Alice In Wonderland

Jonathan Miller's commentary track over Alice In Wonderland is even more turgid than watching the play itself - which is no mean feat. He seems fixated with name-dropping and talk of the 'long, hot summer' in which the drama was shot, almost to the exclusion of any actual information of interest being conveyed. Alarmingly, he also reveals that the few chinks of humour which can be glimpsed beneath the swamp that is this dreary dirge were all improvised by actors, who you can't help suspect, had a better grasp of what made interesting drama than him.

Much more interesting is the inclusion of the first ever Alice committed to film. This eight-minute print, directed by Percy Stow in 1903 is a gem worth watching, despite the deterioration of the film stock. The accompanying commentary is also informative, entertaining and, unlike Jonathan Miller's navel contemplation, a joy to listen to.

The quality of the main print is good, shame it isn't matched by the content.