Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Fantasy (1976) – Review

There have been many adaptations of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” going as far back as the silent era and we even had big-budget 3D extravaganza with Johnny Depp, but in the 1970s we were treated to very unique take on this classic tale. This version came to past due to the popularity of such porn offerings as Deep Throat and Behind the Green Door and some brilliant mind having the thought “Let’s take a beloved children’s classic and add a lot of sex.” So grab a piece of cake and a deck of cards and join me on this wild journey down the rabbit hole.

Set against the backdrop of a psychedelic Wonderland, the film follows Alice as she embarks on a sensual journey through a world where nothing is quite as it seems. From encounters with the libidinous White Rabbit to a steamy rendezvous with the Mad Hatter every moment is filled with erotic tension and innuendo. In this updated adaptation we find Alice (Kristine DeBell) working as a librarian and rejecting the advances of her boyfriend (Ron Nelson) because she is “Not that kind of girl” and he rebuttals with “The body is all grown up but the mind is still a little girl” and adds “You got all the right equipment, but you don’t know how to put it to work” which I must say, is a rather strange tactic to get a girl to sleep with you.

“I thought all librarians were sex fiends.”

While pondering the idea of “Growing up all over again” while looking over a copy of Lewis Caroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” she is interrupted by the appearance of the White Rabbit (Larry Gelman) who is late for a date with the Queen, needless to say, Alice decides to follow this creepy man dressed like a rabbit through a mirror. She then encounters a door that is too small for her and decides that the best option is to drink from a bottle simply labelled “Drink Me” which, of course, shrinks her down to size and allows her access to Wonderland. Unfortunately, her clothes didn’t shrink along with her body so she is now decidedly naked. This is porn after all.

“Coffee, tea or me?”

What follows is a journey of sexual awakening where Alice’s view of “Well if it feels good, there’s a good chance it must be bad” is changed by the various characters she meets. She learns about self-gratification and how to help others, with the help of The White Rabbit and The Mad Hatter (Alan Novak), and eventually, she will come to appreciate what her body has to offer. While some may dismiss it as mere titillation, there’s a surprising depth to be found beneath the film’s risqué exterior. Themes of self-discovery, liberation and the pursuit of pleasure are woven throughout, offering a thought-provoking exploration of desire and fantasy. The screenplay by Bucky Searles follows the episodic narration of Carroll’s work with but a tweak to turn once innocent and whimsical moments into more salacious material. Take one of the film’s best exchanges between Alice and the Queen of Hearts (Juliet Graham) that goes in a direction that is so telegraphed that it must have been sent by Western Union.

Queen of Hearts: “I want her head!”
Alice: “Please Ma’am, I’m just learning about life, I’m too young to die, don’t cut off my head.”
Queen of Hearts: “You misunderstand me, doll. I don’t wanna cut off your head. I want you to give me some head.”

Stray Observations:

• Alice follows the White Rabbit through a mirror in this movie and not down a rabbit hole, so this film could have been titled “Through the Looking Glass.”
• Jason Williams, who plays the White Knight, starred as the titular hero in Flesh Gordon, another classic 1974 porn offering.
• To help Humpty Dumpty get his “His Ding-A-Ling Is Up” two nurses do a strip tease and lesbian number, and all I can say is “Hello Nurse!”
• This film offers some nice meta moments such as the Queen decrying “A Trial? Where is it written, that we have to give you a trial?” and the Mad Hatter pointing out “It says so right here in this book” as he holds up the Lewis Carroll novel.
• In the film’s meagre 88-minute running time get enough sex puns and double entrendres to sink a battleship, my favourite being the “What’s a nice girl like you doing on a knight like this?”

You expected subtlety in a porn?

With Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Fantasy, producer William Osco and director Bud Townsend gave us a provocative and audacious twist on the classic Lewis Carroll tale. Released during the heyday of the adult film industry, this entry ventured into uncharted territory, blending the whimsical world of Wonderland with adult themes and explicit content. This is as far from Disney’s version as possible, to the point that they were forced to add this disclaimer to the poster “The bedtime story that’s definitely not for kids” just in case some idiot parent missed the whole “An X-Rated Musical Fantasy” aspect of the promotion. The musical numbers, ranging from catchy tunes to sultry ballads, add an extra layer of charm to the already captivating narrative as does the witty dialogue and playful performances.

I also loved the film’s cute intertitles.

The film’s production design is both mesmerizing and surreal, capturing the essence of Carroll’s imaginative universe while infusing it with a distinctively erotic edge. From lavish costumes to elaborate sets, every detail contributes to the film’s surreal atmosphere – this isn’t something you are going to find on an Onlyfans subscription service – and while this film didn’t have the budget of Tim Burton’s live-action Alice in Wonderland for Disney, I’d say Townsend perfectly captured the whimsical nature of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland. Kristine DeBell gave a charming performance as Alice, one that brought a freshness and naivete to the role and she does an amazing job grounding all the wackiness around her. However, this film is not without its flaws, the pacing can be uneven at times, and the narrative often takes a backseat to the film’s more salacious elements. And while some viewers may find the explicit content gratuitous or off-putting, detracting from the film’s overall impact, the filmmakers did their best to make the experience both fun and beautiful.

I’ve dealt with worse cards than this.

It is important to note that Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Fantasy is not for the faint of heart as the film’s explicit content is front and center – really explicit depending on which version you are watching – it challenges viewers to embrace the taboo while immersing themselves in Wonderland’s twisted delights. It’s a film that demands an open mind and a willingness to explore the darker, more provocative side of fantasy. And while some may dismiss it as mere titillation, there’s a surprising depth to be found beneath the film’s risqué exterior. Themes of self-discovery, liberation, and the pursuit of pleasure are woven throughout, offering a thought-provoking exploration of desire and fantasy.

Alice is sentenced to sexual deliverance.

Despite its adult themes, Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Fantasy maintains a sense of whimsy and humour throughout. The playful reinterpretation of familiar characters and scenarios from Carroll’s original story adds an element of nostalgia for those familiar with the source material. It is a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience that defies convention and pushes the boundaries of artistic expression and is surprisingly funny as well. Whether you’re a fan of the original tale or simply curious to see Wonderland through a new lens, this film offers a provocative and unforgettable journey into the rabbit hole.