5,000 Fingers of Dr. T

UPC: 043396058361

Studio: Columbia TriStar

MPAA Rating: G   Contains:[Excellent For Children]

Summary: 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 friendly plumber, Bart plans a revolt that will topple Dr. T's evil empire once and for all. The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T also features several songs for which Geisel contributed lyrics. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Category: Children's/Family

Awards: Best Musical Score – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Musical Score – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Features: Digitally mastered audio and video
Full-screen presentation
Audio: English [mono], French, Spanish
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Photo gallery
Bonus cartoon
Bonus trailers
Talent files
Interactive menus
Scene selections
Direct weblink to official Dr. Seuss web site

5,000 Fingers of Dr. T

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 04/24/2001

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Pre-1954 Standard

Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, 1 USA & territories, Canada

Runtime: 92 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French,Spanish

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
0. Scene Selections
1. Start [1:59]
2. Chase nightmare [1:21]
3. Dr. Terwilliker [1:09]
4. "Ten Happy Fingers" [2:22]
5. Mr. Zabladowski [2:32]
6. "Practice makes perfect." [3:30]
7. The Terwilliker Institute [1:47]
8. Number Two [2:33]
9. Bart search [1:30]
10. Eluding the guards [2:57]
11. "I need your help." [1:42]
12. Gone fishing [1:28]
13. "Dream Stuff" [3:53]
14. "Hypnotic Duel" [2:55]
15. Rumors of corruption [2:46]
16. "Get Together Weather" [4:31]
17. "The Kid's Song" [3:59]
18. Key to the safe [1:30]
19. Non-piano players dungeon [5:34]
20. Blood Oath [7:00]
21. Zabladowski vs. The Twins [3:23]
22. "Victorious" [1:21]
23. "Dungeon Elevator" [4:48]
24. Inventing MusicFix [6:39]
25. "The Dressing Song" [4:11]
26. 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T [2:53]
27. Atomic "Chopsticks" [3:55]
28. A dream come true [1:50]

Craig Butler

Certainly not your standard issue 1950s-style musical, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T has gained a substantial cult following in the decades since its release. This is due primarily to the contributions of Ted Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, who wrote the imaginative screenplay and helped design the surrealistic look of the sets and costumes for the lengthy dream sequence that makes up the body of the film. The look, in particular, is impressive, from the Seuss-ian curves and spirals of the sets to the finger-beanies atop the boys' heads to the roller-skating twins connected by their shared beard. Less successful is the screenplay; while it has some delightful sequences, it's a bit disjointed, and its Freudian underpinnings are at times odd and jarring. The direction is fine, but it falls short of reaching the imaginative heights that the material requires. Tommy Rettig does a commendable job in the leading role, and Hans Conried makes a marvelously sly and slithery Dr. T. Mary Healy is fine as Mrs. Collins, but Peter Lind Hayes leaves something to be desired as the boy's father figure. Ultimately Dr. T disappoints by not living up to its potential, but it's a unique film that children especially will find rewarding. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Frederick Hollander  Composer (Music Score) 
Stanley Kramer  Producer 
Roy Rowland  Director 
Hans Salter  Composer (Music Score) 
Allan G. Scott  Screenwriter 
Dr. Seuss  Screenwriter 
Peter Lind Hayes  Actor 
Mary Healy  Actor 
Hans Conried  Actor 
Tommy Rettig  Actor 
John Heasley  Actor 
Robert Heasley  Actor 
Noel Cravat  Actor 
Henry Kulky  Actor 

Country: USA