"Alice in Wonderland - the silent film versions"

Film and TV productions across the years

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THE SILENT ERA from 1903 to 1928

Feature film 1903 UK
Directed by Cecil Hepworth
Alice played by May Clark
May Clark in Alice in Wonderland 1903

This was the very first film version of "Alice" and encapsulated much of the "Wonderland" story into a short ten minute feature. Despite the infancy of the film-making process, the production included some creditable special effects and Alice grew and shrank to good effect. The film is preserved by the British Film Institute, although two of the sixteen scenes are missing.
"The History of the British Film: 1896-1906" by Rachael Low and Roger Manvell (distributed in the USA by R.R. Bowker, 1948, 1973) offers this description: (see above right)

"The film is composed of sixteen scenes, dissolving very beautifully from one to another, but preceded, where necessary for the elucidation of the story, by descriptive titles."
The book proceeds to describe the 16 scenes in considerable detail and also offers a brief entry on the Hepworth Manufacturing Company and its founder, Cecil Hepworth (born 1874).
"The British Film Catalogue 1895-1970: A Guide to Entertainment Films" by Denis Gifford (David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1973) offers the following credits:

May Clark :
Cecil Hepworth :
Mrs Hepworth :
Norman Whitten :
Stanley Faithfull :
Geoffrey Faithfull :
Screenplay :
Directed by :

Alice
Frog
White Rabbit/Queen
Fish/Mad Hatter
Card
Card
Cecil Hepworth
Cecil Hepworth and Percy Stow

Background research by Eugene Kim.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Frampton.
David Schaeffer provided extra information on this film, on the 1910 Edison film referenced below and on the 1915 Viola Savoy film.

The second film based on Lewis Carroll's story was made in the USA in 1910 by the Edison Company. It was just ten minutes long with fourteen scenes.
According to the New York Dramatic Mirror on September 14th, 1910, "This is the most original and the most interesting film that has appeared in many a day." Like the British film before it, the special effect of Alice shrinking in size was "skillfully managed in the early part of her adventures", again according to the Dramatic Mirror.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Directed by
W. W. Young
Alice played by
Viola Savoy

This USA production, released in 1915, is best-known as a "Non-Pareil" film. It still exists and in good condition. The film can be purchased online from either GRAPEVINE VIDEO or VIDEOBRARY . Both sources take credit cards but if you're outside the USA it's worth emailing them first to ensure they handle overseas transactions. (Thanks to Michelle Takacs for locating these sources.)
Those with a masochistic streak can visit the MOVIE-FLIX WEBSITE and attempt to view a slightly incomplete copy over the internet.
We have an extensive illustrated review of the film on the separate Viola Savoy page.

Between the above film and the first "talkie" Alice in 1931, there appear to have been at least three more silent versions but information is somewhat sparse.

1) The website "www.desertislandfilms.com" lists:-
"Drama/Comedy Alice In Wonderland 1920".
"Silent version of classic children's tale".
Running Time: 61 mins (This might be a re-issue of the Non-Pareil film)

2) Alice In Wonderland
Date: 1927
Country: United States
Manufacturers: American Motion Pict Corp

3) Alice In Wonderland
Date: 1928
Country: United States
Manufacturers: Pictorial Club

Just to confuse things, the 1928 film is listed in the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB) as "Alice Through A Looking Glass", directed by Walter Lang. At least, I'm assuming it's the same film.

Eugene Kim writes, "You list a 1928 silent "Alice." There may also be a 1927 version. That's based on a check of the New York State Archives Web site and its motion picture scripts collection. The site is located at
http://www.archives.nysed.gov/holding/mpd/default.html."

"The database lists 1927 and 1928 movie versions of "Alice." Two different productions, or the same one? I don't know. I visited the Archives last year, but didn't do any research on any "Alice" adaptations. Maybe next time. [Note: The majority of scripts on file at the Archives aren't original shooting scripts, but what are known as "dialogue continuity scripts" or "cutting continuity scripts."]"

A fully illustrated review of the Viola Savoy film starts on the next page