Alice Through
the Looking Glass
(1966) color 78 minutes
With: Judi Rolin (Alice), Roy Castle (Lester, the Court Jester), Robert Coote (The Red King), Richard Denning (Alice's Father), Jimmy Durante (Humpty Dumpty), Nanette Fabray (The White Queen), Ricardo Montalban (The White King), Agnes Moorehead (The Red Queen), Jack Palance (The Jabberwock), Tom Smothers (Tweedledum), Dick Smothers (Tweedledee), Iris Adrian (a Lily), Jackie Joseph (a Daisy), Donna Walsh (a Violet), Georgia Simmons (Sleeping Beauty Witch), Ellen Hall (Hansel & Gretel Witch), Donna Walsh (Hansel & Gretel Witch), Sarah Chaff (A Rose, 4th flower?), Maryesther Denver (Snow White Witch)
***
SYNOPSIS: Alice, a young girl, sits on the stairs of her home one evening,
bored out of her mind. Her parents are having a stuffy dinner party, and have
left poor Alice to her own devices. Alice begs her father to play with her, but
he shoos her away and returns to his hosting chores.
Alice strolls forlornly into the living room, which seems somehow especially
lonely tonight. She fiddles with the pieces on a chess set, and ends up staring
at the big mirror above the fireplace. Suddenly, from a puff of smoke, a
bizarre man in a red costume appears, introducing himself as the Red King.
The Red King suggests Alice see what lies beyond "the Looking Glass". Alice
climbs the mantleplace, and soon finds herself walking through the mirror, to a
mirror-image world on the other side!
The Red King greets her in this strange new land, which looks exactly like her
old world, but in reverse. In fact, the Red King himself looks entirely
different. Alice insists that he can't be the person she just met, but he
explains that "there are two sides to everything". He demonstrates by turning
about, and showing his two sides to the befuddled girl.
Suddenly, more magical figures appear, and sing "There Are Two Sides to
Everything", to explain the perplexing situation to Alice while they show their
own duplicitous selves.
A clumsy creature, the White Queen, next tells Alice that she has been hired as
her maid, but the young girl refuses the strange offer. The Queen pleads, but
the stubborn young lass declines. The White Queen then sings a lament about the
dangers and burdens of royalty in "I Wasn't Meant to Be a Queen", as objects
crash all about her.
The other royal personages enter, demanding to know what all the commotion is.
The White King asks Alice if she likes the world beyond the Looking Glass.
Alice replies in the affirmative, and yet she would be happier if she, too,
were a Queen!
The amused monarchy informs Alice that being royalty in this land is an
entirely impotent affair, as the land is terrorized by an evil demon known as
the Jabberwock! Brave young Alice sings a song about courage in the face of
adversity, "Not if You Run Away".
The assembled rulers have a conference, and decide that Alice will be crowned
part of the royal family, if she can successfully journey to the Royal Castle,
and defeat the scary Jabberwock along the way. Alice readily agrees, and is
pointed in the direction of the Blue Road, the place where all adventure
begins.
The Kings and Queens lead brave Alice to the land of the Jabberwock, where they
all run away in fear, leaving poor Alice alone. Soon, the dreaded Jabberwock
appears, and demands that the little girl leave immediately. Fearless Alice
defends her right to be there, and argues naively with the hideous demon. Alice
is sure that the Jabberwock has a good side to him. The crafty devil spins
around, and proves that he has only one side: pure evil! Alice suddenly knows
fear, screams, and runs for her life! The Jabberwock sings his victory song,
"The Jabberwock Song".
Alice soon arrives at the entrance to the Blue Road, and carefully navigates
her way safely onward. She is soon in a marvelous garden, the Royal Garden,
where giraffes stand guard, and colorful human flowers (a Daisy, a Violet,
an Iris and a Tiger Lily) engage her in lively conversation.
Lester, the Court Jester, arrives, and vows his assistance on Alice' perilous
journey. Lester explains to Alice, in song, the Red Queen's rules for visitors
to the Royal Garden: walk on the grass, pick the flowers, feed the giraffes.
Lester disappears, and the flowers warn Alice to beware of the three witches
which rule this land, along with the Jabberwock: the Sleeping Beauty witch, the
Hansel & Gretel witch and the Snow White witch. Alice walks off, more confused
than ever.
Alice stumbles upon the White King, who is fishing. The kindly monarch tries to
explain the Zen principles of Looking Glass land, where experience is subjective, and adventure self-created. Alice is enchanted, but puzzled. The
White King sings "Some Summer Day", about the endless possibilities inherent in
life's journey.
Alice runs off right ahead of the Jabberwock, who still chases after her. Soon,
Alice is walking the famed yellow brick road, when her path is blocked by a
cluster of broomsticks. The Three Witches Alice was warned about appear, each
trying to seduce the young girl with their poisonous wares.
Alice, however, is too clever for the old hags, having read about their deceits
in her storybooks, and the Witches run off in frustration. Lester
appears, and leads Alice further on her journey by means of magic. The Red
Queen appears, and shows her around the pink forest.
The Queen removes herself, and two strange fat boys trip over Alice. They are
Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and they are shocked that Alice has heard of them.
The twins are delighted to be famous, and are equally delighted to teach Alice
the joy of nonsense words with "The Backwards Alphabet".
The happy trio have barely finished their song when the Jabberwock finally
catches up with poor Alice. The frightened child runs off, screaming, while
Lester intervenes and distracts the nasty devil.
Soon, Alice and Lester are safe in another part of the forest, where beautiful
flamingoes graze in peace. Alice asks Lester who he really is, to be so
protective of her, but he insists she will learn the secret at the proper
moment. Lester disappears, leaving Alice lonely and frightened; she sings
"Where Are You?"
Intrepid Alice walks on, and soon encounters another fairy tale legend, the one
and only Humpty Dumpty! The arrogant egg sits on his fabled white wall, and
tests Alice on her listening comprehension. The clever lass passes with flying
colors, singing "The Nonsense Song" along with the linguistically-inclined
protein source.
At song's end, Humpty Dumpty has his great fall. Lester shows up, and comforts
Alice. He tells the child that she is due to prepare for her coronation, and
the Royal Knights are gathering, to do battle with the jabberwock!
The Royal Knights soon arrive on their magnificent steeds, and prepare to
battle the evil despot. Meanwhile, Alice is told to retrace her steps, and
prepare for a royal tea party! The girl runs as fast as she can, back to the
origin of her great adventures.
The Red and White Queens celebrate their protege's arrival by singing "Alice is
Coming to Tea", as the Royal Court dances along. Finally, Alice arrives; the
Queens inform her that before joining their ranks, she must pass a final exam.
Alice is confident, but the answers are nonsensical, and prove impossible to
answer. The Queens grade her as a dummy, but decide to let the dear child reign
anyway. Alice closes her eyes, and when she opens them, she is dressed in royal
raiment, and her coronation begins!
The amazed young ruler walks majestically toward her throne, past her adoring
court. The White King places a crown on Alice's head, and Alice becomes a
Queen! Through Alice' courage and beauty, the Looking Glass kingdom is saved! Long live Queen Alice!
The Jabberwock appears out of nowhere, an Queen Alice suddenly finds herself
all alone with the monster. Jabberwock chases Alice all the way back to her
living room, but Lester the Jester saves the day, holding off the devil while
Alice jumps back through the Looking Glass, returning to the safety of her own
world. Lester follows, but the Jabberwock cannot; the Royal Court surrounds
him, forbidding him to trespass Alice’ sacred world.
In the other world, the Jabberwock grimaces in the mirror, trapped. Slumped in
a chair, a sleeping Alice wakes up from a dream. Her father rushes in rouse her
up; he had heard her crying! Alice' dad hands the sleepy child her favorite
doll, which she had given up for lost: it is her friend and guardian, Lester!
The grateful Alice hugs her father, and apologizes for straying so far from
home. Father insists that Alice hasn't been anywhere, to which Alice murmurs,
"Oh father, if you only knew," and begins to tell him about her fantastic
adventures, and the magical power of dreams...
THE END
***
ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS is an amazing film, a highlight of 1960's
fantasy television. Filmed on a theatre stage and unfolding very much like a
play, ALICE comes across as a Broadway production captured on film, or more
precisely, on video. In its high-contrast, candy-colored beauty, ALICE… was
likely an early showcase for RCA color video technology.
This extraordinary musical comedy with fantasy overtones also appears to have
been filmed "live", in real time, and largely if not completely in sequence.
Although this is standard procedure for video productions such as talk shows
and soap operas today, it was a fairly new practice in the mid-1960's, and
makes the resultant melodrama all the more frank and spontaneous.
The cast of ALICE is superb, with many of the characters played by familiar TV
stars of the day, such as Agnes Moorehead, Nanette Fabrey and Ricardo
Montalbaln. Jimmy Durante (as Humpty Dumpty) and the Smothers Brothers (as
Tweedledum and Tweedledee) superimpose their trademark comic shenanigans over their fairy tale personas. B-Movie mavens will also recognize perennials
Richard Denning as the father, and Iris Adrian and Jackie Joseph as human
flowers.
As luminous as this all-star lineup is, they are frankly outshone by the
dazzling Judi Rolin in an absolutely remarkable performance. Judi's Alice jumps
right off the screen, a fantasy heroine for the ages. Sweet and bright and
vibrant, Judi makes a very sexy and joyous teenage Alice, a character simply bursting with courage and joie de vivre, a nearly mythical mortal whom anyone in the audience would surely fall in love with.
Obviously professionally trained, the twenty year-old Ms. Rolin has a stunning
singing voice, and belts out her songs with a grace and panache rarely seen in
an actor barely out of her teens. Rolin's stage presence is gripping, her
timing flawless; her performance is simply unforgettable and goes along way in
making ALICE… the fantasy classic it is.
Another outstanding performance is given by Jack Palance, in a truly sinister
turn as the grotesque Jabberwocky. Palance's avowedly surreal creation comes
across as half-demon, half-predator, and entirely threatening; indeed,
he is almost a match for Alice' unflappable bravado! The meeting twixt Alice
and the gargoyle demon has an unnerving, palpable sexual tension.
On the more comical side, Nanette Fabrey does some endearing schtick as the
goofy White Queen. Her shameless mugging may be a bit coarse for some, but it
is in the hallowed tradition of broad comic farce, and quite harmless in fact.
One of the things which makes ALICE… a product of the TV age is its canned laugh
and applause tracks, ubiquitous trademarks of the 1960's variety show format.
When a disembodied audience first laughs at the Red King, we are taken aback,
so silent has the stage-bound production been up till then. The film then
becomes somehow very familiar, and very endearing.
Filmed with a minimum of cinematic effects, those that are offered are fairly
straightforward, like primitive swish pans and vanishing characters and flash
powder explosions. Considering the stark unreality of the fairy tale universe,
the intrusion of a gaggle of real flamingoes and giraffes gives quite a
shock.
Mixing and matching fairy tale plotlines and characters, ALICE… meanders in and
out of familiar Lewis Carroll territory, and tosses in references to THE WIZARD OF OZ and BABES IN TOYLAND. At one point, there actually is a yellow brick road, an overt nod to NBC's cash cow, the yearly telecast of MGM's THE WIZARD OF OZ. After this, the hasty inclusion of not one but three fairy tales witches, from "Hansel & Gretel", "Snow White" and "Sleeping Beauty", seems almost gratuitous.
The costuming is elaborate and the sets are simplistic and largely two-dimensional, giving the production an unreal air. The vibrant musical score by
Elsie Simmons and Moose Charlap is bright and bouncy and again, very theatrical in its emphasis on bombastic displays. The songs, although affable, might come across today as somewhat corny and dated, but we just love 'em.
This extraordinary film ends in an most amazing scene, in which Alice awakens
from her childish nightmares, and passionately embraces her father. A more stark and primal sketch of female sexual awakening cannot be envisioned, and we don’t mean this in merely in the metaphorical sense intended through Lewis Carroll's astute and surreal satires. No, here we have something more: a literal snapshot of the very moment of a young girl's coming of age, certainly one of the steamiest moments in all fantasy television: Alice’ father hugs her close, embracing her with unabashed adoration. As Alice rests safely in her patriarch’s arms, she looks coquettishly away, towards the magic mirror, where all her thrilling and fantastic life adventures await her.
ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS is a high watermark in television fantasy, and with the help of the amazing Ms. Rolin, a completely enchanting experience.
Kevin Butler recently added the following information:
ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS was rebroadcast on The Disney Channel in the 1990s. There was also a rare TV Soundtrack recording that was released on LP by RCA. Moose Charlap, one of the songwriters for ALICE, also wrote the songs for NBC TV's "Peter Pan"with Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and the musical version of JACK THE GIANT KILLER with Kerwin Mathews, Walter Burke and Torin Thatcher.
Mark Hill recently added the following information:
Thanks to KiddieMatinee.Com, I was recently able to view ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, which brought back many memories. Both ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS and Hanna-Barbera's ALICE IN A NEW WONDERLAND premiered in the same year, 1966. Funny how both versions have the same contemporary/modern day opening, with a "Dad" added to the story!
ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS premiered on NBC, Sunday, November 6, 1966. (If I had to guess, at 7pm.) The NBC evening was hosted by Sebastian Cabot, who also sang a Thanksgiving Hymn!
ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS was written by the same author as the NBC Mary Martin musical, PETER PAN and a later, 1969 NBC musical: HANS BRINKER, with Cyril Ritchard, who had been Captain Hook in PETER PAN.
There was a SOUNDTRACK album for this show that used to be available at my local library. How rare that must be now. I bet they sold it for a quarter when they discarded all their vinyl for CDs back in the early 90s.
I had forgotten about the LAUGH TRACK and AUDIENCE applause in LOOKING GLASS. And how the chess piece characters turn around and have the actors face on each side with some video trickery. That was hokey, but special. I remember my mom explaining how the horse and riders were singular actors in costume. I was just 6 and couldn't quite figure it out myself.
BOB MACKIE, who did the costumes for LOOKING GLASS, was later famous a designer for CHER and THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW.
THE STARS:
RICHARD DENNING, as the dad, had previously appeared in the sci-fi classic, CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON and was soon to play the Mayor on HAWAII 5-0.
NANETTE FABRAY: Ever notice the similarity between Nanette Fabray and Mary Tyler Moore? Both in their appearance and demeanor? In fact, in a Mary bio, she says Nanette's musical comedy was an inspiration for her career!
JACK PALANCE (!) as the Jabberwock, was doing this weird, gay thing. I don't think I've EVER seen Palance so clear-eyed and coherent as he was here as the Jabberwock. Soon after this, I saw Palance as "LIBERACE-Gone-Wild" in the Dan Curtis production of THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JECKYL AND MR. HYDE and was SCARRED FOR LIFE!
AGNES MOOREHEAD. As a child, I had become familiar with Agnes Moorehead as "Endora" on BEWITCHED (Premiered: 09/64) and I was THRILLED to see her here. (BTW- There is a newly published bio of Agnes just out.)
RICARDO MONTALBAN- Though he'd had a career as a movie star, he was unknown to me at the time. Ricardo was just *3 months* away from one of the key roles of his career, "Khan", in the "Space Seed" episode on STAR TREK (02-16-67).
JUDI ROLLIN'S only other credit of note seems to be THE IRISH WHISKEY REBELLION (1972).
SECONDARY CHARACTERS:
Some character actors were not in the main credits, NOR were they in the listing at IMDB. What we had was additional credits in AUDIO ONLY (as they used to do on TV) during the end credits, which provided a few more interesting notes. It was all pretty hard to decipher and sort out. But here’s goes…
"Also appearing on tonight's show…" From that, I got:
THE FLOWERS:
The DAISY, is JACKIE JOSEPH, aka. "Audrey" from the original LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1960) and the cartoon voice of Melody in JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS, just a few years later. She was married to actor KEN BERRY (Mayberry RFD).
Then as the LILY, we have classic character actress, IRIS ADRIAN. (Shouldn't she have played the IRIS!?) Adrian appeared in Roger Corman's THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS and played "Hard Head Hogan" in a memorable THE LUCY SHOW. The one where Lucy is sent to prison and shares a cell with Adrian.
Another FLOWER (far left) sounds MIGHTY FAMILIAR, but I can't track anything down on the other two.
How about that FOREST OF WITCHES! What a cool idea!
2 of the 3 witches sound VERY familiar…
The SLEEPING BEAUTY Witch was:
GEORGIA SIMMONS. Georgia was in the film classic "8 ½" (!!!) plus, BILLIE w. Patty Duke, F-TROOP, THE GRAPES OF WRATH, and was "Aunt T" in one of my favorite episodes of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, "The Bewitchin' Pool"! (Written by Earl Hamner of THE WALTONS.)
Another witch (probably the SNOW WHITE WITCH) was:
MARYESTHER DENVER. Named in the end credits, but ALICE is missing for her at IMDB. She played a witch on both BEWITCHED and STAR TREK in the mid 60s! So it almost HAS to be her here in ALICE!
These were other names heard, but…
ELLEN HALL- The only one listed at IMDB, was in ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930), and was a Goldwyn Girl, no credits past 1949 except Cisco Kid. She would have been 44 in 66, b.1922. So I guess it's *possible* that it's her.
Cheryl Taft /SARAH CHAFF- I can't hear the name right on the end credits. Nothing on either at IMDB or Google.
DONNA WALSH. A Donna Walsh guested on GET SMART in 1965. Her only credit. I can't find anything else on that name. Except, this link to a VOICE ARTIST (Donna Walsh *Davis*) (Remember that I said the 4th/other flowers *voice* was FAMILIAR): Languages: English (North American) and English (British and European). Commercials for radio, TV, radio imaging and other short recordings. Documentaries, audiobooks, business presentations and other long recordings. Dubbings and voice acting for TV, films, videogames, etc., Jingles and songs. Phone and voice systems including on-hold messages. Voice "Ages": Child, Teen, Young Adult, ***Middle Age, and Senior***. Location: Kingston Jamaica West Indies (Jamaica) (Donna Walsh Davis) Can't imagine, but if she was one of these old witches in 1966, could she still be alive and doing voices in 2005? Unless… she was the 44 year old and made up. She'd be 83 now. And it DOES say she does "senior" voices. So maybe she retired to Jamaica!???
CHILDHOOD TRIVIA:
Born in 1960, I was REALLY into Alice in Wonderland, for some reason. Now I realize it was probably because of these 2 versions of ALICE on in the same year, 1966. That same year, I had my own TEA PARTY!!! Mom had a fancy, silver, coffee urn, which she used as the centerpiece of the ALICE party table. Placing her own tattered copy of the ALICE IN WONDERLAND book beside it. We invited the neighborhood kids in and had cookies and tea.
Also ALICE-related in this time period, was the song, "ALICE FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE." Which I heard regularly on CAPTAIN KANGAROO. I don't think it had anything to do with ALICE IN WONDERLAND, but every kid back then knew it. I now have it on a Captain Kangaroo CD.
"Dr. Mark" Hill = drmark7@juno.com
MY WEBPAGE: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/popmusicpopculture
Video availability: VHS (Fox family favorites, Embassy Children's Treasures, OOP)
Related Links of Interest:
Alwynn Productions / Dum and Dee Productions
National Broadcasting Company
Story: Lewis Carroll (inspired by his novel)
Teleplay: Albert Simmons
Lyrics: Elsie Simmons
Vocal Arrangements: Don Costa
Music: Moose Charlap
Musical Director: Harper McKay
Choreography: Tony Charmoli
Costume Design: Bob Mackie, Ray Aghayan
Art Director: E. Jay Krause
Associate Producer: E. Jay Krause
Produced by Alan Handley, Bob Wynn
Directed by Alan Handley
(09-25-05)
(11-23-06)
the best "Alice on Film" resource on the net, bar none!