Rating:  -
Colorful, vibrant, and sweetly charming.
Must have a good sense of humour to enjoy it! :)
Rating: -
First of all, I'm reviewing the DVD product and not the movie.
This is one of those movies that you either get or you don't. If you've searched for this movie and bought it, chances are you "get it" so I won't write about the movie itself.
This is possibly the most disturbing, unique, and fun kids movie ever. I wish there had been some sort of documentary on the DVD. Even if all the original people involved in the production are no longer with us, just some commentary from a film historian would have been interesting. Just what impact did this film have when it was released in 1952?
Also, the DVD navigation acted strangely. When I was in the bonus cartoon the "return to menu" function on my DVD player didn't work. I had to hit stop and reboot the DVD to get out of the cartoon and back to the main menu.
The "bonus cartoon" however was a wonderful surprise: an original "Gerald McBoing Boing" cartoon (Gerald McBoing Boing's Symphony). I'd never seen one of these and I totally loved it.
So, I got a great and fascinating movie and a wonderful bonus cartoon, but I was left wanting to learn more, and all I had left to look at were a few black and white still pictures from the production.
Rating:  -
With script and set design by Dr. Suess, this 1952 film is a visual treat. It is both timeless and a 1950's time capsule. The stars are Peter Lind Hayes and Mary Healy, a popular married duo of the times who have slid into history. The main struggle is between piano teacher Dr. T played by Hans Conried [voice of Disney's TV Magic Mirror and Jay Ward's Snidley Whiplash] and his reluctant student Bart played by Tommy Rettig before he became Lassie's original TV owner. Dr. T wants the bored Bart to practice his piano playing for a recital, but Bart wants to go outside and play baseball. Hayes is a returning veteran working as a plumber who spars/sparks with Healy as Bart's mom, widowed by the Korean Police Action. The bulk of the film is a Suessian dream sequence featuring such set pieces as a dancing hypnosis duel between Hayes and Conreid, a roller skating duel between Hayes and a pair of twins joined at the beard, and the demented dance of the non-piano players. Then there is the giant piano where 500 children [the 5,000 Fingers]play simultaniously There are atomic fears, the powerless place of children, family bonding, Freudian symbolism, meglomania, and musical prejudice. Most of deeper themes will appeal to adults while the younger viewers will enjoy the fantasy [that becomes darker before rising to a happy ending] elements which stand the test of time over 50 years later. I am very pleased that it is finally on DVD.
Rating: -
My children are pretty jaded when it comes to movies. They've been raised on big-budget, high-tech, computer generated films like "Shrek" and "The Incredibles." When I purchased this movie it was for me, as I love old films and this one intrigued me. I put the movie in last night, and my kids and I were immediately drawn into the plot, the characters, the language (It is Dr. Suess.), and the great, imaginative sets. We all loved it. My girls couldn't get enough of the the synchronized skating, Siamese twins connected by a shared beard. I enjoyed studying the sets...as so many reminded me of this great children's illustrater and his legendary work "Cat in the Hat."
Rating: -
Only Doctor Suess could take something mundane as a child's passing dred of parent enforced music lessons to better artistic appreciation and broaden cultural horizons and make a funny twisted wildly insane movie about it all. Yes the movie is old and dated but the colors are good and the sets are as wildly over the top as anything young Dorthy saw on her field trip to OZ.
While their is NO wizard in this picture, the illustratous Dr T is quite the man. Dr. T is a total coo coo composed of part snake oil, salesman, part dictator, part showman, part insane mental patient. While Dr T ain't no wizard he is a sure fire case of chronic weird that must be seen to be fully appreciated. Doctor T is the unchallenged lord of his kingdom a man of absolute power who rules absolutely of course. Dr T has but one goal to hear his master works played by busy busy fingers 5000 of them to be exact each allowing their musical abilities to be made servant to what I can only be describe as a gangantic supendous BORG piano.
Dr T has constructed an immense musical instrument and he invites the needed 500 kids to play it. I call his creation a BORG piano because you have no choice resistance is futile once seated at the piano you are expected to play and play and play. Busy Fingers Busy Busy Fingers and one must even darn a special cap that reinforces the busy fingers message.
The movie is a bit slow for todays kids but the really young 4, 5 to 6 year old tele-tubby set should roar with laughter watching Doctor T. This is over the top fun for little ones and those older folk still young at heart.
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