The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T

This review is an excerpt from my book “Killer B’s: The 237 Best Movies On Video You’ve (Probably) Never Seen,” which is available as an ebook on iBooks. If you enjoy this review, there are 236 more like it in the book (plus a whole lot more). Check it out! THE 5,000 FINGERS OF DR. T: Bart (Rettig) is sevenish, fatherless, and forced by his mother into endless piano practice. But key-bored Bart has a bad habit of nodding off at the ivories, and in his worst nightmare, he’s a captive of Dr. Terwilliker’s (Conried) “Happy Fingers Institute,” a kind of keyboard concentration camp for kids, who are kept in cells and forced to perform on the world’s weirdest piano. Worst of all, in his dream, Bart’s mom is the megalomaniacal Dr. T’s right-hand gal—and fiancé! Bart gets his ally Mr. Zabladowski (Hayes) to try to put an end to this misery, but Dr. T plies Mr. Z with cigars and pickle juice, fancy dances and hypnotic trances—then orders him disintegrated at dawn. It’s up to Bart to save them all, “wreck his racket,” and make the world safe for play. Discussion: The same year we lost Dr. Seuss we gained the video release of the only live-action film to recreate the singular artistic style he introduced to several generations of kids. Seuss wrote the song lyrics, co-wrote the script, and designed the look of this imaginative fantasy, ensuring that it’s a faithful translation of his uniquely surreal visions. Unique? What other film boasts Escher-inspired staircases, mile-high ladders ending in thin air, or rollerskating Siamese twins joined at the beard? Rettig, with his bulgy eyes, unruly crewcut and goofy Seuss looks, is perfectly cast, as is “master thespian” Conried, an underrated, over-the-top living ‘toon. Even Hayes is hilarious as the plumber with a deadpan delivery and the heart of a child—who knows in that heart he’s only acting the role of an adult.

I saw this wonderfully strange film when I was 6 years old, and I've loved it ever since! Originally the critics panned it and Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) was ultimately too frustrated with the inner workings of the project to include it in his memoirs. But, critics and people now rate it highly (mostly) because of its vision and daring. It's highly imaginative and it's time for a new young generation to appreciate it too!

This movie never gets old, for those saying its "creepy" or "scary" are you afraid of the wizard of oz too? Grow a pair.. This is a great movie, a classic.. Nowhere near as disturbing as the junk they call a movie these days.. 5 stars from me.

For those saying that this is an awful film, that kids should not watch it, are you kidding me? Compared to the crud that is out there now for kids, this is mild as pablum. I saw it once on TV in black and white and never forgot it. I loved it and do not remember a scary thing about it. I loved the blue beanie with the hand on top! I loved Bart who out smarted all of adults only because he was dreaming . . . I watched it again after 40 plus years yesterday and still love this movie. It is my favorite all-time kids movie. Look, it was produced in 1953 and I thought they did a great job with special effects, costumes, songs, dancing, for it's time. I loved the dungeon scene with the prisoners dancing . . . So don't be afraid to watch it. There is no boogy man.

I love this movie and im almost 12 so dont listen to the other people who say its not for kids.

Don't listen to nay-sayers, this is a fabulous movie. When I was a child I saw this and loved it—though it did scare me quite a bit. It's very interesting and quirky, something you never grow to old for. This movie is to die for.

creepy and weird, not for kids.

I saw this movie when I was around 12 and now I'm 26! It's a movie you won't forget. I remember the whole story and how funny it was but could not remember the title. So glad I found it!

The "me" generation doesn't get it; hence the poor grammar and atrocious spelling in their reviews. The movie is a bit unusual, but that is part of it's charm. I really enjoyed it as a kid. Wish they would bring back Fractured Flickers too.

Coolest movie ever by dr. seuss i can wacth it over and over. can't wait until i get money to buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!