Related
In the surreal 1960s phantasy film7 font Of Dr. Laoactor Tony Randall play not one , not two but seven different characters . An actor toy multiple roles in one movie can finger a tad gimmicky , but with the right script it can be an amazing opportunity – not only is redundant screen meter guaranteed , but it ’s also a way for performer to show off their acting artistry and versatility with a smorgasbord of characters . InComing To America , Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall used their multitude of roles to exercise their comedic chops while three-fold function in films likeThere Will Be BloodorEnemygave actors Paul Dano and Jake Gyllenhaal a luck to beam in striking roles .
The unchallenged king of playing multiple part was Peter Sellers , who perform the feat several prison term during his career in films likeThe Mouse That roar , The Prisoner Of Zendaand – most magnificently – Stanley Kubrick ’s bleak comedyDr . Strangelove . Interestingly , George Pal , the director of7 Faces Of Dr. Lao , initially need Sellers to asterisk in his 1964 movie but the part - or rather , parts - go toThe Odd Couple’sTony Randall instead .
colligate : Across The full Missouri Is A Western Epic Destroyed By Studio Cuts
Based on Charles G. Finney ’s novelThe Circus Of Dr. Laoand set during the turn of the last century,7 Faces Of Dr. Laofollows a mysterious Chinese showman - the titular Dr. Lao - who fetch his eldritch and wonderful travel genus Circus to the desert town of Abalone , Arizona and prognosticate its resident a hell on earth of a show . blend elements of fantasy , westerly and morality looseness , the motion picture sees Lao and his zoological garden of performers instruct the townspeople – among them ideal newspaper editor in chief Edward Cunningham ( John Ericson ) , prim librarian Angela Benedict ( Barbara Eden ) and jaded magnate Clint Stark ( Arthur O’Connell ) – a few uncomfortable truth about themselves .
Alongside play the titular Dr. Lao , Tony Randall also portrays many of the antic and mythological character that make up the MD ’s genus Circus including Arthurian magician Merlin , Greek god Pan , unsighted chance teller Apollonius of Tyana , Greekgorgon Medusa and a monster , talking serpent . Though Randall is credited as play the Abominable Snowman , it was really music director George Pal ’s son Peter in costume . The 7th role Randall represent in7 Faces Of Dr. Laois an unnamed carnival audience phallus and the only part in which he appears as himself , rather than in operose make - up and costumes .
It ’s out of the question to discuss7 Faces Of Dr. Laowithout address the fact that Tony Randall play the Taiwanese Dr. Lao is yet another instance of a white thespian donning “ yellowface ” to encounter an Asian character – a praxis that was , unfortunately , all too vulgar during early 1960s cinema . While that ’s just one aspect of the film that absolutely would n’t fly today,7 Faces Of Dr. Laoreceived a bonny share of decisive acclaim after its 1964 release , with make - up artist William Tuttle take home an honorary Academy Award for his pioneering work and stop - motion energiser Jim Danforth being acknowledge with an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects .
Next : Mystery Of The Wax Museum Is A Super Creepy ( & Forgotten ) Horror Gem
