Steineded How sad is this?

Ava-Grace Willis Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

TheLittleSongbird If you want a faithful adaptation of Through the Looking Glass look to the BBC adaptation or the Natalie Gregory adaptation(which covers both Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass), as other than the title and the characters- and to a lesser extent Humpty Dumpty's Song Twas Brillig- this musical version is probably the least faithful version to the book. Every adaptation however does deserve to stand on its own, and stands on its own this version does, despite its infidelity to the book it is very pleasing in its own right. In fact, my only complaints are some corny and too-family-friendly dialogue and the random throwing in of the three witches which didn't really do anything for the story. Of all the versions of Through the Looking Glass it's this one that's the most beautiful visually, there is a reason why the costumes won an Emmy, the photography while slightly TV quality is still professional and the sets really do have a sense of wonder(did The Wizard of Oz influence it by any chance?). It felt like a nostalgic hearkening back to all the great TV network adaptations of the time(look to the Mary Martin version of Peter Pan for reference), and that was really nice. The music and songs right from the opening title sequence bring a great deal of charm to the adaptation and move the story forward, I Wasn't Meant to Be a Queen will bring great amusement- same with The Backwards Alphabet- though Some Summer Day, Alice is Coming to Tea and Keep on the Grass are very whimsical and the Jabberwock Song is creepy. The story does have an episodic nature like the book does and while not as wonderfully weird or humorous there is plenty of fun, charm and heart to be seen. Judi Rolin is a very enchanting Alice and more than holds her own against the all-star cast, her solo song is sublime and so are her vocals, her chemistry with the Lester of Roy Castle is very sweet. Agnes Moorhead is an imperious Red Queen- she sings Two Sides of Everything surprisingly well- and an unrecognisable Ricardo Montalban touches the heart as the White King, this version's most sympathetic character I feel. Nanette Fabray clearly is having the time of her life as the White Queen, Tom and Dickie Smothers are hilarious, the Humpty Dumpty of Jimmy Durante is over-the-top and egotistical as he should be and not but not least Jack Palance is a frightening and deliciously sneeringly over-the-top Jabberwocky(almost as scary as the Jabberwocky in the Natalie Gregory adaptation). In conclusion, if you want a faithful adaptation of Through the Looking Glass look elsewhere but if you want something with great production values, songs and performance this version should definitely fit the bill. 8/10 Bethany Cox

mark.waltz O.K., so Judi Rolin seems about 10 years too old for the role of Alice, but when she breaks into her big song, "Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are", you are totally taken by her. Not as well known as "Alice in Wonderland", "The Looking Glass" has been made several times for T.V. and only as part of a special which included the more famous characters from "Wonderland". Gone are the "Off With Her Head!" Duchess, the rolling pin wielding cook and the Mad Hatter. This is obviously a different fantasy land, and the White Royals and Red Royals are definitely a more welcoming group than the mad rulers of Wonderland.With Nanette Fabray and Agnes Moorehead as the two queens and Ricardo Montalban and Robert Coote as the two kings, there's imminent camp, and a delightful description of life behind the mirror ("Two Sides to Everything") has the delightful Ms. Moorehead singing one of the few times in her career. Broadway veteran Fabray shows her meddle after practically stealing "The Band Wagon" away from Fred Astaire, and Jimmy Durante is a delightful Humpty Dumpty. The Smothers Brothers are well cast as Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dee, but their song ("The Backwards Alphabet") isn't one of the better tunes in the score.I often find myself humming "Keep on the Grass" when strolling through Central Park or some other nature setting, although I still "Don't Pick the Flowers", to quote the song's second verse. A group of singing flowers do appear as do witches briefly from some other famous children's fairy tales. Jack Palance is never frightening as the Jabberwork, just sneering and over-the-top. They certainly could have done without his non-show-stopping song which stops the action cold.Overall, I rate this equally as high as some of the other more famous children's TV musicals, and while the score in total isn't stage-worthy, it is perfect for what it is, a memory I cherish from a Thanksgiving of many years ago, and the type of T.V. we unfortunately shall never see again unless they release it on home video.

BobLib This may not be the "Alice" adaptation for Carroll purists (You'd have to go to the TV production of earlier this year for that), but it IS entertaining, and the cast DOES seem to be having a good time with it. Judi Rollin, just 20 at the time, is a terrific Alice, with a fine singing voice. One wonders why her career never went beyond the early '70's. Ricardo Montalban brings his usual effortless charm to the White King, and Nanette Fabray is hilarious as his scatterbrained Queen (Her number, "I Wasn't Meant to Be a Queen," is a howl). Agnes Moorehead is her usual imperious self as the Red Queen, and Jimmy Durante is, well, Jimmy Durante as Humpty Dumpty. Most delightfully over-the-top performance is Jack Palance, wearing this spangled Bob Mackie concoction, as the Jabberwock. Composer Moose Charlap was obviously hoping to repeat his "Peter Pan" success with his songs here, and, if they don't have the charm of the ones he wrote for Mary Martin, et. al., they come pretty close, as arranged by the great Don Costa. An Emmy nominee for Best Children's Special, and a Grammy-winner for Best Children's Album, this is an overlooked treasure. As I say, not for Carroll purists, but not bad!

DaveH-5 This "adaptation" of Lewis Carroll classic completely throws out his original story and dialogue and substitutes its own mish-mash. No Carroll in sight. Enough said.