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TV play (UK) 1966 produced and directed by Jonathan Miller
he mood of endless summer pervades but with no purpose behind anything, just frozen moments of time stretching on forever, and if Alice didn't move on, she'd be trapped there as well. The moment-frozen-in-time scenario happens right at the start of the film as Alice sits by her sister, nothing to do, nothing to read and no conversation. Endless summer just washes over her as if she's going to have to sit there forever. The appearance of the white rabbit just has to happen, she'd go mad Michael Gough as the March Hareherself otherwise.
    When she meets the Hatter and Hare, they animate themselves at first, and indulge in the familiar banter, but ultimately they run out of conversation and just sit. The Dormouse has already given up trying to stay awake, the Hatter sometimes strives to say or do something, if only to break the endless monotony, but fails. The Hare admits defeat and just sits and stares into space, totally withdrawn. They've been there a long time, and time is standing still with no intention of going anywhere else. "It's always tea time here."
Peter Cook, Wilfred Lawson and Michael Gough
The 'Eat Me' cake starts to work Michael Denison as the Caterpillar Leo McKern as the Duchess
The film makes excellent use of real locations. Again it's a quintessentially English middle-class environment, the bleached cottage exteriors, fading paintwork, roses everywhere. There are Victorian settings in abundance and great detail, with bric-a-brac cluttered rooms, ornate black-leaded fire grates, heavy curtains, aspidistras growing in glass conservatories, utilitarian kitchens with stone sinks. There's also a whole gamut of a servant-heavy culture existing on a level of its own, possessing it's own sense of logic - maids, footmen, gardeners - we all have John Birdour jobs to do, even if it makes no sense, it's expected of us. As John Birds' Frog Footman says, "Tell you what I'll do for you. Nothing. Of course, I can't do it straight away, I'm a bit busy at the moment." All with a straight face and believing every word.
Jonathan Miller saw in it the confusion of class differentiation - adults must be respected, servants are adults, so why aren't they respected in the same way as uncles?
Wilfred Brambell and Anne-Marie Mallik
"It's ... it's a very fine day!" said a timid voice at her side.
Painting the roses red
"May it please your majesty," said Two ...
Wilfred Brambell
Did you say "What a pity?", the rabbit asked.
"My name is Alice, so please your Majesty," said Alice very politely.

THE QUEEN'S CROQUET GROUND
Peter Sellers and Alison Leggatt
"But consider, my dear. She's only a child ..."

The Cheshire Cat puts in an appearance.
She noticed a curious appearance in the air.
Angelo Muscat (left)
"Now I give you fair warning." shouted the Queen.
Leo McKern
"Either you, or your head, must be off ..."

"... and that in about no time! Take your choice"
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