7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)

John Ericson: Ed Cunningham, Transformed Pan

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Dr. Lao is fishing in a dried-up riverbed] 

  Ed Cunningham : I hate to tell you this, Doctor, but there aren't any fish in that river. In fact, there isn't any river.

  Dr. Lao : That's okay. Me no use bait.

• Clint Stark : I was like you once, long time ago. I believed in the dignity of man. Decency. Humanity. But I was lucky. I found out the truth early, boy.

  Ed Cunningham : And what is the truth, Stark?

  Clint Stark : It's all very simple. There's no such thing as the dignity of man. Man is a base, pathetic and vulgar animal.

• Ed Cunningham : Hey! How come you speak perfect English all of a sudden?

  Dr. Lao : [no accent]  Oh, it comes and goes. Whatever dialect the mood requires.

  Ed Cunningham : Oh, it just comes and goes?

  Dr. Lao : [thick Chinese accent]  Whassa matta you? Alla time asking silly questions! Wise guy!

• Ed Cunningham : You know, you remind me of someone. A woman I know. Her names Angela Benedict. Same height. Same weight. Same general features. Ever met her?

  Angela Benedict : No. No, but I've heard of her. She's supposed to be a most unpleasant person.

  Ed Cunningham : Oh, no! No! Whoever told you that? It's a lie. Angela's a - well, you see, Angela has got a problem.

  Angela Benedict : What kind of a problem?

  Ed Cunningham : The worst kind. Same as mine. Loneliness.

• Ed Cunningham : Now, come on, Doc! What kind of oriental hocus-pocus is going on around here? A circus with no wagons, no animals, no cages? A crazy old magician? What's it all about?

• Ed Cunningham : All those stories about me, they're lies. I'm not a bank robber or a cattle rustler, and I've never kicked a woman in the stomach even once, really!

• Ed Cunningham : I'm leaving in a cloud of befuddlement.

• Dr. Lao : Big, big, big. Two page long. Two days. Start right away. Chop. Chop.

  Ed Cunningham : A full page for two days? How about $50?

  Dr. Lao : Good, good, good. American money?

  Ed Cunningham : Ah, yes. We prefer it. If you don't mind?

  Dr. Lao : No, no. No mind. Fifdy dollar. You fix?

  Ed Cunningham : I fix. Mr. eh?

  Dr. Lao : Lao. Dr. Lao.

• Tim Mitchell : What are you aimin' to do?

  Ed Cunningham : Get drunk!

• Tim Mitchell : Do you suppose that crazy little Chinaman had somethin' to do with this?

  Ed Cunningham : Who else?

• Ed Cunningham : How do you feel?

  Angela Benedict : Wonderful. I woke up and I found out something.

  Ed Cunningham : Care to tell me, Angela?

  Angela Benedict : Just that there's music in the air and I'm a liar and worst... I'm in love.

• Angela Benedict : [curtly]  The section on courtesy and good manners is right over there.

  Ed Cunningham : I've read those. What I'm looking for is something on China.

  Angela Benedict : [snidely]  Ah, when do you leave?

  Ed Cunningham : As soon as you marry me. I thought it would be a nice place for a honeymoon.

  [pecking her on the cheek] 

  Angela Benedict : Edward Cunningham!

• Ed Cunningham : I don't suppose you'd like to have dinner with me tonight?

  Angela Benedict : I should think it would be clear by now that I do not wish to go out with you, Mr. Cunningham. Ever.