7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

George Pal

Writers:

Charles G. Finney (novel)
Charles Beaumont (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 March 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Mystery | Western

Tagline:

All Tony - All Terrific!

Plot:

A mysterious circus comes to a western town bearing wonders and characters that entertain the inhabitants and teach valuable lessons.

Plot Keywords:

Circus | Chinese | Freak | Actor Playing Multiple Roles | Merlin The Magician

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Tony Randall	...	Dr. Lao / Merlin / Pan / Abominable Snowman / Medusa / Giant Serpent / Apollonius of Tyana / Audience member
Barbara Eden	...	Angela Benedict
Arthur O'Connell	...	Clint Stark
John Ericson	...	Ed Cunningham / transformed Pan
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Tim Mitchell
Lee Patrick	...	Mrs. Howard Cassin
Minerva Urecal	...	Kate Lindquist
John Qualen	...	Luther Lindquist
Frank Kreig	...	Peter Ramsey
Peggy Rea	...	Mrs. Peter Ramsey
Eddie Little Sky	...	George C. George
Royal Dano	...	Carey
Argentina Brunetti	...	Sarah Benedict
John Doucette	...	Lucas
Dal McKennon	...	Lean Cowboy

Also Known As:

Seven Faces of Dr. Lao (USA) (alternative spelling)
The Secret World of Dr. Lao

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Norway:12 | West Germany:6 (f) | USA:Unrated

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Peter Sellers was the director's first choice to play Dr. Lao.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the opening festivities for Dr. Lao's circus, the Yeti is shown as organ grinder for three musical-box figures, one of which is Fred Flintstone playing the drums - a cartoon character who wasn't created until nearly half a century after the film takes place (and, incidentally, a type of drum set-up not popularized until the early 1940's).

Quotes:

[last lines]
Dr. Lao: Mike, the whole world is a circus if you look at it the right way. Every time you pick up a handful of dust, and see not the dust, but a mystery, a marvel, there in your hand, every time you stop and think, "I'm alive, and being alive is fantastic!" Every time such a thing happens, Mike, you are part of the Circus of Dr. Lao.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Mitchell (#6.12)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Toccata and Fugue in D minor

Unusually clever satire

This movie is an unsung masterpiece with alternate realities transformed by Director George Pal. Randall's talents were ever used to better advantage. The clever inside-out look of town-as-dysfunctional-family juxtaposed against Dr. Lao's circus frames the satire perfectly. Arthur O'Connell and John Ericson are marvelous as Dr. Lao's opponents for the town's soul.