THE FIVE THOUSAND FINGERS OF DOCTOR T

US, 1953, 88 Minutes, Colour.
Hans Conried, Tommy Rettig, Peter Lind Hayes, Mary Healy. Directed by Roy Rowland.

The Five Thousand Fingers of Doctor T is an unusual musical fantasy, produced by Stanley Kramer in the early 50s before he became a director. Written by children's storyteller, Dr. Seuss, it has a charm which is still popular - even though the atmosphere and style are somewhat dated and the action is held up a little by some of the songs. Peter Lind-Hayes? and Mary Healy were a husband and wife team from radio who did not appear in many films. Tommy Rettig as Bart, the hero, was in many films at this time and popular on television in the Lassie series. Comedian Hans Conreid was the intimidating Dr. T. All in all a pleasing fantasy comedy.

1. The reputation of this musical fantasy? Its delighting audiences in the 50s, now? what are its main entertainment ingredients?

2. The quality of imagination brought to the film? The quality of fantasy, dreams, a boy's dream? The response of the child audience, bogs? The response of adults? The use of colour, the importance of the sets? The humorous aspects of fantasy and dream? Fear, joy? Threats, punishment, crises and the boy as emerging as hero from the crises?

3. The contribution of the musical score: the theme song of 'Happy Fingers', the romantic songs, the humorous songs, especially those of Dr. T and when he was getting dressed for the climax of his Institute? The importance of the choreography e.g. the opening catching dance routine, the prison sequence? The importance of the long orchestrated section with the musical instruments in the dungeon? The variety of music?

4. The impact of the opening with Bart's dream and the chasing and the catching? The transition to his waking up? The tone of the average American family and the little boy playing the piano? The technique of Bart talking to the audience? The introduction to Mrs. Collins as a widow her wanting her son to play the piano, her singing the 'Happy Fingers' song to him? The presence of Dr. Terwilliker? His ambitions as a piano tutor, his disregard of other instruments? The presence of Mr. Zabladowski, the plumber, the hero of the film for adults? The presence of Bart's dog? How well were these ingredients presented to be taken up to Bart's dreams? Basic situations, characters, relationships, the importance of the piano?

5. The bulk of the film as dream and fantasy? The presence of the fantasy Dr. T. and his tyranny, the presentation of the huge piano, his conducting Bart, his Institute and his ambitions, his hypnotising Mrs. Collins? Bart's mother and her presence in the dream as enemy, yet hypnotised and imprisoned? Her dress, her work as a clerk? The fact that she was to marry Dr. T? Dr. T. and his costumes, his rooms, the money kept hidden and his shovelling it away etc? Mr. Zabladowski and his presence in the Institute, the importance of the sinks and their being finished for the health inspection for the opening? The relationships of the three adults? The various henchmen, especially the soldiers, the twins, the dungeon? Mr. Zabladowski and his helping Bart, his being entertained and bewitched by Dr. T., the order for his destruction? Bart and his relating to Mr. Zabladowski, seeing him as a father, the song about fishing? The build-up then to the confrontation?

6. The importance of the chases and their effect? The device of chases for building up tension and suspense? The various rooms, the staircases, the signs of 'In' and 'Out', 'up' and 'Down', the ladder leading nowhere and Bart parachuting with his t-shirt? The presence of the big soldiers and their continual chasing, the twins on roller skates and the eventual cutting of their beard? The impact of the dungeon sequence - the lift with the lift driver singing the songs and describing the punishments, the various people imprisoned in the dungeons and the long musical sequence? The potions and Mr. Zabladowski and Bart in the cage trying to devise a means of absorbing sound, their split-second success?

7. The build-up to the boys arriving for the piano-playing, Mrs. Collins as clerk, Bart and his going to number one position, his bringing out the mixture and absorbing the sound, overturning the tables on Dr. T., Dr. T. giving in,, Bart conducting and the build-up to the explosion?

8. The happy ending and the wish-fulfilment on Bart's part of his mother and Mr. Zabladowski going off together?

9. How well did the film use the basic experience of dreams, dreams as being part of oneself, the father-figures in dreams, the villains, mother-figures? The view of ourselves in dreams? Dreams and wish-fulfilment? Bart at the end going out to play baseball and with his dog? A comment on the dream and the reality?