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IMDbPro

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.

  • 1953
  • G
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
4.3K
YOUR RATING
Hans Conried, Peter Lind Hayes, Mary Healy, and Tommy Rettig in The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)
Trailer 1
Play trailer0:53
2 Videos
99+ Photos
FamilyFantasyMusic

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.

  • Director
    • Roy Rowland
  • Writers
    • Dr. Seuss
    • Allan Scott
  • Stars
    • Peter Lind Hayes
    • Mary Healy
    • Hans Conried
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    4.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Roy Rowland
    • Writers
      • Dr. Seuss
      • Allan Scott
    • Stars
      • Peter Lind Hayes
      • Mary Healy
      • Hans Conried
    • 116User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos2

    The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.
    Trailer 0:53
    Watch The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.
    The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T
    Trailer 2:05
    Watch The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T

    Photos166

    Hans Conried in The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)
    Hans Conried in The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)
    Poster for (1983) rerelease, 30 x 45 Movie Poster
    Tommy Rettig in The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)
    Hans Conried and Tommy Rettig in The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)
    Hans Conried, Peter Lind Hayes, Mary Healy, and Tommy Rettig in The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)
    Hans Conried in The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)
    The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)
    Hans Conried, Peter Lind Hayes, and Tommy Rettig in The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)
    Hans Conried in The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)
    Hans Conried in The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)
    The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter Lind Hayes
    Peter Lind Hayes
    • August Zabladowski
    Mary Healy
    Mary Healy
    • Heloise Collins
    Hans Conried
    Hans Conried
    • Dr. Terwilliker
    Tommy Rettig
    Tommy Rettig
    • Bartholomew Collins
    Jack Heasley
    • Uncle Whitney
    • (as John Heasley)
    Robert Heasley
    • Uncle Judson
    Noel Cravat
    • Sgt. Lunk
    George Chakiris
    George Chakiris
    • Dancer
    • (as George Kerris)
    Alan Aric
    • Elevator Operator
    • (uncredited)
    Tony Butala
    • Playback vocalist for Tommy Rettig
    • (uncredited)
    Kim Charney
    • Kim - Boy in Line
    • (uncredited)
    Luigi Faccuito
    • Dancer in Dungeon Ballet
    • (uncredited)
    Henry Kulky
    Henry Kulky
    • Stroogo
    • (uncredited)
    Diki Lerner
    • Dancer in Dungeon Ballet
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Wilson
    Harry Wilson
    • Guard
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    • Director
      • Roy Rowland
    • Writers
      • Dr. Seuss(screenplay) (story and conception)
      • Allan Scott(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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 reviews116

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    It will leave you feeling rather uncomfortable
    This movie is one of the most bizarre and random films I have ever seen. It combines a mind-boggling storyline (a kid dreams he's trapped in a castle ruled by his satanic piano teacher who is setting up a piano camp for 500 players), intriguing characters (the heroic, down-to-earth plumber, the helpless, beautiful, damsel/mother in distress, the all-American kid on the block, and the disturbing, foppish, freak of a villain, Dr. Terwilliker) weird costumes and sets, and the most outrageous songs ever conceived. Among my favorites are the "Doe-me-doe" dress up song, "The Dungeon Song," and "We are Victorious!" Any orchestra geek will get a kick out of the dungeon ballet. This is a terrific film to scare your friends or corrupt your children. I highly recommend it to anyone with an unbalanced imagination.

    Also recommended: The Brave Little Toaster, Time Bandits, Happily Ever After: a Snow White Tale, The Never Ending Story, Nightmare Before Christmas and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
    helpful•50
    9
    • bteigen
    • Jan 3, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 1, 1953 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Five-Thousand Fingers of Dr. T.
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Stanley Kramer Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,750,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1
      • 1.37 : 1

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