The 1964 film "7 Faces of Dr. Lao" is about a Chinese man who arrives in the Arizona desert town of Abalone around 1900 and sets up his circus of fantastical characters. Dr. Lao gets involved with some of the townspeople and helps them solve some of their problems including resisting a land baron who wants to purchase and close the town, encouraging a love affair, and providing excitement and inspiration for a young boy. The film is also known as "Seven Faces of Dr. Lao" or "The Circus of Dr. Lao." It was based on the 1935 novel "The Circus of Dr. Lao" written by Charles G. Finney, an American who served as a US Army soldier in China from 1927 to 1929. A vain woman and a businessman consult a fortune teller who collects five cents for a visit. A nickel (a five cent coin) is shown on a table along with other coins.

Dr. Lao (Tony Randall) resembles a stereotypical "Chinaman" of the period and sometimes speaks in "pidgin" English and sometimes in normal modern English. He tells people that he is 7,000 years old and is from a city in China which disappeared thousands of years ago. Dr. Lao visits the office of the local newspaper, the "Abalone Daily Star", and talks to the owner, Ed Cunningham (John Ericson) and his assistant Sam (Noah Beery, Jr.).

The advertisement is for his circus which will open for two nights only. Dr. Lao pulls out paper money of several kinds and hands Ed a note.

The note is a good American note. Angela Benedict (Barbara Eden) is the town librarian. Her husband has been dead for some time and she lives with her son Mike Benedict (Kevin Tate) and her mother-in-law. Ed has been romantically interested in her and visits her at work at the library.

Angela turns him down. Businessman and land baron Clint Stark (Arthur O'Connell) wants to purchase the entire town. A town meeting is held at the library.

Clint waves some money around. Ed Cunningham and Angela continue to oppose the purchase. Dr. Lao's advertisement appears in the newspaper and a small circus tent materializes outside of town.

Angela son Mike Benedict sees Dr. Lao posting signs.

Dr. Lao allows Mike to assist him and talks to him in a normal voice. The circus opens that evening and attracts a crowd.

Dr. Lao wears a "traditional" Chinese outfit and also wears a coin change machine for sales. A sign appears which reads "Apollonius of Tyana THE FUTURE REVEALED 5¢." Mrs. Cassan, a vain elderly woman, visits Apollonius in his tent.

He tells her bluntly that she is vain, useless, and will have nothing interesting happen in her life. She becomes angry and leaves a nickel coin on the table.

The coin appears to be a prop coin with the number '5' on it. The US used the "Liberty Head" nickels in 1900 along with older nickels. Another sign "Pan the GOD OF JOY" attracts Angela to a tent.

Pan changes his appearance to resemble Ed Cunningham and continues to play while Angela unbuttons her blouse.

Angela runs out of the tent. Clint Stark had visited "The Serpent" who made some insulting remarks to him, and now visits Apollonius.

Apollonius gives Clint a lecture on greed and reveals that Clint knows that a railroad is coming to the town which would make the land valuable. Clint leaves and dumps a wallet full of change onto the table.

Several coins appear on the table. In the main tent Dr. Lao shows a short almost television-like program to the audience.

The program is about a wicked man (who resembles Clint) who bribes the residents of an ancient city. After the presentation the circus attendees find themselves at the town meeting.

The people vote down Clint's proposal and he thanks them for not being bought by him. Clint's two henchmen become angry and visit the now-closed circus tent where they accidently release Dr. Lao's pet, a sea monster.

Dr. Lao manages to control his monster. The next morning some townspeople, including Ed, Angela, and Mike visit the circus site.

Mike admires Dr. Lao and had asked to join the circus but was turned down.

In the distance Dr. Lao rides away.

Tony Randall as Dr. Lao (and others)
John Ericson as Ed Cunningham
Noah Beery, Jr. as Sam
Barbara Eden as Angela Benedict
Kevin Tate as Mike Benedict
Arthur O'Connell as Clint Stark
Director: George Pal
Writers: Charles Beaumont, Ben Hecht
Based on the 1935 novel The Circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney
The actor Tony Randall plays seven parts in the film. He portrays Dr. Lao, Merlin the magician, Pan, the Serpent, the Medusa, Apollonius of Tyana, and the Abominable Snowman.