Raetsonwe Redundant and unnecessary.

SoftInloveRox Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

classicsoncall I don't know why it struck me so odd, but did you notice that everyone in the picture pronounced the title character 'Dr. Low', including Dr. Lao himself? That is, all except for the young Mike Benedict (Kevin Tate), who pronounced it the way it appears to look - 'Dr. Lau'. I don't know if there's any significance to that within the context of the story, but it struck me nevertheless.The film utilizes one of those familiar old Western movie themes in which an evil town boss conspires to buy out all of his neighbors with the prospect of making a killing when the railroad comes through the area. After that, it's pretty much all fantasy as an elderly Chinaman arrives with his magical circus to turn the tables on the villain. The story line utilizes a number of metaphors to contrast the circus with life in general, like 'The whole world is a circus if you know how to look at it', or as the Giant Serpent explains to his look-alike villain Stark (Arthur O'Connell) - the circus is like a mirror, you see yourself in it.The host of Turner Classics who introduced the story, Ben Mankiewicz, stated that director George Pal wanted Peter Sellers for the Dr. Lao role, but was extremely pleased with the way Tony Randall handled the chore. It was cool to see Randall as one of the circus customers watching the show under the Big Top, a clever touch in keeping with the theme of the story.Considering the era, some of Dr. Lao's characters have sort of a hokey look like that Abominable Snowman, but over all there's a whimsical quality to the performers that gives the movie a magical touch, the kind Dr. Lao himself attempts to convey to the citizens of Abalone. After all, if you can haul a trout out of a dry stream bed, you can just about do anything.

bkoganbing In many ways the 7 Faces Of Dr. Lao was years ahead of its time. I think the only reason Stephen Spielberg hasn't tried to remake it is because he doesn't think he could improve on the original which George Pal so artfully put together. Not too mention this is an actor's dream where as per the title star Tony Randall gets a once in a lifetime chance to essay seven different characters.A small Arizona town in the Depression Thirties gets a chance to see an Oriental circus as per an advertisement placed in John Ericson's newspaper by a mousy Chinese gentleman Dr. Lao as played by Tony Randall. The town has its problems as its leading citizen Arthur O'Connell is trying to buy it out from each and every property owning citizen in the tough times of the Depression.Dr. Lao has not giving them a circus as much as a carnival sideshow with many interesting exhibits from cultures all over the world. It is here that Randall does his thing appearing as many people in the various exhibits. As the townspeople visit the exhibits, it's an interactive show where they come face to face with some unpleasant truths about themselves and that includes O'Connell.7 Faces Of Dr. Lao won a special Oscar for makeup years before that became an Oscar category. I find it hard to believe it wasn't a category before. The film also got a nomination for special effects, but lost to Mary Poppins.Like Alec Guinness in Kind Hearts And Coronets, Tony Randall was given such great acclaim for the various parts he did per the exhibits in his circus. I find it hard to believe that he wasn't given a nomination for Best Actor. It was not just William Tuttle's makeup that created these characters.If it were to be remade today I think it would be a natural for Robin Williams. But I doubt that Tony Randall could be topped.

LeonLouisRicci This is the most thought provoking and under seen George Pal Fantasy. It is one of those Gems that has fallen through the cracks of Time. But even in its initial release Audiences stayed away and Critics were not kind. These things are difficult to analyze. It is a fickle Movie going Public out there and one never knows.The Movie does not have the wide appeal that his other Hits like The Time Machine (1960), War of the Worlds (1953), and others. It is an introspective, Philosophical, and deep discussion on many Personal and Sociological traits that at times can be uncomfortable for some.This is a charming, well written, superbly mounted, surreal Movie that is sparse in its scope but vast in its ability to provoke and stimulate thought. It is thematically ahead of its time and is colorful and playful while unleashing insights and profound truths. Its attraction is the way it paradoxically fuses so many deep Subjects with such a lighthearted appeal.Tony Randall's excellent Performance in multiple roles, a Fantasy Template that will appeal to the Kid in everyone, and such an off kilter Film from the early Sixties that was frankly an Artistic Wasteland at the time, are some of the many reasons to seek this out and enjoy on so many levels. It truly has 7 Faces...at least.

DKosty123 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.