This star-studded made-for-television Channel 4 adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale starred 24-year-old Kate Beckinsale (the daughter of Rising Dampand Porridgestar Richard Beckinsale) as tired modern mum Jane, who is transformed into Alice.
While reading a story to her daughter, Alice (Charlotte Curley), she is transported to the world of Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee and Humpty-Dumpty.
Screened on Boxing Day 1998 to mark the centenary of Lewis Carroll’s death, the film was produced by former Shoestring star Trevor Eve and Simon Johnson and shot on the Isle of Man.
The star-studded cast included Siån Phillips as the prickly Red Queen, Michael Medwin as the Red King, Penelope Wilton as the White Queen, Geoffrey Palmer as the White King, Gary Olsen as Tweedle-Dum, Ian Holm as the White Knight and Ian Richardson as the Wasp in a Wig (a character Lewis Carroll originally excised from the story).
Every effort was made to beef up the original story and give it some contemporary twang, but in the process, much of the charm, drama, and richness of the original were stripped out.
Jane/Alice
Kate Beckinsale Little Alice
Charlotte Curley White Queen
Penelope Wilton White King
Geoffrey Palmer White Knight
Ian Holm Red Queen
Siân Phillips Red King
Michael Medwin Red Knight
Greg Wise Tiger Lily
Louise J. Taylor Rose
Rebecca Palmer Daisy #1
Paulette Williams Daisy #2
Tania Luternauer Gnat
Steve Coogan Tweedle-Dum
Gary Olsen Tweedle-Dee
Marc Warren Walrus
Brian Gilks Carpenter
John Cashen Humpty Dumpty
Desmond Barrit Lewis
Jonathan Bailey Wasp in a Wig
Ian Richardson Railway Guard
John Tordoff Man in Paper Suit
Jasper Holmes
Director
John Henderson
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While reading a story to her daughter, Alice (Charlotte Curley), she is transported to the world of Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee and Humpty-Dumpty.
Screened on Boxing Day 1998 to mark the centenary of Lewis Carroll’s death, the film was produced by former Shoestring star Trevor Eve and Simon Johnson and shot on the Isle of Man.
Every effort was made to beef up the original story and give it some contemporary twang, but in the process, much of the charm, drama, and richness of the original were stripped out.
