7 FACES OF DR. LAO (1964) (comments by Mark R. Leeper and Evelyn C. Leeper)

[Philip De Parto]

The following commentary is reprinted with permission from

THE MT VOID

08/30/24 -- Vol. 43, No. 9, Whole Number 2343

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7 FACES OF DR. LAO (1964)
(comments by Mark R. Leeper and Evelyn C. Leeper)

7 FACES OF DR. LAO (1964) is based on the 1935 book THE CIRCUS OF
DR. LAO by Charles G. Finney.  The book won the National Book
Award for Most Original Book; the film adaptation by Charles
Beaumont does depart from the book in many ways, but it still a
very good film.  The film was produced by long-time stop-motion
animator George Pal and uses stop-motion animation to depict the
mythical creatures of the story.  Tony Randall plays all "7
faces".  All in all, a true sui generis delight.  (And read the
book, if possible with the original Boris Artzybasheff
illustrations.  And be sure to read the catalog of figures, animal
vegetable, and mineral, at the end.)

[7 FACES OF DR. LAO, Monday, September 9, 8:00AM]