7 Faces of Dr. Lao Details

This odd, almost surrealistic, fantasy western hit a nerve at the time and became a major success largely because of the mesmerising performance of Tony Randall, who plays the eponymous doctor and no less than six other roles. It tells the tale of a strange travelling circus, which arrives in town to put the fear of God into the locals and teach them a few of life's lessons along the way. What distinguishes this intriguing movie is the glorious make-up, which won William Tuttle a much-deserved Oscar. The townsfolk are a trifle stereotypical — staring eyes and toothless leers under frayed bonnets — but Randall engages from reel one.

Randall gets to show off as the old, bald Chinese illusionist who arrives in a Western town and whose multifarious... read more on Time Out