Alice (a.k.a. Alicja) is a 1982 musical-fantasy film directed by Jacek Bromski. A Belgian and Polish co-production, it is a modern telling of Lewis Carroll's 1865 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland story and stars French actress Sophie Barjac in the title role. Jean-Pierre Cassel plays the jogger named Rabbit with whom Alice falls in love; Susannah York, Paul Nicholas, Jack Wild, Tracy Hyde, Peter Straker and Dominic Guard all have supporting roles.
The film features a musical score by Henri Seroka and lyrics by Gyllianna. Barjac's vocals were dubbed by the Scottish singer Lulu. The film is relatively obscure despite the participation of well-known talent.
Contents
Plot
The screenplay draws its inspiration loosely from Carroll's story, but begins with Alice witnessing a murder.
Cast
Sophie Barjac as Alice
Jean-Pierre Cassel as Rabbit
Susannah York as Queenie
Paul Nicholas as Cheshire Cat / Caterpillar
Lulu as Alice (singing voice)
Tracy Hyde as Mona
Jack Wild as Mock Turtle
Dominic Guard as Gryphon
Peter Straker as Mad Hatter
Marc Seaberg as March Hare
David Toguri as Duchess
Music
All of the main cast have singing parts, with the exception of Barjac whose vocals were performed by Lulu. She is featured as a soloist on three songs: "Hello My Friend", "Love is the Answer", and "Maybe I'm In Love Again"; and in duet and ensemble performances of several other songs. The complete soundtrack was released as a double LP in Poland, with a selection of excerpts also released on cassette.
Release
The film was internationally released as Alice or Alicja; and to German-speaking audiences under the title Alicja im Horrorland. In 1986 it was released on VHS in the United States and Canada by Karl-Lorimar Home Video, and later on an English-language DVD in Poland with Polish and French subtitles, packaged with an accompanying soundtrack CD.
Reception
The film is considered a curiosity "worth seeking out" "(f)or anyone who’s a Lulu fan".
This version is also said to emphasize Carroll's obsessiveness.
Leonard Maltin found it "entertaining".
A retrospective review of the DVD version praised the music and choreography but is very negative about all the rest, the plot in particular, deemed non-existent.
