Over half a century after its original cinema release and this surreal 1953 film, conceived and part-written by the noted children's author Dr Seuss, still seems years ahead of its time.
Little Bart Collins (future Lassie star, Tommy Rettig) would rather be out playing baseball than practising his piano scales. Falling asleep, he enters a nightmarish world in which the sinister Dr Terwilliker (Hans Conreid) imprisons 500 boys in his castle to turn them into an orchestra of ivory-tinkling slaves…
Alternately funny, charming and deeply creepy, this wild musical fantasy may have flopped at the box office on its original release, but it remains a visually stunning extravaganza that has influenced the likes of Roald Dahl and Tim Burton.
Available for the first time in the UK, this limited edition dual format Powerhouse Films release (part of the Indicator series) presents a HD remaster of the film with the following special features:
• Audio commentary with film historians Glenn Kenny and Nick Pinkerton • Crazy Music: a 2017 interview with musician, singer and archivist Michael Feinstein on his obsession with The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T • Father Figure: a 2017 new interview with Steve Rowland, son of director Roy Rowland • Karen Kramer introduction (2007, 2 mins) • Dr. T. on Screen (2007): Cathy Lind Hayes, George Chakiris and others talk about the film • A Little Nightmare Music (2007): an examination of the film's ground-breaking music score • Original theatrical trailer • Joe Dante trailer commentary (2013) • Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography • New and improved English subtitles • Booklet with a new essay by Peter Conheim, and extracts from the original press kit, advertising and promotion guide
