The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)

Name: The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)
Duration: 1 h 29 min

1hr 29m

1hr 29m
3.5/5 (2.3K)
100%

A young boy dreams that he is in an imaginary world where, assisted by his family's plumber, he must save other piano-playing kids like himself from the… More Details »

Showtimes
Movie Details

Find Movie Theaters & Showtimes

for

near

We didn't find this title in your area

Browse Local Theaters

Videos & Photos

Trailer 1 (00:52)
Trailer 1 (02:05)

Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Roy Rowland

Producer:

Stanley Kramer

Writer:

Dr. Seuss, Allan Scott

Release Date:

Jul 1, 1953

Runtime:

1hr 29m

Synopsis

A young boy dreams that he is in an imaginary world where, assisted by his family's plumber, he must save other piano-playing kids like himself from the dungeons of his dictatorial piano teacher who also mind-controls his mother.

Cast

Peter Lind Hayes
Mary Healy
Hans Conried
Tommy Rettig
Jack Heasley
Robert Heasley
Noel Cravat
George Chakiris
Alan Aric
Tony Butala

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.5

RATINGS 58 FANS

3.5

Aug 8, 2026

This movie is on par with something like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It scratches that little subversive itch, every kids movie should scratch. Together the Twins grew a single beard. It is a joy seeing the two of them roller blading around, one at either end…

146 Likes

Yves Bouwen

Nov 19, 2017

which cremaster is this

224 Likes

Those Eyebrows

Dec 10, 2018

Seuss's only foray into writing for the live action screen ends up as some deranged sort of kiddie Caligari- demented, hallucinatory, and oh yes, very atomic. There's lot to be said for how much torture, misanthropy and general insanity remains in this version, which…

192 Likes

Evan “Raymond Gun-Virus” Pincus
Apr 28, 2024

Somehow was unaware that Dr. Seuss wrote a lavish MGM-style Technicolor fantasy musical that for some reason was given the full weight and resources of the Stanley Kramer production house, and was so dark and deranged in terms of its post-war commentary that it was slashed…

163 Likes

Josh Lewis

Sep 3, 2017

There's another reality where this film is the most popular film ever, and people refer to their fancy clothes as "doe-me-doe duds".

127 Likes

FilmApe

you can tell its ai cuz hes got 5000 fingers......ike-era seussical in the interzone of alice/pan, invaders from mars, phantasm, santa claus conquers the martians, cat in the hat '03 & oddly, whitley strieber--uproots the "benevolent genius mentors child" genre*…

101 Likes

pd187
Dec 16, 2020

Produced by Stanley Kramer out of all people and based on a Dr. Seuss story, this has to be one of the wildest and most inventive kids fantasy movies that hasn’t gotten the reception it might deserve. The production design is magnificent and the musical numbers along with…

78 Likes

Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine

Nov 5, 2017

A 100% analog live-action Dr. Seuss movie. Just for producing this, Stanley Kramer earns a place in heaven. Hans Conried (Dr. T) went on to play the music teacher in Jerry Lewis's THE PATSY.

67 Likes

Will Sloan

Apr 8, 2017

In my wildest dreams, I didn't believe this could have ever existed: a live action Dr. Seuss musical about McCarthy witch hunts, nuclear destruction, and that mean music teacher you had (probably not) when you were 12. It has my vote for most mind-blowing production design…

66 Likes

Carlos Valladares

See All Reviews on Letterboxd.com

Queue Community Reviews

100%

Community 82

❤️ LOVE

38%

👍 LIKE

63%

😐 MEH

👎 DISLIKE

Top Reviews

Hank Leet liked

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.

Did you know that Dr. Seuss wrote a live-action fantasy musical about an evil piano teacher and it’s a surreal masterwork? Now you do.

1Y

Nadja loved

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.

One of my favorite movies ever. Weird vibe. You really wish you were on the set.

1Y