The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T

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Summary: A Trip to Dream Land
Review: I love this story, it really showed what dreams are like to little kids. I had it when i was little and used to watch it all the time, now i babysit and the kids i take care of love it too. I think the best part is the way it is so colorful and simple. If you have a little kid who likes to imagine diffrent things this is a must have. One of Dr. Seuss's unknowns.

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Summary: A Timeless Joy
Review: I remember seeing this movie as a child and was delighted to see that it is now on DVD. While a bit on the strange side, it is a joy to behold. A movie that directly bears the thumb print of Dr. Seuss!

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Summary: It's the sort of thing for those who like this sort of thing
Review: I'm glad Ted Geisel devoted his talent to children, but you have to wonder what might have been. This movie must have been one of Terry Gilliam's favorites. It's got a lot of 'Brazil' in it--the subversive plumber character, stark set, the nonconforming protagonist, dream sequence, bumbling henchmen, idealized woman and oedipal undertones. It also does a pretty good job of ridiculing atomic power, adults and authoritarianism, and childhood fear and loathing associated with piano lessons. The casting is great, the acting has just the right touch of melodrama, and the music and choreography make for really good, thoughtful parody. Call me a cinematic slob, but before criticizing anything about this movie, remember that it was released almost half a century ago. I'm sure Hollywood didn't get it, but it's a classic example of the art of riducule to boot.

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Summary: Imagination is the biggest value
Review: If you are looking for a real dr. suess movie, you found it. This movie was made with input and approval from Dr. suess himself! The set design is miles more imaginative that modern day CGI effects. If you want a good movie, but mean streets. If you want entertainment, buy this movie!

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Summary: Happy fingers! Happy fingers!
Review: Let me start by saying that I don't really consider myself to be a fan of Dr. Seuss - especially since his death when his talents have been overshadowed by merciless overexposure, merchandising, and rotten live-action films (i.e. Cat in the Hat). When I sat down to watch this film I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but in the first few minutes any doubts I had were swept away. This is one of the best movies I've seen in... well, probably ever.

You can sense the touch of Dr. Seuss in the script, the sets, and the songs, but things don't get mired in the more nonsensical elements of some of his other work. You might say he dialed back his "seussiness" a little, and for me that was a good thing. Of course, there is still a strong undertone of weirdness, and wonderfully so. Most of the film takes place in a dream, and the narrative has that dreamy non-logic (it seems perfectly reasonable to have a cocktail of vintage pickle juice.) The sets are beautiful - sometimes austere, sometimes wildly surreal, with an excellent use of monotone and color to evoke mood. The songs are also very imaginative - Seuss' mastery of language shines without getting bogged down in made-up words. The "dressing song" has to be heard (and seen) to be believed.

The acting is top-notch, and some of the dance numbers are amazing (especially an incredible set-piece featuring all the captive non-pianists in Dr. T's dungeon). Some scenes may be a little off-putting to some viewers (a hooded executioner/elevator operator singing a song about the various tortures available in the dungeon, eyes bugging out through the holes in his mask, for example) but if you have a taste for the unusual, this movie is an absolute must.

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Summary: Roots
Review: Looking for the piece of art that influenced Burton, Gilliam, and the likes? Stop here and take a look at this, it's all there: the magic, the fear of the dark that all children feel, the mind-boggling production designs,the naive, but touching vision of a world too big for us. Beautiful DVD, no extra features (except for a couple of pictures, and a cartoon), plus a french audio track (a nice one at that).

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Summary: Back to my Childhood!
Review: One of the things I loved so much about the 5,000 Fingers of Dr T is I related to the Tommy Rettig character in that I also had to practice the piano every day. It's a wonderful window into the world of the child who is basically at the mercy of whatever his parents deem appropriate for him to do in his spare time. When I got older I appreciated being able to play the piano but I was not overly fond of it as a child. Tommy Rettig was one of the best child actors of the day, prior to Lassie. Hans Conreid makes a wonderful villain but the absolute best part of the movie is the incredible Seuss sets! There's a wonderful scene of an enormous piano, seemingly miles long, with acres of enslaved children feverishly pounding away on the keyboard...I still want a beanie with a hand coming out of the top, and I would love to have a room or two in my house designed just like the sets in the movie. From the first time I saw a Dali painting as a child I loved surrealism and there is an abundance of it in this movie. Totally unique from anything you've ever seen, a different excursion into the Seussian interpretation of a child's world trapped in a musical dictatorship. Although it was made in 1953 it translates beautifully into today by virtue of its fantasy; children still dwell in dreams part of the time!

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Summary: The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T
Review: Ted Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, wrote and helped design this eccentric fantasy about a young boy named Bart (Tommy Rettig) who, like most young boys, doesn't enjoy his piano lessons with the mean-spirited Dr. Terwilliker (Hans Conried). He figures his time would be better spent playing baseball with his friends or helping his grown-up buddy Arthur Zabladowski (Peter Lind Hayes), a plumber. One night, while fast asleep, Bart has a long and remarkable dream in which he's trapped in the kingdom of the fearsome Dr. T, who has enslaved hundreds of little boys, forcing them to practice on the world's largest piano until they drop. With the help of a familiar plumber, Bart plans a revolt that will topple Dr. T's evil empire once and for all.

This is a pretty goofy flick, but fun nevertheless. It has its share of dance numbers, and you can definitely tell that Dr. Seuss had a hand in making it. The props, characters, and one musical number in particular that Bart spies on just scream Dr. Seuss. The scene takes place in a cavern with musicians flying around playing all sorts of weird and gigantic instruments. Definitely worth watching if, you are in the mood for a goofy flick.

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Summary: The colors are changed, but it's still a good movie
Review: The sounds and songs are still wonderful, but the yellow in the movie is not the orange-yellow it should be. It's pineapple yellow. Dr. T's robe that used to be blue is now pink!!!!! The instrument players are now green men!!!!! Watch it in black and white, and it's still good. Mrs. Collins' dress is more pink!!!!!!!!! I love the songs!!!!!!!! The colors are too bright, but you can turn them down a little.

Rating:
Summary: Mad Genius Shines Through
Review: The undeniable brilliance of Dr. Seuss' wordsmithing is most evident in this darkly comic fantasy. The songs are cute and clever, with "The Dressing Song" standing out as the high-camp highlight of the show; a hoot of a salute to cross-dressing. This movie was way ahead of its time, and the sets and costumes are nothing short of magnificent given the year in which it was produced. This new DVD edition has its little flaws, but they are only reproduced from whatever original was used, and overall it's a lovely digital transfer. I don't believe this was meant to be a children's movie at all, though Dr. T is a rather benign villain. The good doctor (Seuss) tries to add a bit of social relevance with a poke at the evils of atomic power, but all in all there are more serious psychological and homoerotic overtones that should worry parents of 4-8 year olds. I'll be watching this film over and over again to pick up the myriad avenues of fantasy that are employed. For adults, this is a great flick and definitely earns a spot on my "top ten" list.