7 Faces of Dr Lao ***½ (1964, Tony Randall, Barbara Eden, Arthur O’Connell, John Ericson, Noah Beery Jnr, Lee Patrick) – Classic Movie Review 3731

Tony Randall is a joy in the seven parts he plays, while producer-director George Pal provides a good measure of unusual and other-worldly entertainment, in this richly entertaining 1964 fantasy comedy.

Make-up man William Tuttle won a special Honorary Award Oscar for his outstanding make-up achievement in the remarkable seven faces he came up with for star Randall as Dr Lao, the bald old Chinese showman who visits the US desert town of Abalone, Arizona, with his magic stunts.

Randall also plays the Abominable Snowman, Merlin the Magician, Apollonius of Tyana, Pan, the Giant Serpent and Medusa, characters that entertain Abalone’s inhabitants and teach them valuable lessons as they see themselves reflected in Dr Lao’s mysterious circus of mythical beasts.

Also in the cast are Barbara Eden, Arthur O’Connell, John Ericson, Noah Beery Jnr, Lee Patrick, Minerva Urecal, Kevin Tate and John Qualen.

Charles Beaumont’s screenplay is taken from Charles G Finney’s novel The Circus of Dr Lao. Jim Danforth was Oscar nominated for Best Special Visual Effects.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3731

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