Alice Through the Looking Glass (1974)

A fairly faithful adaptation of the book. Even though the limitations of early green screen technology are visible, it is fun to watch. Excellent cast.

I find it interesting just what a movie left in or took out from the book. Each movie adds or takes away from the book just enough to make it something worth seeing .Different actors and actresses add to the movie.

I'm a collector of all versions of Alice in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass that I can get on DVD. This is a must have for not only collectors, but for anyone! There are very few versions of Through The Looking Glass, and I was very excited about receiving this one. Although it is old and a bit "cheesy", I think it was done beautifully. The little girl who played Alice is adorable and quite a good actress. The one thing I don't understand, is why she is shown on the front and back covers as wearing the well known blue dress, when throughout the entire film she is wearing a yellow dress. I know it's not of great importance, but it just bothered me. But all in all, I loved this movie and would highly recommend it to anyone.

I purchased this for my daughter who collects every Alice movie she get her hands on. I am sure she will be enjoying this if she hasn't already watched it.

The movie worked fine, was disappointed it was not the version I thought it was.

Considering the time-frame this made it is a pretty good adaptation. Too many versions mix the Wonderland story with through the looking glass, but this one did not. Since it was made at the beginning of the use of green backdrop it is extremely obvious in some scenes that the foreground and ground were filmed separately and put together later, but this is the only version I have seen where it was used for the garden scene with the talking flowers in which to film the flower faces with only stems below, which I liked, and do not understand why the following versions did not do that scene the same way.

great add to my collection

What's good: Truest rendition of Looking Glass I can recall, and that puts it way ahead of most. Great Humpty Dumpty - and I've heard literary analysis from the recent generation of intellectoids that made a lot less sense. Then, my favorite: the White Knight, possibly Carroll's way of injecting his real-world self into this lovely bit of nonsense.What's not: the effects. There's an awful lot of primitive green-screen work, with mismatched foreground and background, feet sliding in thin air (not when they're supposed to), and more. Visually, this flick sits way down my my preference list, but the story-telling very nearly makes up for it.-- wiredweird

‘Alice through the looking glass (and what she found there)’ is the second book that Lewis Carroll wrote for Alice Liddell so as to deliver messages hidden in plain sight in a fabulously delightful way – this time lessons on BEHAVIOUR and what to watch out for as Alice treads the chessboard of life in a mirrored world filled with good and evil – and how to spot danger and overcome it.The adventure starts on a cold winters day, and as the snow falls outside, a bored Alice climbs through a looking glass (mirror), where she finds herself in a surreal radula space that is ‘Wonderland’ - where Alice discovers EVERYTHING is ‘back to front’ on the other side of the mirror, and it is now SUMMER and not winter.Every chapter in ‘Alice through the looking glass (and what she found there)’ brings forth messages of life – such as Tweedledum and Tweedledee going into battle over a resource (a football rattle) that isn’t any use to EITHER of them. In the BOOK you will discover many many wonderful gems all gently tucked away awaiting the observant eye. One such is the poem ‘A boat beneath a sunny sky’. When the first letter of each line of prose is read going DOWN each line of the poem, a very special message is revealed.Not many versions of Lewis Carroll’s classic masterwork ‘Alice through the looking glass (and what she found there)’ have transcribed to film very well and THIS film is a case in point.Although the dialogue is accurate and Sarah Sutton beautifully portrays Alice’s innocence and wonderment as Alice learns each life’s lesson and gains confidence in herself, facing and conquering her inner fears on her journey across the chessboard of life - I found THIS adaptation a little too ‘clinical’ – bordering on boredom.Maybe we have been spoiled by being blessed with actors such as Miranda Richardson; Helen Mirren; Richard Burton; John Hurt; Ian Holme; and Anthony Hopkins, because with the exception of ‘Humpty Dumpty’, the actors portraying the characters are HAMMY and seriously under-deliver – merely ‘reading the words’ and not emphasising what the ALLEGORIES in the story are all about, and so they seriously disappoint. And as for the two actors playing the Tweedles (to teach Alice to be logical) – they are ABYSMAL!The recitation of the classic poems ‘The Walrus and the carpenter’ (where Alice sees the walrus and the carpenter deceive the oysters; and the walrus further deceive the carpenter – to teach children to be on their guard for HIDDEN AGENDAS and DECEIT), and ‘Haddocks eyes’ (where Alice learns that if you ask stupid or rude questions then expect a stupid or rude answer, and if you have lapses of concentration then you will suffer the consequences) - all lack EMPHASIS - which means that for a child, not all of the lessons are immediately obvious and require explanation during a re-watch (as the Gryphon reminds us - explanations take such a dreadful time).What Alice FINDS when she goes through the looking glass is a BOOK, and in the book is a poem - ‘The Jabberwocky’.Aside from the wonderful sounds captured in the words of the poem when the poem is recited out loud (which is essential to maximise the pleasure of the piece), there are many Anglo Saxon words within the poem that Alice does not understand and so she cannot decipher its valuable meaning – words such as toves, borogroves, mome raths, tulgey, burbled, frabjous, and (the biggy) jabberwocky - which prompts Alice to ask Humpty Dumpty what the words mean – only to discover that Humpty Dumpty is a pompous idiot who informs Alice that words mean exactly what HE says they mean – neither more nor less – to teach Alice to speak succinctly and correctly - and to CORRECTLY use words that have meanings that ‘mean what they say’ - now there’s a good knock-down argument for you!Well as YOU are now curious about what all of the words mean in ‘The Jabberwocky’ - so that you too can make sense of the classic poem - I feel that it is only fair that I provide you with the words and their meanings further down, in the order in which they appear in the poem should you choose to satisfy your curiosity in such matters, however, what I wish you to know is just what a sad adaptation of Carroll’s masterwork this film is – there isn’t anything that stands out.Word without emphasis is like soil without seed. This version brings you food, but not appetite, and acquaintances, but not friends.So – as you appear to have an insatiable curiosity, I suspect that you are now wondering what film version you AUGHT to purchase.Let me satisfy your curiosity for you.In my opinion, the BEST film adaptations of Carroll’s masterworks are as follows:ALICE IN WONDERLAND starring TINA MAJORINO as Alice – with a fabulous ‘all-star’ cast of characters; which include: Miranda Richardson, Gene Wider, and Ben Kingsley (available on Amazon).ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS starring KATE BECKINSALE as Alice – with a wonderful stellar cast; which include: Ian Holm and Geoffrey Palmer. One scene that stands out for me is when The White Knight (beautifully played by Ian Holme) recites ‘Haddocks Eyes’ (or should that be ‘A-sitting on a gate’?). Ian Holme delivers the beautiful poem with such fabulous pathos that we see Kate Beckinsale genuinely riveted to his every word as he recites it. A real gem - also available through Amazon.Be warned! Once you watch THESE films you will become curiouser and curiouser as to what is taking place – and you will watch them over and over again.There aren’t any better film versions of these wonderful stories – stories filled with all of the many lessons of life - lessons we wish we could have learnt when we were young.Well now you and your children CAN! And some!Should you be motivated to purchase the masterwork in BOOK form then my recommendation is the magnificent version ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass’ published by THE COLLECTORS COLOUR LIBRARY (ISBN 978 1 907360 36 7). Available from Amazon, this beautiful publication is the perfect size to fit into a jacket pocket or handbag and all of Tenniel’s drawings are reproduced in full colour. 'The walrus and the carpenter' is on page 190;‘Haddocks Eyes’ is on page 254, and ‘A boat beneath a sunny sky’ is on page 282.Well dear reader, to satisfy your insatiable curiosity, as I promised, here are the meanings of the Anglo Saxon words in ‘The Jabberwocky’ – in the order they appear so that you may be able to read, enjoy, and digest the MEANING of the classic poem – and lose all track of time. Oh hum.Brillig – Soup-boiling time and the time for tea and cucumber sandwiches. Farmers used to work until it reached ‘brillig’ (almost evening) and was the time a farmer’s wife would begin preparing her husbands’ supper (soup-meal). Brillig varies throughout the course of the year. On the day the picnic took place when Lewis Carroll first recited ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to Alice Liddell, brillig was around four-o-clock in the afternoon – tea anyone?Slithy – A LOGISM meaning sly, slimy, and slithery.Toves – feral, often delinquent children who shun any attempt to educate them. They were noted for ‘misleading’ well brought up children by conning them and steering them into danger, and so seen as ‘bad company’ to be avoided at all costs.Gyre – to spin round and round like a gyroscope with your arms spread out. While the urge to ‘skip’ is ingrained within the DNA of young girls, and to ‘hop’ on one leg is ingrained within the DNA of young boys, gyring was seen as a form of lunacy in children who did this.Gimble – to screw into something to make a hole. The reference was that if barmy children spun around long enough they would screw themselves into the floor and remain there. The allegory is that they DO screw themselves into the floor by living in hovels and having lots of children. They are also shallow, insular, and BOREing.Wabe (way be) - The piece of ground in the shadow cast by a hill or a sundial – as opposed to the shadow cast by the gnomon on the sundial – which indicates the time.The sun at brillig on a clear summer’s day casts long evening shadows and the wabe would seem to stretch into the horizon. Carroll was saying that this ‘shady, shadowy world’ full of people who are not good for you is everywhere – and that the shadow can creep upon you at ANY time of the day.Mimsy – a logism comprised of miserable and flimsy. Carroll is referring to the shallow flimsy lives led by toves; a life that has is unfulfilling, has no purpose, kills the inner spirit, brings very little – if any – joy, and generally leads to a life of misery.Borogove – half-starved creatures (gypsies, beggars, and tramps) that are parasites on society. Carroll also calls them ‘mop-heads’ – later realised by Jim Henson as ‘Muppets’ (mop-head) – creating a frog, a pig, a turkey, and a whole array of dim-wits – even the drummer is called ‘animal’.Mome raths – homeless rats that have never been shown a good way forward and so flounder in the sewers of life, feeding off crumbs cast from the table.Outgrabe – to come out and grab you – to catch one unawares.Jabberwock – the BIGGY! The jabberwock is a DEMONIC TALKING SPRITE that resides IN YOUR HEAD. Jabber is to talk rubbish, and wock is the Anglo-Saxon word for terror. The jabberwock enters one’s head through being the UNWILLING VICTIM of EVIL that has taken place EXTERNALLY (such as being raped). The Jabberwock sprite ENSNARES ALL other spirits that reside in the human psyche and unless this demon is FACED and DESTROYED then any chance of that person achieving SELF-ACTUALISATION is virtually ZERO. The reason for this is because the Jabberwocky INSTRUCTS the possessor to do EVIL deeds.People who are possessed with a Jabberwock are usually very shy and are TERRIFIED and will SCREAM OUT with terror. This is because the demon TALKS (jabbers) to the person and confuses them. The way forward with people who are afflicted with a Jabberwock is for them to seek out someone who will be their friend, mentor, and GUIDE. Very often, such a mentor will turn up out of the blue. There are several spiritual reasons for this: a) the person is suffering deep anguish and the call has been heard; b) the person is mentally, emotionally, and SPIRITUALLY ready to face the battle and free their spirit - as in Alice’s case; c) as awareness and realisation kicks in, the Jabberwock is at its WEAKEST – and will REALLY kick off; and d) the time to face the demon is right.Jubjub bird – a desperate being that lives in fear of its own sounds. The jub-jub is a reference to the jub-jub sound a shire horses hooves make when it walks in a field – and then it startles itself when it walks on stony ground.Shun – It means ‘avoid at all costs’, ‘push away’; reject; and ‘get rid of’'.Frumious – Furious and fuming with rage. Caused by FRUSTRATION at not been able to deal with the internal turmoil that is taking place.Bandersnatch – a vicious creature that can move very quickly, such as the terrier dog Alice encounters when she escapes from the rabbit’s house (to rabbit is to nag someone into doing the nags bidding – which is why Alice feels the walls coming in on her when the rabbit incessantly nags her to do his bidding). Sprites are ‘quick-witted’ and the ‘snatch’ comes out as offensive or sarcastic remarks that aren’t from the TRUE person – but put into their minds by the sprite. The modern term is Turrets Syndrome.Vorpal – a weapon that ‘speaks truth’ – the sword Excalibur was a vorpal weapon. It is a logism composed of the words verbal and gospel (i.e. speak truth).Manxome foe – manly and large enemy – a reference to men from The Isle of Man. Carroll was showing Alice that the Jabberwocky is only PERCEIVED as being large and strong to Alice – and that she has the fortitude WITHIN HER (the crux of the poem) to overcome her demons.The strong words ‘drink me’ and ‘eat me’ in ‘Alice in Wonderland’ are to teach Alice that she must AVOID temptation – which is why Alice’s greed and puffed up conceit prevents her from being small (humble) enough to enter the beautiful garden, just as the pool of tears - don’t wallow in your own self-pity - will wash you away!Tumtum tree – the metaphorical tree in your tummy that makes you grow physically large.Uffish – a logism derived from a rough, gruff huff expressed as a very angry and very frustrated loud wheeze (huh!!) when someone is in a ‘huff’.Whiffling – running through life without any sense of direction or purpose – running scared.Tulgey – thick, ugly, and creepy. Alice must FACE the woods and not be afraid of the trees (other people) around her so that she can have the courage and FOCUS to face her FOES and DEFEAT them.Burbled – a logism of babbling and burping - talking rubbish and making noises that make another feel queasy.Snicker-snack – a logism of snigger (scornfull laugh), nick (like cutting yourself on paper) and snack (a sharp stinging bite such as you get from a terrier dog).Galumphing – a logism of gallop and triumph - galloping around in triumph.Beamish – someone who is not YET beaming with happiness – but has the ABILITY to beam – and will soon be doing so. The ‘boy’ reference is suggesting that Alice needs to seek out a LADISH spirit to conquer her shyness.Frabjous – a logism of fair, fabulous and joyous – what the real Alice eventually becomes!Callooh! Callay! – Anglo-Saxon for ‘hip-hip hurrah’.Chortle – a ‘chicken laugh’ that sounds like the person laughing is ‘laying an egg’, (which some women do) concluded with a loud snort at the end – which is funny to listen to – and is used to make a child laugh so as to lighten the poem.Ready for the poem? Its on page 160 of The Collectors Colour Library edition of ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass’ (ISBN 978 1 907360 36 7).

Tried this item on all DVDs and regional 1 would not work contacted seller asked to return to USA at own expenses will not be buying again