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Twelve years prior to the 1951 film, Alice in Wonderland has been planned out since the 1930s, as the first-ever animated feature by Disney.

However, despite Walt Disney's enthusiasm, the film was postponed and canceled due to restricted budgets that had imposed the studio during World War II, plus the film was not released until the year 1951.

History[]

The 1939 draft had beautiful artwork and storyboards done by the talented British concept and visual development artist David Hall, a script by Al Perkins, and songs by Frank Churchill. The Leica reel composed for the film even had a voice cast, such as Cliff Edwards (who played Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio) portraying the Anthropomorphic "Drink Me" Bottle.

Walt Disney ultimately turned the draft down, as the Wonderland's denizens looked far too monstrous for his tastes, and were hard to animate, as they resembled the Tenniel illustrations too closely. 

Ultimately, Walt Disney Productions instead went for a lighter, more modern approach with the final film. However, bits and pieces of this early version have emerged from time to time.

Plot[]

The film opens with Alice on a riverbank like in the final version. She eventually sees the White Rabbit and follows him down a hole, leading to a massive void of gems, stars, and ferocious bats. She then meets the Anthropomorphic "Drink Me" Bottle (voiced by Cliff Edwards), who offers to give Alice a drink of his magic, growing her and then shrinking her. When she shrinks, she is washed into Wonderland by her own tears. She is rescued by the Mouse, and then whisked off to the island of the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle and participates in The Lobster Quadrille. After the dance ends, the Cheshire Cat arrives on the scene and scares everyone away but befriends Alice in her hunt for the White Rabbit.

Wandering through Wonderland, Alice encounters the Caterpillar who tells her about the mushroom which will make her grow. After taking a piece, Alice's neck grows incredibly long, shooting her head up into some trees where a family of birds reside. The birds mistake Alice for a serpent and subsequently attack her. However, she takes another piece from the other side of the mushroom and shrinks herself again. Presently, Alice meets Puppy who begins to chase her. Fortunately, the Cheshire Cat shows up and scares it off. He then tells Alice about the Mad Hatter and the March Hare.

At the Hatter's place, he and the Hare are trying to repair the White Rabbit's watch by smearing the inner-mechanisms with butter. Alice tells them that the watch isn't broken, so the Mad Hatter concludes that "it must be broken before it can be fixed" and flings it over the garden wall. The White Rabbit then shows up and scolds the two for breaking his watch, at which point they declare that he "can't go to the Queen's party without any jam on" and proceed to smear it all over him. Then, the Hatter and the Hare declare that Alice is in no state to attend the party as well because "her legs and hair are too long" and advance toward her with scissors and a knife, prompting Alice to run.

Next, Alice arrives at the White Rabbit's House where she meets the Monkey who shows no interest in starting a conversation with her. Soon, the White Rabbit arrives on a high-wheeled bicycle and crashes into the Monkey, breaking his glasses. Mistaking Alice for his housekeeper, Mary Ann, the White Rabbit sends her inside to fetch another pair. In the bedroom, she finds several different pairs of glasses, all of which magnify whatever part of her body is reflected in the lenses.

After Alice has eaten the cake which makes her grow enormous, the real Mary Ann shows up and terrified at the sight of the giant girl, rushes outside and bangs on a pot with a spoon, alerting the Wonderland Fire Department, who show up with Bill the Lizard in tow. Inside, Alice begins to cry but is surprised to see the Bottle appear from between some books. He offers her another drink to shrink her, which she accepts, then leaves.

A little later, Alice sees the house of the Duchess and decides to investigate it. In the kitchen, the Duchess is nursing a baby while singing. The Cook starts tossing every pan and dish at her disposal, so Alice grabs the baby and runs outside with it, only for it to change into a pig.

In the final scene, Alice comes to The Queen of Hearts' Castle where the Knave of Hearts is accused of stealing the Queen's tarts and put on trial. Alice tries to testify for the Knave, only for the King of Hearts to order for him to be shot with a cannon. After the Knave is taken care of, the Queen orders Alice] to be killed, so she is tied to a bench underneath a large stone gear that will come down and crush her. Luckily, Alice wakes up and finds herself back by the river.

Voice Cast[]

Songs[]

Gallery[]

Concept Art by David Hall[]


v - e - d
Alice in Wonderland logo 2011
Media
Films: Alice in Wonderland (video/soundtrack)

TV Series: Adventures in Wonderland (Episode List) • A Poem Is...Alice's Wonderland Bakery (Episode List)
Shorts and Specials: A Lesson in Appreciating DifferencesDonald in Mathmagic LandWriting Magic with Figment and Alice in WonderlandOne Hour in WonderlandOperation Wonderland
Books: Wonderland
Video Games: Kingdom HeartsKingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts 358/2 DaysKingdom Hearts coded Kingdom Hearts χ Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ/Union χ2000 gameAlice no Paint AdventureKinect: Disneyland AdventuresHidden WorldsDisney Magical WorldDisney UniverseDisney's Villains' RevengeDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Sorcerer's ArenaDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney All-Star RacersDisney All-Star Party
Music: Alice and the Mad Tea PartyAlice and the TrialAlice and the White RabbitLittle Nipper Giant Storybook Record Album
Cancelled projects: 1933 film1939 film

Disney Parks
Alice's Curious LabyrinthAlice in WonderlandClub VillainDisney Animation BuildingIt's a Small WorldMad Tea PartyMickey Mouse RevueStorybook Land Canal Boats

Entertainment: Alice and the Queen of Hearts: Back to WonderlandCinderellabration: Lights of RomanceMickey's Gift of DreamsMickey's Magical Music WorldMickey presents: “Happy Anniversary Disneyland Paris”Once Upon a MouseOne Man's DreamSoryo Kobu
Restaurants: March Hare RefreshmentsCheshire Cafe
Parades: Celebrate A Dream Come True ParadeDisney's Dreams On Parade: Moving OnDisney's Magical Moments ParadeDisney's Party ExpressDisney Carnivale ParadeDisney Magic on ParadeDisney on ParadeDisney Stars on ParadeDreaming Up!Dreams.... And Shine Brighter!Festival of Fantasy ParadeHappiness is Here ParadeMain Street Electrical ParadeMickey's New Year's Eve ParadeMickey's Rainy Day ExpressMove It! Shake It! Dance and Play It! Street PartySpectroMagicWalt Disney's Parade of Dreams
Fireworks: Believe... There's Magic in the StarsCelebrate the MagicDisney in the StarsDisney EnchantmentOnce Upon a TimeRemember... Dreams Come TrueWonderful World of AnimationWorld of ColorWondrous Journeys
Spring: Disney's Easter WonderlandDisney's Spring PromenadeMinnie's Little Spring TrainHippity Hoppity SpringtimeUsatama on the Run!
Summer: Mickey's WaterWorks
Halloween: Disney's Maleficious Halloween PartyDisney's Not So Spooky SpectacularDisney Villains Wicked GatheringFrightfully Fun ParadeHappy HallowishesHouse of De Vil-lainsInferno Dance PartyIt's Good to be Bad with the Disney VillainsJack Skellington’s Villainous GatheringRe-Villains! Halloween ParadeVillains GroveVillains Mix and MingleVillains Night Out!
Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy ParadeDisney's White Holiday ParadeMickey's Most Merriest Celebration

Characters
Alice in Wonderland: AliceDinahAlice's SisterMad HatterMarch HareDormouseWhite RabbitCheshire CatThe DoorknobDodoToucanHawkCaucus Race AnimalsTweedle Dee and Tweedle DumThe Walrus and the CarpenterCurious OystersBill the LizardFlowers of WonderlandCaterpillarHammer and Pencil BirdsMome RathsCard SoldiersQueen of HeartsKing of HeartsFlamingosHedgehogsBread-and-ButterfliesRocking HorseflyGlasses BirdMirror BirdHorn DucksUmbrella VulturesShovel BirdCage BirdAccordion Owl

Alice's Wonderland Bakery: AliceHattie HatterFergie the White RabbitRosa CorazónQueen of HeartsTweedle Do and Tweedle Don'tMilly
Other: Mary AnnHumpty Dumpty

Objects
Drink Me BottleEat Me CookiesWhite Rabbit's Watch
Locations
WonderlandThe ExteriorFish DinnersWhite Rabbit's HouseShorelineThe Meadow of Living FlowersThe MushroomThe Mad Hatter's HouseThe Queen of Hearts' CastleWonderland MazeTulgey WoodEnglandLondon
Songs
Alice in Wonderland: Alice in WonderlandIn a World of My OwnI'm LateSailor's HornpipeThe Caucus RaceHow Do You Do and Shake HandsThe Walrus and the CarpenterOld Father WilliamSmoke the Blighter OutAll in the Golden AfternoonAEIOU‘Twas BrillingThe Unbirthday SongVery Good AdvicePainting the Roses RedDodgsonlandOcean of TearsSimon SaysWhooooo Are Youuuuu?

Alice's Wonderland Bakery: Theme SongThe Baking Song
Deleted: Beyond the Laughing SkyBeautiful SoupBeware the JabberwockI'm OddThe Lobster QuadrilleGavotte of the CardsEntrance of the ExecutionerWhen the Wind is in the EastSo They SayEverything Has a UsenessDream CaravanSpeak Roughly to Your Little BoyIf You'll Believe in Me

Deleted Concepts and Characters
JabberwockyAnthropomorphic "Drink Me" BottleThe Gryphon and the Mock TurtleThe Lion and the UnicornThe Executioner1933 film1939 film
See Also
Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland
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