Voice of 'Alice' recalls the wonder

MouseMan · #1 (**permalink**) 02-08-2004, 02:23 AM

Voice of 'Alice' recalls the wonder
Fri Feb 6, 6:34 AM ET
By Mike Snider, USA TODAY

Wonderland has never looked so, well, wonderful. Just ask Alice.

Kathryn Beaumont (news) was the voice of that curious girl in Alice in Wonderland, the second-biggest selling DVD last week after Radio, according to Video Store magazine.

The newly restored two-disc Alice DVD offers a rare glimpse of the British-born Beaumont, whom Walt Disney found when she was 10 and doing small parts at MGM Studios. For the 1951 film, Disney "wanted a voice that would be pleasing to American ears as well as British ears," says Beaumont, 66 and retired in Burbank, Calif.

Beaumont also served as the model for Alice, acting out the character's adventures for animators. "That was fun because the fantasy part of the story was about Alice falling down the rabbit hole and getting larger and being very tiny and getting caught in the rabbit's house."

In recent years, Beaumont has done voices for Disney video games. The company named her a "Disney Legend" in 1998.

Among the DVD extras, Beaumont tells the story behind a recently discovered Cheshire Cat song, I'm Odd, and why it didn't make the movie. She also tells how the music for Second Star to the Right from Peter Pan originally was written for Alice.

Working on the DVD was "a reminder of this special experience that I had. It has had a life. I never expected that as a child performing in this film. It has endured."

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Disneyland1955 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-08-2004, 02:40 AM

It is awesome to hear that the voice behind Alice thinks that the DVD is spectacular. I hope to get it soon.

MouseMan · #3 (**permalink**) 02-08-2004, 02:49 AM

Would you believe I haven't had the chance to crack mine open to watch it yet! I'm dying to dissect it too!

minnie*mickey · #4 (**permalink**) 02-08-2004, 03:07 AM

i cant wait to get it, one of my favs, especially the part with the walrus in the carpenter, i must recite that part all the time

Disneyland1955 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-08-2004, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Anim8EdCox said:Would you believe I haven't had the chance to crack mine open to watch it yet! I'm dying to dissect it too!

Ed

I lie here without one and you have yet to crack yours open tis tis tis

MouseMan · #6 (**permalink**) 02-08-2004, 11:33 AM

I know! I feel awful! Tis the Mardi Gras season and so much is going on down here already I feel like I fell down the rabbit hole! Perhaps this evening I'll dive into it.

JennD · #7 (**permalink**) 02-08-2004, 01:09 PM

I can't wait to get this DVD - its one of my many favorites!!

Ed - I'm sooo excited that the Mardi Gras season has finally started!! This is my favorite time of year!!!

MouseMan · #8 (**permalink**) 02-08-2004, 06:49 PM

Yeah baby! Check out the latest shots of alst night's Krewe du Vieux and today's Lil Rascals kids parade at http://www.pbase.com/anim8edcox They're all G and PG. Nothing racey! I'll be adding shots almost daily now that we're under way. I also just bought a major memory stick backup so that means triple to quadruple shots I'll be getting this year! YAY!!

JennD · #9 (**permalink**) 02-08-2004, 08:18 PM

Awesome - thanks for the pics Ed!!! I wanted to go out to Little Rascals today, but I didn't make it over there. I taught the girl who is the queen dancing for many years, but I didn't get to see her. I can't wait for next weekend!!!

MouseMan · #10 (**permalink**) 02-08-2004, 11:00 PM

You are so welcome, and that's great that you taught dance to the young queen today! And yes indeed...the season is definitely upon us!