My friends and I were used to going to lightweight movies in the Sixties. We would see Doris Day or Rock Hudson or Shirley MacLaine. Tony Randall often played a best friend to a romantic lead or some other less significant role. This one shows what a wonderful actor he was. He plays a strange Chinese "magician" who comes to a dying town in Arizona. The people are in disarray because they see that things are falling apart. Arthur O'Connel (who usually played kindly types) is aware of the railroad going through the town and is doing everything to get people to sell him their land. The thing with Dr. Lao's circus is that when one goes to it, they learn things about themselves. Some of things are very disturbing. Lao is able to bring up monsters and mythological figures. When someone does something evil, he counteracts their actions or punishes them in some way. Randall plays all seven faces, each having significant effect on the town-folks. Mostly, I remember how I could not get this film out of my head for weeks because it was like nothing I had ever seen before. I have since read the book and watched the film a couple more times. It has aged really well.

7 Faces of Dr. Lao is directed by George Pal and adapted to screenplay by Charles Beaumont from Charles G. Finney's book The Circus of Dr. Lao. It stars Tony Randall, Arthur O'Connell, John Ericson, Noah Beery Junior, Royal Dano and Barbara Eden. Music is by Leigh Harline and cinematography by Robert J. Bronner.The town of Abalone, Arizona, and the mysterious Dr. Lao (Randall) arrives announcing that his circus will be playing in Abalone for two nights only. The town is going through change and scheming rancher Clinton Stark (O'Connell) is suddenly trying to buy up all the land. Could Dr. Lao's arrival be connected? By the time this special circus is over all will be revealed and Abalone and its residents will never be the same again.I see your remaining days as a tedious collection of hours full of useless vanities.There aren't many fantasy/western hybrids out there, of the few there is, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao is the most enjoyable. Simple in plot, structure and message, picture brings to life a myriad of creatures and mythical beings as it plays out its sneaky satire with a backdrop of an old western town. These delightful "characters" come courtesy of make-up artist William Tuttle and special effects wizard Jim Danforth. With Tony Randall simply terrific in bringing all the human based ones to life.Even though it's wearing its light hearted outer shell on its sleeve, Pal's movie has dark moments of note. Particularly striking is one devastatingly sad sequence involving a shrewish middle aged woman and the fortune teller Appollonius. There's also a snatch of sexual repression by way of a meeting between the beautiful Barbara Eden and the energetic God, Pan. These are just a couple of the themes that are above a child's head but very much aimed at the watching adults.Some of it is a little creaky now and there are small irritants within. Dr. Lao the character comes dangerously close to being annoying at times with the overt Orientialism, and for what's it's worth The Abonimable Snowman creature may as well not exist as part of this circus since it serves no purpose. Fans of Finney's book are also likely to decry just how loose an adaptation this is. But for sheer entertainment value, and cross demographic appeal, it's mostly a film that brings rich rewards with each visit. 7.5/10

George Pal was a special effects master. This film shows his genius in special effects & more. George took on a lot of challenging special effects films during the 1950's & 60's. When Worlds Collide is a good example of some of that work.The story of this film, Dr. Lao, has adult & children's levels all blended together into a very solid piece of entertainment. "All the world is a circus," is the children's level & the adult levels are multiple. This film shows adult corruption, a woman (Barbara Eden, no less) nearly being seduced by a half-man half-goat out of Greek Mythology. It pieces together a lot of Greek Mythology with the destruction of Pompei, & a tale about the Loch Ness Monster. The film was treated very unfairly by critics when it was released as enemies of Tony Randall ganged up & shot the film down. This is unfortunate, because this film is much better than the critics who might not have liked Randall due to personal reasons, not because of the quality of the film.Arthur O'Connell who would go on to some good television work, does well in this film as the bad guy, Stark, whose trying to steal all the land in town because the railroad is coming. In that way, the plot is reused later in Blazing Saddles by Mel Brooks, but this film is more cerebral than the latter film. Frank Cady is in this film in support & he had worked on Pal's When Worlds Collide too & went on from this in television as the owner of Druckers store & postmaster of of Hooterville on TV's Petticoat Junction, Green Acres & appeared on the Beverly Hillbillies.Dr Lao's Circus is kind of like a mirror that exposes all of us to really solid entertaining film. The mystery surrounding Dr. Lao & the little town he comes to visit & straighten out is much deeper than most films. This film is well worth a look, even now as it's fable quality makes it a timeless story with something for everybody.

This is a wonderful film. I can't believe Tony Randall did not win an Oscar for it. He had so much talent and must have worked hard on this film. It's sad to know that those days for making this kind of film are long gone.The film makes you realise that the earth is a magical place and full of wonder.In a few words,it has more to say than any religion.The music score fits in well with the film.It tugs at the heart.When I first saw the film more than twenty-five years ago, it made such an impression on me and then I watched it again last night and I thought,if only the children of to-day would appreciate it.When will we get back the simplicity and enjoyment of this kind of entertainment.I wish the film had been given better recognition.