Lewis Carroll’s timeless fantasy classic “Alice in Wonderland” has been adapted for the screen more times than Jane Austen’s works. There are classics like Norman Z. McLeod’s 1933 feature which stars Charlotte Henry as Alice to Jan Švankmajer’s creepy vision which scares me more than any film should. I also have a soft spot for the kid friendly Disney version which manages to be creepy without giving me nightmares.

Just in time for the release of Tim Burton’s vision of “Alice,” one which is also made by Disney but looks as seriously twisted as Švankmajer’s (in classic Burton style), BFI National Archive has unleashed a restored version of the first adaptation of Carroll’s story. Made in 1903, a mere 37 years after the story was originally published, the 12 minute adaptation was directed by Cecil Hepworth and Percy Stow and at the time, was the longest film to be produced in the UK. Only 8 minutes of the original film survive and the BFI has painstakingly restored it and made it available for online viewing. I’ve now seen it twice and must say, it’s as creepy (maybe more so thanks to the man in the bunny costume) as any of the other versions I’ve seen through the years.