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Parents' Guide to

Alice in Wonderland (1966)

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Classic BBC Alice story too artsy to interest most kids.

Movie NR 1966 71 minutes
Alice in Wonderland (1966) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

MovieLover4Lyfe
MovieLover4Lyfe Adult
October 7, 2010
age 13+
Like CS says this is a very artsy version of Alice in Wonderland, but I think it's still enjoyable enough for children to watch.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

When this Alice (Anne-Marie Mallik) in ALICE IN WONDERLAND falls into a dream, she sees a man running and follows him to a tunnel. Finding herself in a grand hallway with many windows and doors, she settles near a table with a key and a bottle labeled "Drink Me." She does so and shrinks considerably, then she consumes a tart with the words, "Eat Me" and grows again. She doesn't speak about this strange world, but whispers "Who am I?" Soon, Alice is in a group of adults lecturing on very "boring" subjects and who decide to run a "caucus race." The race ends in a pile of bodies and the sounds of pigs squealing. She then finds herself in a library of a man building a model. He asks her very pointedly: "Who are you?" Alice exclaims that she is changing so quickly that she can't keep track of who she is. After attending a "very boring" tea party at the Duchess' house, Alice comes to the Queen's procession, where bystanders are at risk of losing their heads. The King (Peter Sellers) presides over the chaotic court and Alice wakes to find herself in a meadow. All these scenes are set to the sitar stylings of Ravi Shankar.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Fans of surreal films in the style of Bergman and Fellini will be pleased with this version of Lewis Carroll's story. Viewers looking for a costumed fantasy where Alice is more concerned with "Where am I?" than "Who am I?" will be disappointed. Great British actors, like John Gielgud, Peter Sellers, and Sir Michael Redgrave try to guide Alice on her journey of self-discovery, but Alice herself is aloof, gloomy, and detached. She rarely looks at the characters when she speaks, and is often thinking in whispers about how truly stupid everyone is and how "boring" everything is. Though Alice in Wonderland is a fascinating interpretation -- and a nice example of 1960s experimentation -- young viewers are apt to be as bored with this story as Alice is.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the Alice in this version of Lewis Carrol's story Alice in Wonderland. She's more withdrawn and detached than other versions of the tale. Why do you think she's portrayed this way?

  • Compare this version of the story with others. Which interpretation do you prefer? Why? Why do you think this story has been intepreted in so many ways?

Movie Details

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