7 Faces of Dr. Lao

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7 Faces of Dr. Lao

1964,

1h 40m,

Fantasy

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88%

8 Reviews

Tomatometer

78%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

When the inscrutable Dr. Lao (Tony Randall) and his mystical Chinese medicine show roll into the Wild West settlement of Abalone, Arizona, he ends up in the middle of an ongoing feud between a ruthless land baron, Clint Stark (Arthur O'Connell), and an idealistic newspaper editor, Ed Cunningham (John Ericson). The shape-shifting Dr. Lao soon weighs in on the battle, as well as the problems of widowed librarian Angela (Barbara Eden) and her ambitious young son, Mike.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jun 22, 2026

3/4

Draggy in spots but mostly enchanting.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Aug 30, 2021

B-

Joyfully directed by the Hungarian-born animation maven George Pal.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Mar 23, 2019

2/4

...each set piece is dropped into the film with a thud.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Feb 20, 2013

B-

A strange, sporadically entertaining fantasy, which won the Honorary Oscar for Makeup: Tony Randall plays seven roles.

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Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan

Oct 23, 2004

5/5

Tony Randall's best--a whimsical western

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Carol Cling

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Oct 17, 2003

3/5

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Nov 30, 2018

After reading many of the reviews, positive and negative, I'd like to remind the audience that this was released in 1964 and to consider the other offerings of the time. This is the same year that saw the release of Merry Poppins, The Incredible Mr. Limpet, Mothra vs. Godzilla, and Dr. Strangelove. Certainly there was a wide range of cinematic skills, talent, styles, and technology. And, this movie stands somewhere in the middle or these. The acting can be stiff, but that was part of the times. Also note that the easily offended may very well not fully understand the social changes that movies like this brought to the forefront and how it (and other films like it) influenced the driving forces of change that have brought the US closer to the ideal.

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Theodore W

Jul 21, 2018

An old Chinaman named Dr. Lao played by Tony Randall arrives at turn-of-the-century Arizona town one day. Claiming he is planning a two night circus, his only apparent possession is a fishbowl with, what we later learn, contains the Loch Ness Monster. Dr Lao learns of a scheme by a wealthy landowner to strongarm his way into buying up the town's property in order to greatly profit due to the soon-to-be-built railroad. As part of the magical circus, Tony Randall also plays Merlin, Pan, Medusa, Apollonius of Tyana, and the Abominable Snowman. Some very funny moments in this family-oriented fantasy.

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Abraham W

Mar 13, 2018

Its a travesty that its 2018 and this film still has not had a blu ray release, preferably from criterion. Great PictuRe. A lot of lessonS are taught And simulated throUghout the courSe of the film. I absolutelY love it and agree with the critics from rotten tomatoes. AlThough it isnt perfect in terms of special effects and political correctness, it is a very Noteworthy film from 1964.

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Hermione L

Oct 28, 2017

Amazing, especially for 1964.

Hermione W

Oct 13, 2017

One of the strangest movies I have ever seen. Caught it last night on TCM. Actually rather clever and fun.

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George Pal

Director

Tony Randall

Dr. Lao

Barbara Eden

Angela Benedict

Arthur O'Connell

Clint Stark

John Ericson

Ed Cunningham

Noah Beery Jr.

Tim Mitchell

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Synopsis

When the inscrutable Dr. Lao (Tony Randall) and his mystical Chinese medicine show roll into the Wild West settlement of Abalone, Arizona, he ends up in the middle of an ongoing feud between a ruthless land baron, Clint Stark (Arthur O'Connell), and an idealistic newspaper editor, Ed Cunningham (John Ericson). The shape-shifting Dr. Lao soon weighs in on the battle, as well as the problems of widowed librarian Angela (Barbara Eden) and her ambitious young son, Mike.

Director: George Pal
Producer: George Pal
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: George Pal Productions
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 18, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 40m

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