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

Submitted by Evan (Long Version), and Smudgy (Pooper)

Pooper:
In his dreams, Bart and Zabladowski free Heloise (Bart’s mom) from Dr. T’s mind control and destroy Dr. T’s fortress. When Bart awakens, he convinces Zabladowski and Heloise to talk with each other and is thrilled when sparks fly between the pair.

Long Ending:
In the only feature film written by Dr. Seuss, we follow the story of a young boy named Bartholemew “Bart” Collins (Tommy Rettig) as he practices piano. His stern, arrogant piano teacher Dr. Terwilliker (Hans Conried), Dr. T for short, criticizes the boy harshly. The local plumber at the house repairing a sink, August Zabladowski (Peter Lind Hayes), disapproves of Dr. T’s methods and calls him a racketeer. Bart’s widowed mother Heloise (Mary Healy) comforts Bart after Mr. T leaves, but ultimately forces Bart to continue practicing. Bart instead falls asleep.

In his dreams, Bart is transported to a fortress run by the maniacal Dr. T. The maestro tells Bart that in a few day’s time, he is having all of his students transported to his fortress where they will all be forced to play on a giant piano. In all, there will be 500 kids with 5,000 fingers playing piano day and night. Worse yet, Bart finds that his mother Heloise has been hypnotized into helping Dr. T with his scheme.

Bart escapes the cell he’s placed in and finds Zabladowski installing sinks in the fortress. He asks the plumber to help him bring down Dr. T. Although he doesn’t believe Bart’s claims that Dr. T is evil, Zabladowski eventually bonds with Bart and agrees to investigate. Dr. T and Heloise manage to trick Zabladowski into thinking they are on the level. However, Bart manages to find a decree Dr. T signed ordering Zabladowski to be killed once his work is done and shows it to the plumber. The two make a blood pact to bring Dr. T down. Though they briefly break Heloise out of her trance and try to escape (and Heloise and Zabladowski develop a mutual attraction), they are captured. Dr. T once again hypnotizes Heloise and has Bart and Zabladowski caged in one of the torture chambers (where he keeps musicians that play instruments other than the piano).

On the day of the show, hundreds of children arrive and are forced to the giant piano. Meanwhile, Zabladowski and Bart manage to rig a device that mutes sounds and steal a key from a sleeping guard. They escape the dungeon and arrive in the concert hall just as Dr. T begins to conduct the children. Bart uses the device to mute all sound. A bewildered Dr. T has a nervous breakdown and agrees to let all his hostages go. As the children celebrate, the device starts malfunctioning. Everyone flees as the device explodes and blows Dr. T’s fortress to smithereens.

Bart wakes up from his nap in his home. Heloise comes downstairs in a nice outfit to go shopping. Zabladowski (who just finished repairing their sink) is encouraged by Bart to talk to his mother. The pair seem smitten with each other and Heloise accepts Zabladowski’s offer to drive her downtown. Happy as the pair leave for their drive, Bart leaves his piano behind to go play outside.