Las siete caras del Dr. Lao

A movie produced in the great times of Ameican movie making. Simple themes were required, for general entertainment, but that did not stop the writers and directors from putting in their own often very insightful comments.

The conversion by Dr Lao of Arthur O'Connell from a cynical property developer to "good guy" - "I've always hoped that someday a town would have enough get-up-and-go to band together and do the right thing" is, of course a simple and basic one.

So, to is the awakening of the love interest between John Ericson (if I have things the right way round) - by Pan, his pipes stirring the hormones of widow Angela Benedict (Barbara Eden, I Dream of Jeannie 15 Year Later amongst others).

And the simple lessons given to the young boy by the enigmatic Dr Lao, the wise philosiphising fool also fit a simple pattern.

But I've never seen anything quite like the short scene between (if I have it right) Sarah Benedict (Rose of Cimmaron, 1952) and Apollonius of Tyana, where she is told in no uncertain terms that her life is of no import, and she will grow old "without gaining wisdom, will die alone, and when dead, no one will mourn your passing". Her reporting of that fortune telling as a positive one, "I'm sure to marry Mr .." is one I will always remember.

For some reason, Tony Randall who plays 7 roles in this one never liked the film. A pity. It's played reasonably often, and I never tire of it.