Please don't spend money on this.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

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.

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.

This is a very entertaining film and great for a family to view and enjoy whenever it is shown on TV. The story is about a small Western town which is being controlled by a certain man named Clint Stark, (Arthur O'Connell) who wants all the home owners to sell their property to him and move to another town because he claims they cannot afford to provided a water supply to serve these peoples needs and it is too costly. There is a local newspaper owned by Ed Cunningham, (John Ericson) and he fights it out with Clint Stark and stands against him with newspaper editorials on a daily basis. One day a strange looking man enters their town by the name of Dr. Lao, (Tony Randall) who is from China and many things start to change once Dr. Lao puts on a circus in town and all the people seem to be transformed into different people. Enjoy.

This is a wonderful film. I can't believe Tony Randall did not win an Oscar for it. He had so much talent and must have worked hard on this film. It's sad to know that those days for making this kind of film are long gone.The film makes you realise that the earth is a magical place and full of wonder.In a few words,it has more to say than any religion.The music score fits in well with the film.It tugs at the heart.When I first saw the film more than twenty-five years ago, it made such an impression on me and then I watched it again last night and I thought,if only the children of to-day would appreciate it.When will we get back the simplicity and enjoyment of this kind of entertainment.I wish the film had been given better recognition.