Alan Spencer on 7 FACES OF DR. LAO

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The Circus of Dr. Lao, written by Charles G. Finney in 1935, was a cynical, trenchant satire of the small minds of small town people. George Pal, whose perennially sunny demeanor was in sharp contrast to Finney’s curdled comedy, kept his rose-colored glasses firmly in place when he directed his own version in 1964 from a screenplay by Charles Beaumont. Though the pungent atmosphere is missing from Pal’s adaptation, several memorable things remain including a bittersweet score from Leigh Harline (Pinocchio), an assortment of mythical monsters courtesy of William Tuttle and Wah Chang and, most importantly, a brilliant tour-de-force by Tony Randall as the mysterious ringmaster Lao. Randall possessed one of the most beautiful speaking voices in Hollywood and he uses it to full effect in 7 Faces, inhabiting everything from a wistful Merlin the Magician to a spooky drag version of the snake-headed Medusa.
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18 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 44

@freshair3451 9 лет назад

As a child this movie taught me about life. A true work of art, and a labor of love.

@AlanBondFilms 10 лет назад

I saw this as a 13 year old on school holidays at the St James Theatre (long gone) in Sydney. It was a double bill with "Rhino". "Lao" is my favourite film, which only recently, after 50 years, I was able to buy not only the DVD but also finally a well produced soundtrack. Both imports from the US of A. Yes, Tony Randall is remarkable in the role, and I am surprised he wasn't at least nominated for an Academy Award. I met William Tuttle in the early 70s when he did a lecture in Sydney. Fascinating man. I also have a black and photo of Tony Randal as the "faces" surrounding himself in the middle. I have also a one-sheeter and day bill posters. Proud possessions. All the actors were good, yes, John Ericson and the chemistry he had with Barbara Eden but at the heart was Tony Randall. The music by Leigh Harline was just absolutely perfect. There may be plenty of better films, but none like this show. The best on this or any other planet.

@bandfromtheband9445 5 лет назад

Agreed! It's an amazing film!

@Dzonemp 6 лет назад

This is one of the best movies ever made.

@johnprovince5304 4 года назад

I always considered Tony Randall of the most underrated actors around. His earliest days as a radio performer shines here as he creates distinct voices for each character.

@hyrdrogenalpha 10 лет назад

TMC shows this from time-to-time. A great movie!

@matthewcurran8618 7 лет назад

Dr Lao: My specialty is wisdom. Do you know what wisdom is? Mike: No sir. Dr Lao: Wise answer.

@FCSchaefer 6 лет назад

At first glance this movie might appear to be an archaic stereotype, but it is so much more, a very special movie and a wonderful one for kids.

@TubeNotMe 4 года назад

For kids -- WITH the parents watching, too.

@leclue22 10 лет назад

Love this movie!

@dangale123 10 лет назад

I haven't seen this in 20+ years but it has never left me. So many other films I can't remember but this one... "whassamatteryou? Big wise guy?"

@sachaput 10 лет назад

I haven't rewatched this film in years. Remember it disturbed me as a kid and I think confused me quite a bit. Deserving of being seen again, I think.

@bandfromtheband9445 5 лет назад

An absolutely wonderful film with a great soundtrack, great stop-motion special effects, hilarious scenes (the sea monster growing to outrageous size, to the sound of wheezing bagpipes) and beautiful Barbara Eden! I saw it when I was 7 or 8 years old and I still love it.

@TheMikester307 9 месяцев назад

Alan, if I didn't post it earlier, thanks so much for letting me know that Randall did like this movie! I figured he would dismiss it as his calling was theater! But I've loved this since Jnr. High in the 70s. And I am a published writer now! (Thank you Mr. Beaumont!)

@larryfloyd4993 7 лет назад

now days , people would think..this was stero type... not me..!.. this was flat out acting on tony randel part.. great movie

@matthewcurran8618 7 лет назад

This is one of my all-time favorite movies! Tony Randall is brilliant! It's also Joel Hodgson, creator of MST3K's, favorite film. He mentions when he departed the series as the main character. The episode is Mitchell.

@AnthonySmith-ty7ij 4 года назад

I have seen this film several times and I cannot help loving this film. Tony Randall is excellent as Dr. Lao plus the different characters such as Medusa and Merlin. George Pal did a brilliant job directing this. I strongly recommended this movie for anybody to watch, you will enjoy it.

@integral 2 года назад

Loved it as a kid and saw it several times. Have to see if it's streaming.

@Oppeldeldoc1 10 лет назад

There's one person who I guess doesn't get his due for this film, and that's John Ericson. He and Barbara Eden are very good together, including of course the "Pan" scene.

@moviesgalore9947 Год назад

Arthur O'Connell was so great see him in The Great Race and Reluctant Astronaut he was a brilliant comedy character actor always wonderful in every supporting role he ever had.

@queenglamazona8789 Год назад

This had some Wonderful Stop Motion Animation by Jim Danforth, Most Notably During the Lochness Monster Sequence. Tony Randall also worked with Barbara Eden in The Brass Bottle.

@abcbatman1966 Год назад

Tony Randall said that the box that contained his toupe’ was supplied by MGM, and it was marked “Gene Kelly”

@calstongroup 6 лет назад

One of the best films ever made, but it couldn't be made today. The snowflakes would riot in the streets because of "cultural appropriation".

@bandfromtheband9445 5 лет назад

Not necessarily, and as a conservative "reviewer," that is a pretty stupid comment.

@auburn_and_cordsdude7415 Год назад

@@bandfromtheband9445 what is your point?

@nigeldonaldson1647 3 года назад

do you know much about the making of this film? id like to know why it was made such an unusual subject matter, comedy, fantasy Western im sure it wasnt easy to get funding for it. i love it a very underrated film & completely original

@markmoth 8 лет назад

Can anybody tell me what species of aquarium fish (I'm guessing catfish due to the barbels) was used for the innocuous Loch Ness monster in the bowl?

@TubeNotMe 4 года назад

In the bowl, I believe it was a large(ish) Bumblebee Loach, when it is flopping in the mud, they used a Plecostomus.

@JHarder1000 5 лет назад

The movie was excellent, but the novel was a work of genius. Incidentally, both were big favorites of the late Anton Szandor Lavey.

@TubeNotMe 4 года назад

I actually liked the movie better! The book has its own value, though. There is very little connection between the two other than they both have a Dr. Lao as the head of a circus, and a theme of people preferring their expectations even when fake, over reality that doesn't conform to their expectations.

@calstongroup 2 года назад

The crybabys would have a fit if this were released today.

@briansmith2163 Год назад

wasn't this ripped of by Disney as "Something Wicked This Way Comes" ?

@TubeNotMe 4 года назад

The movie is sort of like the Circus -- if you are not in the circus, it's silly, fake, pathetic, even something bad you might want to destroy; but if you see the magic, you are in the Circus, and that is why you see the magic. "Every time you stop and think, 'I'm alive, and being alive is fantastic!' -- Every time such a thing happens, you are part of the Circus of Dr. Lao." In the Circus of the Doctor there are many strange and wonderful things to see! But the strangest seems to be, the way I seem to be in the Circus of Doctor Circus of Doctor Circus of Doctor Lao!

@daxxonjabiru428 6 лет назад

me likey.

@HooDatDonDar 5 лет назад

I could do without the Noble Red Man character - however, I suppose some people were like that.

@tripjet999 8 лет назад

"That's he," not him. Sheesh.

@CompoundNihilist 8 лет назад

"That's him" like the Abbey Lincoln song.

@brianboisguilbert6985 8 лет назад

Siiiigh, REALLY man? You can just can't keep your politics to yourself when reviewing a film? Had to throw in that juvenile, unnecessary insult about Michelle Bachmann? Can't we just at least let film unite us, put away the world and the disagreements on other things for a time? Typical Hollywood wanker smug, condescending and full of himself.

@tripjet999 8 лет назад

True, he should have referred to Forrest Trump, to make it more timely. LOL!

@mikefoley3785 7 лет назад

Well said, Brian.

@keithbrown8490 6 лет назад

Hollywood insults Fly over Country AGAIN ! They give their smug middle finger to Americans every day and then they wonder why America does not vote the way THEY tell us how we should .

@hamupinhere Год назад

I think Bachmann's a moron, but I'm with you guys. Beyond obnoxious when someone's seething so hard about their personal politics, they have to shoehorn it into the most mundane and irrelevant shit they can think of in order to draw a supposed line in the sand.