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The Masterpiece Edition
(Disney DVD)
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Walt Disney’s 1951 condensed 75-minute animated version of Lewis Carroll’s Alice books, with episodes drawn mainly from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, has never had quite the reputation of Snow White, Pinocchio, or even Cinderella, though its proto-psychedelic "March of the Cards" has long been a favorite of potheads. It’s not very faithful to the beloved book, and its humor is mostly Americanized (except for the Gilbert & Sullivanish "We’re Painting the Roses Red"), but the voices are deliciously cast: dotty Ed Wynn as the Mad Hatter, uninhibited Jerry Colonna as the March Hare, snide Richard Haydn as the hookah-puffing Caterpillar (who blows alphabet smoke at Alice), kookie Sterling Holloway as the Cheshire Cat who disappears down to his smile, velvet-and-brass-voiced Verna Felton as the Queen of Hearts, even young Kathryn Beaumont as Alice. It also has more songs than any other Disney film (the work of a Tin Pan Alley honor roll: Bob Hilliard, Sammy Fain, Don Raye, Gene De Paul, Mack David, Jerry Livingston, and Al Hoffman), and they’re all tuneful and charming, especially the White Rabbit’s "I’m Late," Alice’s "I Give Myself Very Good Advice," and the Hatter & Hare’s "Unbirthday Song." Besides the games and sing-alongs for kids, the documentaries, and a fascinating 1936 Mickey Mouse cartoon called "Thru the Mirror," the new double-disc set also includes a batch of unused songs, among them the Cheshire Cat’s recently rediscovered "I’m Odd." I’ve always regretted the omission of the Mock Turtle, but now we can see a drawing-board plan for that character and hear his "Beautiful Soup" set to "The Blue Danube Waltz." The film depends on vibrant color, and it’s been dazzlingly remastered. I’m sure it hasn’t looked so good since its original theatrical release.
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