Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1910)

The Edison Manufacturing Company (created by Thomas Edison) produced their own library of films and director Edwin S. Porter (most famously known as the director of the classic film The Great Train Robbery) produced this company's version of Alice' Adventures in Wonderland. Now, I don't want to say that they copied the 1903 version, but I noted how interesting it was that it followed nearly the exact same storyline as the 1903 version, with the same cut chapters and all.

Once again, we have a short silent film.  This version does include a little more from the book, though, and is all around better paced, has better effects, and is more entertaining than the first.

(Gif created by Phantomwise)

Original Source Breakdown

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Chapter I: Down the Rabbit Hole - MOSTLY INTACT
Alice gets bored sitting with her sister as she spots the White Rabbit who leads her down the hole.  The hall of doors is closer in appearance to the book than the 1903 film and Alice follows the shrinking/growing actions as usual.

Chapter II: The Pool of Tears - MOSTLY REMOVED/ALTERED
This section starts of like normal, except Alice only briefly slips into the Pool of Tears while she's still giant (and it's a little unclear as to why this happens).  Then this moment is combined with the Rabbit's House scene from Chapter IV as Alice reachers her giant arm through the tiny door to the garden and frightens the Rabbit and his animal pals.  Then Alice finds the fan to shrink her and she goes through the door where she immediately plays with the giant puppy from Chapter IV.

Chapter III: The Caucus-Race and a Long Tale - REMOVED

Chapter IV: The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill - MOSTLY REMOVED/ALTERED
See Chapter II

Chapter V: Advice from a Caterpillar - REMOVED

Chapter VI: Pig and Pepper - MOSTLY INTACT
Alice observes the Frog Footman and the Fish Footman outside the door of the Duchess's house, then travels inside to find the Duchess, Cook, Baby, and Cheshire Cat. We barely see the Baby transform into a Pig and she immediately encounters the Cat outside (who is now a prop cat that smiles).

Chapter VII: A Mad Tea Party - MOSTLY INTACT
Like the 1903 version, Alice shows up, exchanges brief words with the March Hare and Hatter, they move down the table, and then Alice gets offended and leaves as the duo unsuccessfully tries to stuff the Dormouse into a teapot.  But theres a little more time for the scene to breathe.

Chapter VIII: The Queen's Croquet-Ground - MOSTLY REMOVED
Alice shows up in the Queen's garden with the Gardeners already lying flat on the ground.  The Queen's procession shows up and Alice protects the Gardeners from the Executioner jumping straight to the trial scenes.

Chapter IX: The Mock Turtle's Story - REMOVED
Chapter X: The Lobster-Quadrille - REMOVED

Chapter XI: Who Stole the Tarts? - MOSTLY INTACT

The Knave of Hearts's trial over the stolen tarts takes place.  The three witnesses are called just like in the book, the Hatter, the Cook, and Alice.

Chapter XII: Alice's Evidence - MOSTLY INTACT

Alice immediately confronts the Queen, causing a spiral of cards to transition her back into the waking world, where she describes her dream to her sister.

Through the Looking-Glass - NOT INCLUDED

Review:

This film plays out like an enhanced version of the 1903 film and is nearly better in every way.  All of the same scenes are included as well as a couple additional ones (involving the trial) which help give the story a more satisfying conclusion.  The conflation of the Pool of Tears chapter with the Rabbit's House chapter was a little odd, but I could understand the filmmakers opting to save money by only constructing one set for giant Alice to stick her arm through.

(Gif created by Phantomwise)

What really makes this film more enjoyable is the acting.  The actress Gladys Hulette who plays Alice is younger than the actress from the 1903 version and she has this fun, exaggerated energy that she carries with her throughout the picture.  It's apparent that she was trained to act for the silent screen, as you can tell every emotion and thought she is having in any given moment.  This makes some of the scenes much funnier, like the Hall of Doors or the Mad Tea Party.  I laughed out loud when the Hare and Hatter tried to stuff the Dormouse in the teapot as it was so sudden a shift in tone!

(Gif created by Phantomwise)

The title cards also do a better job of telling more of the story, as they incorporate a few quotes directly from the book.  I wish more had been used during the trial scene, as most of that scene's humor comes from the dialogue and it was hard to tell what was exactly happening throughout it.

(Gif created by Phantomwise)

Overall, I'd say this is the better of the two short silent films, so it's good to see that they are improving (even if they may have just copied...).

3.5 out of 5 Giant Arms