Newley (Doctor Doolittle) as The Mad Hatter
• Roddy McDowall (Planet of the Apes) as The March Hare
• Arte Johnson as The Dormouse
• Jayne Meadows (David and Bathsheba) as The Queen of Hearts
• Robert Morley (Theater of Blood) as The King of Hearts
• Sid Caesar (It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World) as The Gryphon
• Ringo Starr as The Mock Turtle
• Tom McLoughlin as Jabberwocky

Part 2

• Ann Jillian (Babes in Toyland) as Red Queen
• Carol Channing (Thoroughly Modern Millie) as White Queen
• Harvey Korman (The Carol Burnett Show) as White King
• Jack Warden (Being There) as The Owl
• Sally Struthers (All in the Family) as The Tiger Lily
• Merv Griffin as The Conductor
• Patrick Duffy as The Goat
• Steve Allen as The Gentleman in Paper Suit
• Pat Morita as The Horse
• George Gobel as The Gnat
• Eydie Gormé as Tweedle Dee
• Steve Lawrence as Tweedle Dum
• Karl Malden (The Cincinatti Kid) as The Walrus
• Louis Nye (The Beverly Hillbillies) as The Carpenter
• Jonathan Winters (The Longshot) as Humpty Dumpty
• John Stamos as The Messenger
• Ernest Borgnine (McHale’s Navy) as The Lion
• Beau Bridges (Village of the Giants) as The Unicorn
• Lloyd Bridges (High Noon) as The White Knight