Alice in Wonderland 1949

Oxford pre-visit: Great Tom controversy

At Christ Church, Oxford, Charles Dodgson is a respected scholar who also enjoys photography and theatre. The Vice Chancellor is appalled by a poem about the Great Tom bell and fears Dodgson might read it to the visiting Queen. He suggests removing the bell to avoid disruption, signaling a tense clash between academia and ceremony. Dodgson quietly carries this concern as the Queen's arrival looms.

Alice excluded and the tart gesture

On the Vice Chancellor's advice, Alice Liddell and her sisters are kept from the Queen's arrival to prevent disorder. Dodgson feels bad about the girl's disappointment and slips one of the Queen's tarts to Alice. Later, when he meets the Queen, he cannot find the courage to express his true opinion of Great Tom.

Boat ride and the story begins

Dodgson takes the Dean's daughters on a boat ride through the Oxford surroundings and begins telling a story about a little girl named Alice who sees a White Rabbit with a pocket watch. The tale foreshadows the journey into a fantastical world where rules bend and time is not what it seems. The frame narrative sets up the Wonderland adventures.

Alice follows the Rabbit down the hole

Alice follows the White Rabbit and tumbles into a long corridor of doors, finding a key that unlocks a tiny door. She discovers magical objects that let her change her size. Her size changes echo the dreamlike, illogical logic of Wonderland.

The door, the sea of tears, and a mouse

After shrinking, Alice is left outside the tiny door and begins to cry, producing a sea of tears. She washes ashore and meets a mouse who hears her describe the strange, wonderful world she found. The encounter deepens her sense that she may be part of something extraordinary.

Caucus Race and pursuit

A Caucus Race is held to dry everyone off, and the animals blame Alice for the flood. The White Rabbit orders Bill the Lizard to fix the situation, and a shrinking cake appears as a remedy that barely helps. The house collapses, and the Rabbit and gardeners join the chase.

Woods, Duchess, and invitations

In the woods, Alice meets a giant puppy with a bell and the Caterpillar, then sees fish-footmen bearing invitations to the Duchess's croquet game. She enters the Duchess's house, where the cook's pepper makes everyone sneeze and the house explodes. The Cheshire Cat appears and directs her toward the Hatter, March Hare, and Dormouse.

Mad Tea Party

Alice joins the Mad Tea Party with the Hatter, March Hare, and Dormouse. The Hatter leaps onto the table and recites a song he used at a concert the Queen disliked, claiming he was murdering time. The chaotic humor of the party showcases Wonderland's warped logic.

Lobster Quadrille and sea adventure

After the tea party, Alice ends up at the bottom of the sea, watching a Lobster Quadrille dance with sea creatures. The encounter broadens the sense of whimsy and danger in her journey. The episode foreshadows the surreal nature of Wonderland.

Roses and the croquet affair

Back on the surface, three gardeners repaint white roses red to cover their mistake. The Queen and King arrive at the croquet lawn, accompanied by their entourage. The Rabbit informs the Queen about the gardeners' deception and the associated chaos; the situation sets up the impending trial.

The tarts theft and the trial begins

The Knave of Hearts steals the Queen's tarts and the Rabbit pretends not to see, even taking a tart for himself, effectively framing Alice for the theft. The Queen declares that a trial will determine guilt, ushering in Wonderland's absurd justice.

The trial and the deck of cards attack

In the trial, absurd and nonsensical evidence is presented; The Knave admits the theft, but the Queen insists Alice is the attacker. As the charges escalate, the deck of cards fans out and attacks when Alice shouts that they are nothing but a pack of cards.