Westworld: 10 Key Offbeat Westerns To Watch Next
4. 7 Faces Of Dr. Lao
A surreal figure came to the West in this true one off. Comedy stalwart Tony Randall provided a variety of eccentric turns, including the elusive title character, who interrupted the daily routine of a small town's inhabitants. He gave the likes of Peter Sellers a run for his money. Just as well. Producers originally wanted Sellers for the role(s).
Randall's Dr. Lao appeared in Abalone, with the aim of putting on his circus show.
This brought him up against scheming rancher Arthur O'Connell, who planned to pick up the town for a bargain price, knowing full well the development of an oncoming railroad would make him a hefty profit. He reckoned without Randall, who also played everything from Medusa to the Abominable Snowman.
George Pal was the celluloid ringmaster behind the eclectic thrills, whose track record in the far out encompasses The Time Machine and War Of The Worlds. The movie's mix of Western and fantasy elements is still highly unusual today, rarely seen but far from forgotten.