A dysfunctional town is soon to be a railway way station. Only Clint Stark (Arthur O'Connell) knows this and is making the towns people even more dissatisfied with their life so he can buy them out cheaply.
Can no one come to the rescue not only for the economics but the people them selves?
A mysterious little visitor appears and everyone is excited to see he has brought a circus.
As each person visits the circus they are confronted with his/her self. Whether he/she recognizes it or not is a different matter.
The finally performance tells a tale of a city lost in history and the people again look familiar.
The movie has appeal on many levels. Such as Tony Randall plays many parts as Dr. Lao, Merlin, Pan, The Abominable Snowman, Medusa, a Giant Serpent, Apollonius of Tyanna, and an audience member.
There is a parade of talented actors. Barbra Eden gets to sweat. Special effects are by George Pal (War of the Worlds, and The Time Machine". And the movie is based on the book "The Circus of Dr. Lao" by Charles G. Finney.
"The whole world is a circus if you look at it the right way. Every time you pick up a handful of dust and see not the dust but a mystery, a marvel there in your hand. Every time you stop and think I'm alive and being alive is fantastic. Every time such a thing happens, you are part of the circus of Dr. Lao."