Episode 715: The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953)

The Projection Booth Podcast

The Projection Booth

Film Reviews, Film Interviews, Film History, Tv & Film

4.8 • 686 Ratings

🗓️ 7 November 2024

⏱️ 91 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On this special episode, we’re diving into the curious 1953 fantasy The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. Produced by Stanley Kramer, directed by Roy Rowland, and uniquely penned by Dr. Seuss, the film stars Hans Conreid as Dr. Terwilliker, a sinister piano teacher who’s devised the “Terwilliker Method” for the obedient fingers of child pianists. Tommy Rettig plays Bartholomew Collins, an imaginative boy determined to derail Dr. T's grand plans. Join Mike, playwright David MacGregor, and critic John Monaghan as they delve into the film's quirky charms, elaborate set pieces, and iconic status.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hold your ears, folks. It's showtime.
0:08.6	People pay good money to see this movie.
0:10.9	When they go out to a theater, they want cold sodas, hot popcorn, and no monsters in the projection booth.
0:17.3	Everyone pretend podcasting isn't boring.
0:20.2	Shut it off.
0:25.6	Turn it off.
0:26.6	It happens in an amazing castle
0:42.6	with a tickle-em-to-death torture chamber
0:44.9	and a 500-player piano with 480,000 keys.
0:49.9	It's a musical merry-go-round, sparkling with songs and dances,
0:53.7	whirling you away to a new world of wonders.
0:56.0	Have a smoke. Have a cigar.
0:59.0	No mind if I do.
1:01.0	Something to eat.
1:03.0	Something to drink.
1:06.0	Dr. T is sweet on Mrs. C.
1:09.0	So is Mr. Z, the plumber, who fixes sinks and knows all the angles.
1:13.6	When the plumber's doubletowski has installed the last sink, I want him disintegrated.
1:19.6	Atom by atom.
1:21.6	See the dangerous descent from the sky-high ladder.
1:25.6	See the whammy duel between Dr. T and Mr. C.
1:29.3	See the eighth wonder of the cinema world.
	...

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