The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T: Difference between revisions

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''The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T'' is a sadly-overlooked 1953 fantasy movie, especially notable in that it was the only time that [[Dr. Seuss]] ventured into the live-action film medium. In it, young Bartholomew Collins (Tommy Rettig) [[All Just a Dream|finds himself]] and his hypnotized mother (Mary Healy) trapped in the piano-playing Institute of the maniacal Dr. Terwilliker (Hans Conried), a villain who doesn't just eat Seuss's [[Bizarrchitecture|marvellous scenery]], but engages in an [[Chewing the Scenery|epic multicourse banquet]]. Bartholomew's only hope is convincing plumber August Zabladowski (Peter Lind Hayes) to help him, instead of installing the Institute's sinks.
''The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T'' is a sadly-overlooked 1953 fantasy movie, especially notable in that it was the only time that [[Dr. Seuss]] ventured into the live-action film medium. In it, young Bartholomew Collins (Tommy Rettig) [[All Just a Dream|finds himself]] and his hypnotized mother (Mary Healy) trapped in the piano-playing Institute of the maniacal Dr. Terwilliker (Hans Conried), a villain who doesn't just eat Seuss's [[Bizarrchitecture|marvellous scenery]], but engages in an [[Chewing the Scenery|epic multicourse banquet]]. Bartholomew's only hope is convincing plumber August Zabladowski (Peter Lind Hayes) to help him, instead of installing the Institute's sinks.


There's Siamese-beard rollerskaters, a visit to the most [[Big Lipped Alligator Moment|toe-tappingly tuneful dungeon]] ever, and a VERY atomic noise-sucker/bomb. Go track down a copy and watch it! Do it now! (or just go [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8l_aDTkqgY&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=13BF0CACB2A4B561 here]!)
There's Siamese-beard rollerskaters, a visit to the most [[Non Sequitur Scene|toe-tappingly tuneful dungeon]] ever, and a VERY atomic noise-sucker/bomb. Go track down a copy and watch it! Do it now! (or just go [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8l_aDTkqgY&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=13BF0CACB2A4B561 here]!)


{{tropelist|This film contains these INEXPLICABLE PHENOMENA:}}
{{tropelist|This film contains these INEXPLICABLE PHENOMENA:}}
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* [[Disappeared Dad]]: Played ''oh so very straight'' to the point where the entire film is a Freudian dream metaphor for Bart's longing for a father who can take him to baseball games instead of having to hang around the house with mom and do piano lessons. Yes indeed, very '50s.
* [[Disappeared Dad]]: Played ''oh so very straight'' to the point where the entire film is a Freudian dream metaphor for Bart's longing for a father who can take him to baseball games instead of having to hang around the house with mom and do piano lessons. Yes indeed, very '50s.
* [[Does This Remind You of Anything?]]: A dictator herds people into a labor camp, and it all ends with {{spoiler|an atomic explosion.}}
* [[Does This Remind You of Anything?]]: A dictator herds people into a labor camp, and it all ends with {{spoiler|an atomic explosion.}}
* [[Dream Ballet]]: If you squint a bit, the dance numbers could be considered as [[Dream Ballet|Dream Ballets]].
* [[Dream Ballet]]: If you squint a bit, the dance numbers could be considered as [[Dream Ballet]]s.
* [[Dream Land]]
* [[Dream Land]]
* [[Elevator Floor Announcement]]: The dungeon elevator.
* [[Elevator Floor Announcement]]: The dungeon elevator.
* [[Fashionable Evil]]: Of the [[Camp|campiest]] sort. "Do-Me-Do Duds", indeed.
* [[Fashionable Evil]]: Of the [[camp]]iest sort. "Do-Me-Do Duds", indeed.
** Or a [[Fashion Victim Villain]]. Or maybe both simultaneously.
** Or a [[Fashion Victim Villain]]. Or maybe both simultaneously.
* [[Freud Was Right]]: Mr. Zabladowki has to rescue Bart's mom from her '''"lock-me-tight"''', which has a [[Does This Remind You of Anything?|heart-shaped lock]] that he has to bust open.
* [[Freud Was Right]]: Mr. Zabladowki has to rescue Bart's mom from her '''"lock-me-tight"''', which has a [[Does This Remind You of Anything?|heart-shaped lock]] that he has to bust open.
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* [[Notable Original Music]]:
* [[Notable Original Music]]:
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHVRxzvkJao Dungeon Elevator Operator] song.
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHVRxzvkJao Dungeon Elevator Operator] song.
** The Dungeon of screechy violins musical interlude. (See Big Lipped Alligator Moment.)
** The Dungeon of screechy violins musical interlude. (See Non Sequitur Scene.)
** The [[Camp|Camp Villain]] song, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8TQOzyCu8Q "Dress Me"], aka "Do-Mi-Do Duds". <small>"Come on and dress me, dress me, dress me in my finest array..."</small>
** The [[Camp|Camp Villain]] song, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8TQOzyCu8Q "Dress Me"], aka "Do-Mi-Do Duds". <small>"Come on and dress me, dress me, dress me in my finest array..."</small>
** "Just Because We're Kids" sounds like an anthem of the [[The Sixties|60's]] Baby Boom generation.
** "Just Because We're Kids" sounds like an anthem of the [[The Sixties|60's]] Baby Boom generation.
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* [[Suspiciously Similar Substitute]]: "Bartholomew Collins" sounds a lot like "Bartholomew Cubbins", the hero of an earlier book by Dr Seuss. They are both boys of about the same age, hats and the number 500 features in both stories. Dr Seuss ''did'' say his original idea was warped beyond recognition...
* [[Suspiciously Similar Substitute]]: "Bartholomew Collins" sounds a lot like "Bartholomew Cubbins", the hero of an earlier book by Dr Seuss. They are both boys of about the same age, hats and the number 500 features in both stories. Dr Seuss ''did'' say his original idea was warped beyond recognition...
* [[Villain Song]]
* [[Villain Song]]
* [[What Do You Mean It's for Kids?]] -- see [[Lyrical Dissonance]]. Other than that, it's fun for the family, unless you're the sort of person who has nightmares about nuclear weapons or imprisonment at a summer camp or hearing a kid practice piano scales over and over and over and over...
* [[What Do You Mean It's for Kids?]]—see [[Lyrical Dissonance]]. Other than that, it's fun for the family, unless you're the sort of person who has nightmares about nuclear weapons or imprisonment at a summer camp or hearing a kid practice piano scales over and over and over and over...


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}