Video Archive

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T

The movie’s title is based on multiplication since 500 piano players with ten fingers each come to 5,000 fingers in total. But what if those 500 kids were engaged in other activities? Practice multiplication by substituting tasks such as bowling, using a TV remote, or writing longhand and then calculating how many fingers would be used.
There seems to be a mathematical error at about 54-58 seconds into the trailer, when the figure of 480,000 keys is given. Since a standard keyboard has 88 keys and there are 500 kids, what’s a better number? Encourage students to use rounding to provide an estimate or multiplication to arrive at the exact answer. (estimate: 50,000 keys; exact: 44,000)
If the figure of 480,000 keys were correct, how many keys would each of the 500 players be responsible for? (960) How many regular-sized piano keyboards does this figure represent? (10.9)
If the correct figure is 44,000 keys, not 480,000, how do you think the error was made?

If there were 480,000 keys on a piano, do you think these represent different pitches or the same 88 pitches repeated? Why? Would you like to be one of the musicians responsible for playing a section of an instrument with 480,000 pitches? Why or why not? What kind of music would you compose for such an instrument?
Now suppose that the standard 88-key keyboard does repeat continuously on this huge piano. You could certainly restrict yourself to those keys, but if you played to the left of the bass octaves and to the right of the treble octaves, you’d be able to play notes that normally lie on the opposite end of the piano. What advantages might this have for playing or composition?
In addition to a giant piano, this movie trailer also features a giant gong and a giant harp. If you could make a giant size version of any instrument and then play it, what would it be? Why? How would it sound different if it were larger?
Part of the humor in the "whammy duel" sequence comes from the use of the samba music. Imagine that you have to score a movie scene based upon a story that you know or an incident from your life. How would you make the tone more humorous by using special rhythms, melodies, or instrumentation?

What habit that is harmful to one’s health is depicted in the trailer? What does this tell you about the era (the early 1950s) during which this movie was made? Would smoking cigars be emphasized in a trailer today? Why or why not?
Trailers are ads for coming attractions that originally followed or "trailed" a movie shown in a theater, but they are now usually shown first. How effective is this trailer? Would it make you want to see the movie in a theater? How about renting the DVD? Why or why not?
Point out the typical features of a trailer and explain how each helps "sell" the movie. On-screen text, now hardly used at all in trailers, used to be a mainstay as is evident here. Other features include voice-over narration, a "cast run" (a list of the stars), credits for the production company and distributor, and the engaging, evocative use of music.
Some people enjoy trailers as an art form that is distinct from movies themselves. Can advertising ever be considered art? Why or why not?

Many trailers provide a synopsis of the film or at least its premise, but this one does not. Instead, it describes the setting and certain aspects of the major characters. Make a prediction about what you think happens in this movie based upon the information provided.
Since the trailer does not include a synopsis, use the story elements that it presents as a writing prompt for an outline of a fantasy story. Who is the main character and what are the obstacles that he or she faces? Who is the foil and what are his or her objectives? Why are there so many piano players? Write a summary that could fit the information provided in the trailer.
The movie was written by Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. How are the images or ideas in it like things you’ve seen in Dr. Seuss’s books? Would you rather write movies or write and draw your own picture books? Why?
The narrator and the on-screen text states that "T" stands for "Tremendous," "Terrific," and "Tuneful." Brainstorm for positive attributes for a movie title based upon other letters. As an extra challenge, use the final letters of words as is done in the case of "Entertainment" in the trailer.

In today’s world what would the “mechanical monsters” be called?
How would you design their hands to be more effective for their purpose?
How could the robotics be improved to give the remote operator live feedback?
If the “evil inventor” wanted to monetize his proprietary technology, what would be an alternative to crime?

What genre does this story belong to? Are all Superman stories by definition science fiction because he is, in fact, an alien?
What plot complications/obstacles does Superman encounter while trying to defeat the mechanical monsters and save Lois Lane?
Did you have enough time to read the text on screen that appeared when the newspaper front pages were shown? How did you scan for information? What did the cartoon do to help you in this respect?
How is this depiction of Superman similar to or different than others you have seen? What traits do you think writers and artists can change about Superman and what things must they keep the same?

The voice-over identifies Superman as fighting a never-ending battle for “Truth and Justice” but the “American Way” is not mentioned—how would a superhero fight for the latter apart from championing truth and justice? What would that look like?
Whom do you think Superman spent a lot of time battling in the years following this 1941 cartoon?
In a cartoon today would Lois Lane say she is, “just getting the woman’s angle” on the story she is covering? Why or why not?
Are the newspaper headlines we see realistic? If these events had really happened, what would have been the most important part of the story from a historical perspective?