THE SEVEN FACES OF DR LAO
US, 1964, 100 minutes, Colour.
Tony Randall, Arthur O'Connell, John Ericson, Barbara Eden, Noah Beery Jnr, Lee Patrick, Minerva Urecal, John Qualen.
Directed by George Pal.
The Seven Faces of Dr. Lac is an entertaining western fantasy as the mysterious Chinese doctor who comes into a western town and changes the lives of the citizens. Randall gives of his best - the setting is obviously for a widely popular audience, family audiences, rather than sophisticated appreciators of a tour de force performance. He is well-supported by a cast including Arthur O'Connell as the villain. Music is by Leigh Harline and direction is by George Pal, producer and director of a great deal of pioneering science fiction films in the '50s e.g. Destination Moon and of the fantasies Tom Thumb and The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm in the '60s. An enjoyable moral fable.
1. An entertaining film? For what audience? Its entertainment as a western comedy-fantasy? As a moral fable?
2. The work of George Pal and his interest in fantasy, magic? His delight in fantasy images? Characters? Fantasy lands? Monsters etc.?
3. The background of the western: horses, cars, bikes? The western town? The welcoming of the circus: the circus faces, effects? Colour photography? Editing and pace? Leigh Harline's score?
4. The conventions of the West and the types? The issues of the mining town? Audiences accepting the conventional material? The unexpected with Dr. Lao? The expected balancing the unexpected?
5. The theme of the film of the world as a circus? A place of fantasy, enjoyment, goodwill, challenge to conscience? Change? The circus and the clown as a traditional vehicle for moral fables? An American version, western version - subtle, straightforward? Effect?
6. Tony Randall's skill as Dr. Lao? The doctor in himself, his appearance, reaction and prejudice towards the Chinese? The voices? The printing? The magic and the fight, the circus, control, people, watching and observing? The monster? The control at the end? The happy ending? The traditional mythical elements from literature and history? Dr. Lao as a God-like figure? Tony Randall's versatility and skill?
7. The range of myths put into the circus and Dr. Lao's faces: Merlin and Arthurian magic, Appolonius and prophecy and miracles, the Medusa turning observers to stone, the beast, the serpent, Pan and sensuality and romance?
8. Clint Stark and his henchmen, tough stances, cynical attitudes towards law and order in the town? The meetings? The confrontations? The smash, the snake, Appolonius? The story and his change?
9. The henchmen and the monster? The three oldsters? The wino? Serious and comic adventures and change of heart?
10. Ed and his assistant, the printing, the magic and the notes? Angela and her hopes, the meetings,the paper and the delivery? Dr. Lao affecting romance and the happy ending?
11. Angela and her primness, mother, relationship with Mike, the library? Pan and his music and the change?
12. Mike, her boy, the magic, the return, the monster?
13. The entertaining and interesting galaxy of characters in the town? Luther and Medusa. the Mayor, Mrs. Cassan, Kate Lindquist?
14. The variety of characters: appearance, traditional wisdom? Their role from classical literature in applied to a western town? Appolonius and prophecy, the snake, Pan, Merlin and the children Medusa? The vision and the fable and its effect? dream and living the consequences?
16. Audiences enjoying the frightening touch with the monsters - the skill of the animation?
17. A satisfying piece of entertainment, circus material, western, wisdom?
