1953 The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.

1953
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953) is a musical fantasy film, the only feature film ever written by Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss), who was responsible for the story, screenplay and lyrics. It was directed by Roy Rowland, with many uncredited takes actually directed by producer Stanley Kramer.

Made in 1953, a critical year, with Eastmancolor beginning to edge out "Three-Strip" Technicolor for color production. This film was formatted for the more traditional 1.37:1 "Academy" aspect ratio, rather than the emerging, beginning with Shane, 1.66:1/1.85:1 "flat wide screen" format, even for "Three-Strip" productions. Nevertheless, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. was a last-gasp use of the 1.37:1 Three-Strip Technicolor format, seldom used again, except for archival restorations. The film was re-released in 1958 under the title Crazy Music.
Young Bart Collins lives with his widowed mother Heloise. The major blight on Bart's existence is the hated piano lessons he is forced to endure under the tutelage of the autocratic Dr. Terwilliker. Bart feels that his mother has fallen under Terwilliker's ominous influence, and gripes to visiting plumber August Zabladowski, without much result. While grimly hammering away at his lessons, Bart dozes off and enters a fantastical musical dream, in much the same fashion as Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz.

In the dream, Bart is trapped at the surreal Terwilliker Institute, where the piano teacher is now a madman dictator who has imprisoned non-piano-playing musicians. He also built a piano so large that it requires Bart and 499 other boys (hence, the 5,000 fingers) in order to play it. Bart's mother has been turned into Terwilliker's hypnotized assistant and bride-to-be, and Bart must dodge the Institute's guards as he scrambles to save both his mother and himself. He tries to recruit Mr. Zabladowski, who has been hired to install all of the Institute's lavatories ahead of a vital inspection, but only after much skepticism and foot-dragging is the plumber finally convinced to help. The two of them empty their pockets and construct a noise-sucking contraption which ruins the mega-piano's opening concert. The enslaved boys cheerfully run riot, and the "VERY atomic" noise-sucker explodes in spectacular fashion, bringing Bart out of his dream.

The movie ends on a hopeful note for Bart, when the real-life Mr. Zabladowski finally notices Heloise, and offers to drive her into town in his jeep. Bart escapes from the piano, and triumphantly runs off to play.
Actor Role
Tommy Rettig Bart Collins
Mary Healy Heloise Collins
Hans Conried Dr. Terwilliker
Peter Lind Hayes August Zabladowski

Directed by Roy Rowland
Produced by Stanley Kramer
Written by Dr. Seuss
Allan Scott
Starring Tommy Rettig
Mary Healy
Hans Conried
Peter Lind Hayes
Music by Frederick Hollander
Cinematography Frank Planer
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date(s) July 1, 1953
Running time 92 minutes
Country United States
Language English