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The
5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.
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The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. has long been a cult favourite among a lucky few film buffs – and many lucky kids. The famous children’s author Dr. Seuss collaborated on the screenplay of this magical fable, although he apparently despaired at the final result. It concerns nine-year old Bart (Tommy Rettig), rather resistant to his daily piano lessons, who is miraculously transported to a nightmare world. In this garish, Technicolour decor, the malicious Dr. T. (played by a wildly camp Hans Conreid) is gathering 500 children, under duress, to play his music on a giant piano – hence the 5,000 fingers. Only Bart, with a little help from adult companions, can liberate his fellow children from this veritable Fascist regime. As directed by Roy Rowland – an underrated Hollywood figure – the film is full of bizarre songs and extraordinary set pieces, such as when Bart whips up a contraption that sucks in people’s voices. Best of all, it boasts an authentically anarchic, anti-social impulse worthy of Pee-wee Herman at his finest. © Adrian Martin June 1993 |
