Les 5000 doigts du Dr. T

Original title: The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

4.7K

YOUR RATING

Hans Conried, Peter Lind Hayes, Mary Healy, and Tommy Rettig in Les 5000 doigts du Dr. T (1953)

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2 Videos

99+ Photos

Family Fantasy Music Romance

A young boy dreams that he is in an imaginary world where, assisted by his family's plumber, he must save other piano-playing kids like himself from the dungeons of his dictatorial piano tea... Read allA young boy dreams that he is in an imaginary world where, assisted by his family's plumber, he must save other piano-playing kids like himself from the dungeons of his dictatorial piano teacher who also mind-controls his mother.A young boy dreams that he is in an imaginary world where, assisted by his family's plumber, he must save other piano-playing kids like himself from the dungeons of his dictatorial piano teacher who also mind-controls his mother.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

4.7K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total

Uncle Whitney
(as John Heasley)

Robert Heasley

Uncle Judson

Noel Cravat

Sgt. Lunk

George Chakiris

Dancer
(as George Kerris)

Alan Aric

Elevator Operator
(uncredited)

Alvin Beam

Terwilliker's Valet
(uncredited)

Tony Butala

Playback vocalist for Tommy Rettig
(uncredited)

Kim Charney

Kim - Boy in Line
(uncredited)

Ward Ellis

Terwilliker's Valet
(uncredited)

Luigi Faccuito

Dancer in Dungeon Ballet
(uncredited)

Henry Kulky

Stroogo
(uncredited)

Diki Lerner

Dancer in Dungeon Ballet
(uncredited)

Harry Wilson

Guard
(uncredited)
…

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9:57

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
According to Dr. Seuss, the film's creator and co-writer, one of the 150 boys vomited on the piano while filming. This caused a chain reaction and they were left with 150 vomiting boys. Seuss said later that the film's reviews were similar to this incident.

Goofs
As Bart descends from the top of the ladder, he casts a shadow against the sky.

Quotes
Dr. Terwilliker: Is it atomic?
Bart Collins: Yes sir, VERY atomic!

Connections
Edited into TNT 100% Weird (1992)

Soundtracks
Dream Stuff
Music by Friedrich Hollaender (as Frederick Hollander)
Lyrics by Dr. Seuss
Performed by Peter Lind Hayes Tommy Rettig (dubbed by Tony Butala)

User reviews120

Featured review

7/10

A creative, colorful, surreal musical nightmare

As I grew up taking piano lessons, I can remember times when I attributed all sorts of evil motives to my kindly (but task-masterly) piano teacher. Dr. Seuss must have had a similar experience, because he created the perfect piano student's nightmare of oppression by and ultimate revenge on the musical establishment.

What struck me the most about seeing this film (after about a 30-year gap) was the brilliance of color: big swatches of primary colors and every shade in between. And if you're a fan of Dr. Seuss's illustrations, you will love the sets which seem like the pop-up book version of his surreal landscapes. This film delights the eyes with mind-boggling props and Daliesque sets which Fritz Lang would have loved.

Tommy Rettig is a child actor with just the right amount of "cuteness factor" to make him watchable without being unbearable. And Hans Conreid (here in his mid-30s) steals the show with his bombastic delivery and expressive face.

Some of the songs drag on a bit too long, but all in all this is a delight to watch for pianists of all ages.