Alice in Wonderland [DVD] [Import] (1985)

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

This video is part one of the complete Warner Studio Alice in Wonderland set. The continuation, or part two, is Warner Studios' Alice Through the Looking Glass.

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.