5,000 Fingers of Dr. T., 1953 … FINALLY bought the DVD before Christmas …
Screenplay, lyrics by Dr. Seuss! … A child’s darker, abstract music lesson nightmare … The younger me stayed away. NOW I see the devious subtle humor … Especially … Hans Conried’s Do-Mi-Do Duds (The Dressing Song)… a cheerful little earful …
Come on and dress me! Dress me! Dress me in my finest array,
‘Cause just in case you haven’t heard today is do-mi-do day;
Dress me in my silver garters; dress me in my diamond studs,
‘Cause I’m going do-mi-do-ing in my do-mi-do duds!
I want my undulating undies with the marabou frills;
I want my beautiful bolero with the porcupine quills;
I want my purple nylon girdle with the orange blossom buds;
‘Cause I’m going do-mi-do-ing in my do-mi-do duds!
Come on and dress me! Dress me! Dress me in my peek-a-boo blouse,
With the lovely interlining made of Chesapeake mouse;
I want my polka-dotted dickey with the crinoline fringe;
For I’m going do-mi-do-ing on a do-mi-do binge!
I want my lavender spats, and in addition to them,
I want my honey colored gusset with the herringbone hem;
I want my softest little jacket made of watermelon suede,
And my long persimmon placket with the platinum braid;
I want my leg-of-mutton sleeves, and in addition to those,
I want my cutie chamois booties with the leopard-skin bows;
I want my pink-brocaded bodice with the fluffy fuzzy ruffs,
And my gorgeous bright blue bloomers with the monkey feather cuffs;
I want my organdy snood, and in addition to that,
I want my chiffon Mother Hubbard lined with Hudson Bay rat!
Dress me up from top to bottom, dress me up from tip to toe;
Dress me up in silk and spinach for today is do-mi-do;
Do-mi-do day! Do-mi-do day!
So come and dress me in the blossoms of a million pink trees;
Come on and dress me up in liverwurst! and Camembert cheese!
Come on and dress me up in pretzels, dress me up in Bock beer suds;
‘Cause I’m go-o-o-ing, do-mi-do-o-o-ing,
In my do-o-o-o-o-o-mi-do du-u-u-ds!
Yes, indeed … worthy of its Oscar nomination for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture!
Tommy Rettig … who survived to play the piano … and baseball … another day …