7 Faces of Dr Lao

Randall gets to show off as the old, bald Chinese illusionist who arrives in a Western town and whose multifarious circus show soon begins to cast a spell over local events (newspaperman Ericson is leading a fight against expansionist magnate O'Connell). A pleasingly inventive diversion from top movie fantasist George Pal, here coming up with an original story (script by Charles Beaumont from Charles G Finney's novel The Circus of Dr Lao), rather than adapting a fairytale (Tom Thumb) or a myth (Atlantis, The Lost Continent). Make-up artist William Tuttle won an Oscar for his endeavours.