The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T

So, this is the film, on TCM, that crabbyolbastard and I will be watching tonight. As it begins, CoB speaks: "I remember SEEING this... in school." Apparently he watched this in a history of film class while in college. Hrm. Totally created, screen-written, scene designs, everything by Dr. Suess - a live action Dr. Seuss movie with direct involvement by the artist who shaped the end product. It reminded me immediately of the new version of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Heh. And of course, in my tendency to over analyze something I went out in search of all the reviews I could find. Overall, it got really good reviews and I thought it would be interesting to see. I recorded them and their sources below so that I could look at them later, and possibly include them in the plot notes listed in the database when/if I end up getting it.

( Read more... )

Bart: I don't think the piano is my instrument.
Dr. Terwilliker: What other instruments are there, pray tell? Scratchy violins, screechy piccolos, nauseating trumpets, et cetera, et cetera?

The only live-action Dr. Seuss movie for nearly a half-century, this delightful musical comedy is a treat--something for kids who thought they have seen everything. Young Bart (Tommy Rettig of TV's Lassie) detests his piano lessons with the fanatical Dr. Terwilliker (Hans Conried). As with Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Bart falls into a dream world in which the piano teacher--renamed Dr. T--is ruler and children are hunted down to have piano lessons. Worse yet, Dr. T has magical control over Bart's mom (Mary Healy). The Oscar-nominated songs are uneven but the art direction is superb, creating a truly magical world (and the world's longest piano). Dr. Seuss's love for language stays intact. Many kids of the 1950s might remember Bart's five-fingered beanie, which was a top seller. Great fun for all ages. --Doug Thomas (found here, followed by a large amount of very favorable customer reviews.