The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)

Director:

Roy Rowland

Writers:

Dr. Seuss (screenplay) &
Allan Scott (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 July 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Fantasy | Music | Romance

Tagline:

The Wonder Musical of the Future!

Plot:

Bart has only one enemy in the world: his piano teacher Dr. Terwilliker. Dr. T has a mad plan to force...

Plot Keywords:

Piano | Dr Seuss | Recital | Baseball Glove | Title Ends With Period

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Peter Lind Hayes	...	August Zabladowski
Mary Healy	...	Heloise Collins
Hans Conried	...	Dr. Terwilliker
Tommy Rettig	...	Bartholomew Collins
Jack Heasley	...	Uncle Whitney (as John Heasley)
Robert Heasley	...	Uncle Judson
Noel Cravat	...	Sgt. Lunk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Chakiris	...	Dancer (as George Kerris)
Alan Aric	...	Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Tony Butala	...	Boy Pianist (uncredited)
Kim Charney	...	Kim - Boy in Line (uncredited)
Henry Kulky	...	Stroogo (uncredited)
Diki Lerner	...	Dancer in Dungeon Ballet (uncredited)
Harry Wilson	...	Guard / Doorman (uncredited)

Directed by
Roy Rowland

Writing credits
Dr. Seuss		(screenplay) &
Allan Scott		(screenplay)
Dr. Seuss		(story and conception)

Produced by
Stanley Kramer	....	producer

Original Music by
Friedrich Hollaender		(as Frederick Hollander)
Heinz Roemheld		(uncredited)
Hans J. Salter		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Franz Planer		(as Frank Planer)

Film Editing by
Al Clark

Production Design by
Rudolph Sternad

Art Direction by
Cary Odell

Set Decoration by
William Kiernan

Makeup Department
Clay Campbell	....	makeup artist
Helen Hunt	....	hair styles
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Clem Beauchamp	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frederick Briskin	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Russell Malmgren	....	sound engineer

Stunts
Waldo	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Emil Oster	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jean Louis	....	gowns: Miss Healy

Editorial Department
Harry W. Gerstad	....	editorial supervisor (as Harry Gerstad)

Music Department
Morris Stoloff	....	musical director
Gil Grau	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Samuel Hoffman	....	musician: theremin (uncredited)
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Nelson Riddle	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Robert Van Eps	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Other crew
Francis Cugat	....	technicolor color consultant
Eugene Loring	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)
• Stanley Kramer Productions (producer) (as Stanley Kramer Company)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1953) (USA) (theatrical) (as Columbia Pictures Corporation)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (video)
• Turner Classic Movies (TCM) (2009) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-8 | USA:Approved (Certificate No. 15928) | Australia:G | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | USA:G (1996)

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

According to producer Stanley Kramer, the film's budget would only allow him to hire 150 boys for the piano sequence, instead of the 500 boys he intended to use. When he threatened them with dismissal after they misbehaved, many of them stood up and cheered.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: It is clear in some scenes that Bart is not really playing the piano: sometimes he misplaces his fingers, sometimes he does not move his fingers correctly, sometimes he even fails to press down the keys.

Quotes:

Mr. Zabladowski:[to Bart] Get me a shot of that pickle juice! If those twins want a fight on skates, I'll give 'em one!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Monkees: Captain Crocodile (#1.23)" (1967)

Soundtrack:

Ten Happy Fingers

Odds Bodkins.

Well I never. I have just had the pleasure of watching this film on Channel 4 in the UK. Its a damp and dreary Friday afternoon and this wacky exercise in surrealism has just been broadcast and has certainly put a smile on my face. What a storyline. What a set. What acting. This is a gem of a film which I had never heard of till today. It is a real departure from your average 1950s family film. Through the whole duration the film swings between brilliance and total whack. The madness of Dr Seuss comes across so well, especially when you jack up the colour a few notches :-) I am led to believe that Dali had a hand in the design of the sets. That in itself is enough to get me watching. I was surprised at the amount of reference to this movie I have actually experienced without realising it. For example, the Uk is presently showing an add for "frank" which is a recreational drug use/misuse information service available to the public. It uses a character who is undoubtedly based on Bart to do so. As a fan of surrealism I totally enjoyed the spooky weirdness of this mindbending musical. Just sad I didn't record it as I see it isn't available in European pal DVD format. Doh.