“The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao” is a truly charming film starring Tony Randall in the title role times seven.  Based on the novel by Charles G.Finney, it was directed by George Pal, the creative genius behind other terrific fantasy genre pictures including “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm,” “Tom Thumb,” and one of my definite favorites, “H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine.” 

Tony Randall, whom many of you may only recall as Felix Unger in the TV sitcom, “The Odd Couple” is absolutely marvelous in this movie.  His amazing talent and versatility as an actor shines as he transforms from spry Chinese wizard to somber Greek prophet to an ancient and tottering Merlin, etc.  It had been several years since I last saw this film, and when I watched it recently I was overwhelmed with how fun and wonderful it is.  True, the special effects by today’s standards appear some what jerky and outdated when compared to the artistry of contemporary CGI wizards, nevertheless they do not detract from the story or the humanistic message it conveys.  William Tuttle won an honorary oscar for Makeup for this "The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao."

This 1964 feature also stars pony-tail genie, Barbara Eden, (“I Dream of Jeannie”) in a purely muggle role.  As Angela Benedict, the local widow and librarian, (along the same line as Shirley Jones’ “Marian,”) Barbara casts a bewitching spell not only on the audience but also on handsome Ed Cunningham, the romantic lead, played by John Ericson.  Child actor, Kevin Tate, plays Angela’s fatherless son, Mike Benedict.  (There’s always got to be at least one parent missing.) A cauldron-full of other classic character actors do their own magic on screen as well, including Arthur O’Connell, Wallace Berry Jr., Royal Dano, and Frank Cady.

Abalon is a typical little western town somewhere in the pre-statehood Arizona territory, and although its citizens are hardworking and upstanding people on the surface they aren’t exactly honest on the inside… not to each other or even to themselves.   And perhaps it’s time that somebody showed these folks their true personas, for better or worse, and hopefully for better… Enter Dr. Lao, an old, and yet ageless, Chinese wise man, or more aptly put: “wizard.”

A circus coming to town is always exciting and Dr. Lao’s circus certainly fits the bill.  It’s not your regular Barnum and Bailey entertainment.  Oh no!  But I think Mr. P. T. Barnum would have been thrilled to have met Dr. Lao. (Note:  P.T. Barnum was a real person… Dr. Lao is a fictional character… so never the circus twains shall meet.)  Dr. Lao’s circus provides its guests a ticket to ride on a magical mystery tour complete with mythical and mystical people and beasts.

Who and what are the 7 faces of Dr. Lao?  In not quite alphabetical order we have:

1)       Apollonius, a blind Greek seer who can tell your future… but be prepared because he can only tell the truth, even if it’s painful and not what you want to hear.

2)       Medusa, with a head of slithering locks and a stony stare that is petrifying… literally.

3)       Merlin, the greatest wizard of all time (at least until Harry Potter was born.)

4)       Pan, the Satyr – half-man, half goat, excellent musician, and pretty good at transfiguration too.

5)       Yeti, a hairy beast of the Himalayas who wears a little hat and also likes music.

6)       Serpent, a talking snake who bears a striking resemblance to Abalon’s low-down, dirty rotten bad guy in sheep’s clothing, Clint Stark (Arthur O’Connell).  Actually, the real snake is nicer.

7)       Pet Fish, whose alter-ego is, perhaps, 2^nd cousin to Norbert or maybe the Hungarian Horntail.

I checked translations of “lao” and these English words popped up:

1)   “old”; Dr. Lao is very, very old Chinese doctor;  you could say he is a Doctor of Antiquity.

2)   “male”; yes

3)   “heavy rain”; it does

4)   “fish up”; it does… it goes up and up and up.

Inside Dr. Lao’s circus tent, which is much, much roomier on the inside than it appears on the outside (a wizard’s tent, for sure), amazing demonstrations of phantasmagoria take place before the stunned and anxious eyes of the good citizens of Abalon.  Much to their chagrin and denial, their true and hidden secrets, desires, and passions are revealed in the various faces of the master of ceremonies.   Although some may not learn and grow from the experience, most do change for the better, and that is saying something.  (Too bad the Dursley’s weren’t there.)

I noticed several similarities between the film and the HP books/movies.  Magic, of course, is an obvious main theme in both.  Further, Dr. Lao has many of the same qualities as Albus Dumbledore.  Both are benevolent and wise yet there is a hidden power and strength that belies their aged and fragile outward appearance.   Don’t get ‘em riled. 

Dr. Lao’s bittersweet Merlin also reminds me of Dumbledore in another five hundred years – the sparkle in the eye faded and the memory softer, yet the kindness of heart never faltering, and the presence of greatness still lingering in his very being.

Snakes, snakes, and more snakes.  Both Harry’s and Dr. Lao’s worlds are crawling with ‘em!  Not only does Dr. Lao’s Medusa wear her hissing pets on her head, she also shares a freezing gaze with Voldemort’s pet basilisk.  And one more thing… it true that ol’ Voldy doesn’t wear a head of snakes… no, but his whole head is one big snake!

And speaking of being a snake, ironically Dr. Lao’s coiling reptile is a pretty cool serpent with a terrific command of the English language. Who needs to speak Parseltongue with this over-sized worm around?

Trelawney’s Greek counterpart is Apollonius, replete with blonde curls, beard, and toga; he is actually more like Firenze than Trelawney.  Still, both the Greek seer and Sybil divine future events.  The only difference being that Apollonius, although blind, sees with far more clarity the events of things to come while Hogwarts’ divination teacher’s inner and outer sight is clouded by her own flamboyant, self-evasive nature.  And her coke bottle glasses don’t seem to help much.  The only time Trelawney ever tells the plain truth is when she is in a trance and therefore blind, if you will, to the world around her.

Let’s talk Yeti.  Dr. Lao’s furry friend benignly minds the Calliope throughout the circus show.  Perhaps music does sooth the savage beast, just like in Fluffy’s case.  Ugly on the outside, Mr. Yeti seems to have hidden qualities of beauty and kindness on the inside… Another Rowling/HP theme.

At present I can’t think of anything in HP to compare a satyr to except that it is a mythical beast and who knows, there might be one living in the Forbidden Forest.

And finally, the little fish that roared… Dr. Lao’s pet is a seemingly harmless fish he keeps in a small round fishbowl.  However, not everything is as it appears and a fish out of water quickly transfigures into a monster of Loch Ness proportions.  Oh my, oh my! 

Just like any student at Hogwarts, a wizard isn’t a true wizard unless he can apparate, disapparate, transfigure people, animals and things, manage a stunning or impediment spell, or fix broken items with a decent repairo charm, in addition to other magical skills (just ask Filch).  Dr. Lao is pretty good at all of the above and I’d wager he’d have done exceedingly well on his O.W.L.’s except that being over seven thousand years old he was already ancient when Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was established.  He probably could have even taught the founding witches and wizards a trick or two. 

Dr. Lao has his own way of recalling memories.  He can conjure up scenes (memories) out of the past (his past, perhaps), although he doesn’t use a stone pensieve; rather he projects the images overhead for all to see.  

Dr. Lao has lots of fireworks.  Fred and George would be thrilled.

Lucky number seven, just like in HP, is used often in Dr. Lao’s story.  As I mentioned, the good doctor is over seven thousand years old and he has seven faces.  Merlin says that he was either born in the year 412 or 1204.  Either way, if you add the numbers up (4 + 1 + 2 or 1 + 2 + 0 + 4) the total is always 7.

The western town’s name is Abalon which is only one letter off of Avalon, the island paradise in the western seas of Arthurian legend.   There is a lot of Arthurian legend swirling around in the HP series.

Abalon’s townsfolk are all, without doubt, muggles who, when confronted by a real wizard and real magic cannot or will not acknowledge or accept it (sounds very Dursley-ish); that is until the enchantment of ignorance, greed, prejudice, and fear is lifted by this same wizard, a Chinese sorcerer whose most powerful magic is pure love.  And that is the most important corresponding theme between Dr. Lao and Harry Potter.

A few more interesting bits of trivia:  our heroine’s name is Angela Benedict.  She is certainly angelic, not only in looks but in her chaste actions.  Yet, her last name also hints that she is perhaps a traitor to her true feelings locked away in her heart.

Mike Benedict, Angela’s son, wants to be a magician and is among the few who honestly believes in the magical world of Dr. Lao.  The wisdom of children often out weighs the ignorance of adults -- another shared theme with HP.

As a side note, a later film (1983), “Something Wicked This Way Comes” based on a novel by Ray Bradbury is a darker, more macabre version of this same story of what happens to the people when a circus comes to their town.  Jonathan Pryce’s dark sorcery and evilness is so subtle that he is positively scary.  Another footnote is that Will Halloway, the 10-11 year old hero in SWTWC wears round-rimmed glasses.  Jason Robards plays Will’s father, who is in a muggle-way a Dumbledore-type character… with a sour twist.  Character actor, Royal Dano, is in both of these films.

“The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao” and “Something Wicked This Way Comes” are available on DVD.