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| 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) |
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| Music by Leigh Harline |
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| Click to enlarge images. |
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| Line: Silver Age |
| CD Release:
August 2006
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| Catalog #: Vol. 9, No. 11 |
| # of Discs: 1 |
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Released by Special Arrangement With Turner Classic Movies Music.
FSM continues its CDs of soundtracks to the films of George Pal (Atlantis: The Lost Continent/The Power, The Time Machine) with a beloved fantasy score: 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) composed by Leigh Harline.
7 Faces of Dr. Lao starred Tony Randall in multiple roles as the Chinese proprietor (and most of the attractions) of a traveling carnival in the Old West. The circus visits a small town, Abalone, which is threatened by an unscrupulous land developer, and Dr. Lao and his bizarre characters help the citizens recover their belief in themselves in order to save their community. Based on a 1935 novel by Charles G. Finney, the film has obtained a cult reputation as an unusual and affecting family film with surprisingly adult elements.
Leigh Harline had a long and successful Hollywood career that started on Walt Disney animation and continued through numerous projects for various studios, including the western Broken Lance (FSMCD Vol. 4, No. 18). His last feature films were two M-G-M projects for George Pal: The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (adapting songs by Bob Merrill) and 7 Faces of Dr. Lao.
Dr. Lao may have been Harline's finest work of all, a beguiling and tuneful concoction of "East meets West" melodies and folk instrumentation. It is consistently melodic, featuring numerous character setpieces and sparkling, transparent orchestration. In addition to the main title tune (for Dr. Lao), there are fully developed pieces for the other characters of the circus, such as Merlin the Magician, the soothsayer Appolonius, and Pan, the God of Joy.
Excerpts from 7 Faces of Dr. Lao were previously released on a La-La Land compilation of George Pal soundtracks. FSM presents the premiere release of the complete score, newly remixed from the stereo masters, with bonus tracks of alternates, outtakes and music-related sound effects. Liner notes are by Jeff Bond, Ross Care (a Harline authority), and Lukas Kendall. A fantasy score for the ages, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao is an absolute delight. |
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| Instruments/Musicians |
| Click on each musician name for more credits |
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Leader (Conductor):
Leigh Harline
Violin:
Rocco Barbieri, Adolph DiTullio, Murray Kellner, Bernard Kundell, Alfred Lustgarten, Joy Lyle (Sharp), Erno Neufeld, Nicholas Pisani, Lou Raderman, Sally Raderman (aka Sarah Kreindler), Heimann Weinstine
Viola:
Virginia Majewski, Reuben Marcus
Cello:
Joseph DiTullio, Raphael "Ray" Kramer, Frederick R. Seykora, Gloria Strassner
Bass:
Keith "Red" Mitchell, Robert King Stone
Flute:
Louise M. DiTullio (Dissman), Ethmer Roten, Martin Ruderman, Sylvia Ruderman, C. E. "Bud" Shank
Ocarina:
Henry Emerson, Blake Reynolds
Oboe:
Gene Cipriano, Arnold Koblentz
Clarinet:
Gus Bivona, Don Lodice (Logiudice), Hugo Raimondi
Bassoon:
Charles A. Gould
French Horn:
John W. "Jack" Cave, Herman Lebow, Sinclair Lott, Arthur Maebe, Jr.
Trumpet:
Uan Rasey
Trombone:
Randall Miller, Richard Noel, Herb Taylor
Piano:
George Annis, Artie Kane
Organ:
Ann Leaf
Guitar:
John Pisano, Howard Roberts, Alfred Viola
Banjo:
Joseph Robert Gibbons, Barney Kessel, Trefoni "Tony" Rizzi
Mandolin:
Rocco Barbieri, Max Gralnick
Harp:
Aida M. Dagort (Mulieri), Catherine Gotthoffer (Johnk)
Accordion:
Carl Fortina
Drums:
Dale L. Anderson, Larry Bunker, Frank L. Carlson, Richard Cornell, Frank J. Flynn, Preston Lodwick, Harold L. "Hal" Rees, Jerry D. Williams
Copyist:
Gene Bren, Maurice Gerson, Donald J. Midgley, Richard Petrie, Fred Sternberg, Harry Taylor
Librarian:
Jules Megeff
Assistant Librarian:
Theodore E. Bergren
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