Alice in Wonderland (1981 film)

Alice in Wonderland (1981 film) is a made-for-television musical film adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic novel, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It was produced by Irwin Allen and directed by Harry Harris.

The film stars Natalie Wood as Alice (though Shelley Duvall performed the singing voice), and features an all-star cast including Red Buttons as the White Rabbit, Sammy Davis Jr. as the Caterpillar, Martha Raye as the Duchess, Sid Caesar as the Gryphon, Ringo Starr as the Mock Turtle, and Anthony Newley as the Mad Hatter.

The production is known for its elaborate costumes and set designs, aiming to recreate the fantastical and surreal world of Wonderland. The songs were written by Steve Allen.

While remaining generally faithful to the source material, the film compresses and alters certain scenes and dialogue for time constraints and to create a more cohesive narrative suitable for television. It omits some characters and condenses some events.

The film received mixed reviews upon its initial broadcast. Some critics praised the visual spectacle and the performances of the actors, while others criticized the liberties taken with the original story and the uneven quality of the musical numbers. Despite the mixed critical reception, the film has become a popular and frequently broadcast adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It is viewed as a notable example of a large-scale, star-studded made-for-TV movie from the early 1980s.