Description
We all know the story of ALICE IN WONDERLAND. The 1865 novel by Lewis Carroll is a classic. The 1951 animated film is also considered a classic. And the 1976 adult feature of the same name? Well, in all my years of smut viewing, this is the first time I've actually sat down (with lotion and tissue paper close by just in case I get a little too worked up during the actual review - which was definitely not a problem here) and watched the damn thing from beginning to end. I do recall seeing snippets of the R-rated version once or twice during the days when I was a swinging single with nothingmore… better to do than watch endless hours of the Playboy Channel on cable TV. And for years, my fellow Empire Reviewer Joe Blow would explain to me how it's one of his favorite pornos. (Then again, he likes British comedy, Batman cartoons, pork baos and Boston Baked Beans.)
However, I can't recall having any particular affection for the flick, despite my appreciation for the classic blue movies of the seventies and eighties. And now that I've been exposed to it once more I remain unimpressed. For the purposes of this review, I resisted the urge to hit that handy-dandy fast forward button, and let me tell ya, it wasn't easy. To me, ALICE IN WONDERLAND isn't nearly as arousingly entertaining as DEEP THROAT or THE DEVIL IN MISS JONES (to name two classics from that same era), and I have a feeling that unless viewers really enjoy wackiness and whimsy in their fuck flicks, the so-called creative aspirations in ALICE might, in fact, be a real turn-off. Director Bud Townsend is no Gregory Dark, heck, he isn't even a Bud Lee, and it's easy to see why this would be his first and last porno film.
Fresh-faced, wide-eyed Playboy model Kristine DeBell stars as Alice, and her spotlighting role in this feature was considered a minor scandal. After all, before Teri Weigel jumped head first into the world of XXX-rated entertainment, Playmates were considered to be little more than the extremely hot girl next door: blatant in their physical sex appeal, but chaste in terms of openly expressing it. Since her debut in this flick, Miss DeBell has gone on to a fairly successful (as in consistent) mainstream TV and movie career, though she hasn't become a household name like the infinitely talented Simpson sisters. She's a definite cutie (at times, she reminds me of Helen Slater from that beloved mid-eighties blockbuster classic, SUPERGIRL) and her soft voice, petite features, and general demeanor make her all-too brief sex scenes all the more erotic.
Incidentally, over the years, there has been some debate as to whether she truly performs in the brief, but unmistakably graphic sex scenes, or whether it's some body double. Due to the frequent use of close-ups and cut away shots (especially in the final scene, where Alice re-awakens and finds herself back at home with her boyfriend, played by Ron Nelson), I occasionally wondered whether she was doing the dirty deeds, or whether I was seeing some sexual stunt double. (How cool would it be to find out that Ginger Lynn learned her vocation as an understudy in a film like this?). For example, a few medium close-ups of Miss De Bell's oral work is partially obscured by her hair, and the penetration close-ups are disconnected from the full body shots when she rides him cowgirl style. I haven't studied this video with the same vigor and intensity as conspiracists study the Zapruder film, but it sure as heck looks like its her giving that blowjob to the Mad Hatter, masturbating, getting a taste of twat (with Juliet Graham who plays the Queen) and finally, getting penetrated cowgirl style. It's not as raw as SPORTS FUCKING #4, but it is x-rated.
Most of the scenes take place outdoors, with actors in costume chewing up the scenery or else breaking out into song. Not since THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW or the disastrous GRAFFITI BRIDGE have I seen a musical produced so garishly or awkwardly. Of course, I suppose that this overall weirdness is keeping in line with the theme of this familiar story, but to me, the cinematic execution is just too bizarre and unsettling. In fact, I spent most of my time staring at the screen with a "Springtime For Hitler" look on my face, and never once did I feel like spanking the monkey despite all the carnal activity.
Supporting performances come courtesy of Alan Novak (who plays the Mad Hatter), Larry Spelman (who plays the White Rabbit), Nancy Dore (a blonde), Gilla (a brunette), Melivna Peoples (an African-American female), Bruce Finkelstein (who is a black guy, believe it or not), as well as Terri Hall, Bree Anthony and a few others listed in opening and ending credits. If you've never heard of these people before, then don't worry, almost nobody else has, either. Since we're talking seventies porn, be aware that graphic sex scenes are tightly edited, with sucking and fucking conduct often lasting less than a minute. In fact, it's easy to miss much of the hardcore if you're speed-searching through this eighty minute flick (not including credits), so horny raincoaters should not make ALICE IN WONDERLAND their first choice if their in need of a good, satisfying jerk.
Arrow Productions does a fairly good job with the digital transfer of this thirty-year-old flick. However, this so-called "Collector's Edition Series" DVD release is amateurishly produced and completely bereft of extras (unless you consider chapter stops and the theme song played over the legal credits and during the static menu to be "extras"). I've seen homemade DVDs which look better than what Arrow has done here. I also didn't expect an hour long documentary on this movie, but some additional information (in the form of onscreen text material or an interview with some actor, production person or even a porn historian (the late Jim Holliday could really have given us some historical perspective on this flick) would certainly have been appreciated. Surprisingly, the picture is presented in "windowboxed" format (though the picture is not anamorphic) and the sound is in sync with low monophonic fidelity. (The aforementioned theme song is your typical seventies-style cheese, but even I found it running through my head for a few days later.) Some of the film reels look better than others, and it's obvious that the source material was in less than pristine shape.
It's good to see the relics of blue cinema being preserved on DVD, but that doesn't mean every film preserved is necessarily all that great. ALICE IN WONDERLAND was certainly creative for its time, and a definite classic, but I doubt I'd go down this rabbit hole again.
Info:
- Category:
- Movies > Adult
- Case Type:
- DVD
- Release Type:
- Custom
- Language:
- English
- Comments:
- 1 read add
Cover Info:
- Title:
- Alice In Wonderland Custom DVD
- Part:
- CD
- Dimensions:
- 1437 x 1423 px
- Size:
- 910 KB
- Downloads:
- 78 (0 today)
- Uploaded:
- 21/05/08 by 007connery
- Quality Rating:
-
- Currently /5 Stars.
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