Search - Seven Faces of Dr. Lao on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Excellent For Children Movie Release: 1963 DVD Release: 10/03/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 40 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 19 Genres: Fantasy, Western, Satire, Children's Fantasy, Fantasy Comedy, Hybrid Western

Tony Randall has the showcase of a lifetime in the marvelous George Pal production The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao. We first see Randall as Dr. Lao, an enigmatic Chinese medicine-show impresario. The doctor brings his travelling show into the frontier town of Abalone, which is chafing under the oppression of land-hungry Clint Stark (Arthur O'Connell). Newspaper editor Ed Cunningham (John Ericson) is conducting a campaign of words against Stark, but he is no match for the land baron's money, power, and hulking henchmen. Nonetheless, Cunningham continues his crusade, all the while attempting to romance icy young widow Angela Benedict (Barbara Eden). All of this is observed with bemusement by Dr. Lao, who has already established himself as a man of many talents by alternating between pidgin-English and eloquent articulation, depending on the circumstances. Each of the townspeople--including the three already mentioned--learn a great many truths about themselves when they attend Dr. Lao's unusual circus. In the course of straightening out everyone's problems, Lao metamorphoses into (1) Merlin the Magician, (2) Pan, (3) Medusa, (4) The Abominable Snowman, (5) Apollonius of Tyana and (6) a Talking Serpent. The combined talents of Randall, puppeteer Pal and make-up wizard William J. Tuttle (who won two Special Oscars) resulted in this captivatingly unique entertainment experience. Curiously, Tony Randall is not fond of Seven Faces of Dr.Lao, and refuses to be interviewed on the subject. Perhaps he was unhappy that much of the philosophy dispensed in the original Charles G. Finney novel -The Circus of Dr. Lao was weeded out of Charles Beaumont's script....or perhaps he just didn't like having his head shaved for the part. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tony Randall - Dr. Lao
Barbara Eden - Angela Benedict
Arthur O'Connell - Clint Stark
John Ericson - Ed Cunningham
Kevin Tate - Mike Benedict

The classic 1960s fantasy film starring Tony Randall, The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao comes to DVD with this release. Bonus features are often difficult to come by with older films. That's why fans of this movie should be delighted at the inclusion of a documentary featurette about the award-winning makeup, entitled "William Tuttle: King of the Duplicators." Other extras include interactive menus, a theatrical trailer, scene access, and notes on Randall and director George Pal. The film is presented in both widescreen 1.85:1 and standard 1.33:1, and the lone audio track is an English language Dolby Digital Mono soundtrack. Subtitles are available in English and French. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide