Secret comic book movies: Dr. Strange (1978)

“Have I become the Sorcerer?”

Like the other Marvel Television shows from the 1970s, Dr. Strange focuses more on capturing the spirit and basic premise of the comics rather than being slavishly faithful to them. One notable difference is that Strange’s soon-to-be mentor is a mysterious immortal named Thomas Lindmer (John Mills), who is heavily implied (though never stated outright) to be the wizard Merlin.

This notion is further underscored by the pilot’s choice of villain, the sorceress Morgan le Fey (Jessica Walter), making her the first Marvel supervillain to appear in live action. Considering this was made in the 1970s for a general American audience, shifting the lore away from pseudo-Eastern mysticism to Arthurian Legend makes sense. There is, however, still a devoted follower named Wong (Clyde Kusatsu), who we’re reassured via dialogue isn’t a “manservant” but a “pupil.”

Another big difference is that Dr. Stephen Strange (Peter Hooten) isn’t a world-renowned surgeon whose hands become mangled in a car accident. Instead, this Dr. Stephen Strange is a resident of the psychiatric ward of a major New York hospital, with a reputation as a ladies’ man among his fellow nurses. He’s also a maverick but dedicated physician who, as it just so happens, has been preordained into becoming the next Sorcerer Supreme.

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To elaborate, the movie opens with a block of red text, accompanied by some ominous music, explaining about how there’s a “barrier” between “the known and unknown” where “the forces of good and evil [are] in eternal conflict”, battling for “the fate of mankind.” Of course, behind this barrier is a stop-motion demon threatening our world. Morgan le Fey, who serves this demon, has also been trapped behind this barrier. But after 500 years, the barrier is starting to weaken just as Lindmer’s powers are also starting to wane.

As part of her plan to thwart her centuries old enemy, Morgan le Fey takes possession of graduate student, Clea Lake (Anna-Marie Martin credited as Eddie Benton). After almost killing Lindmer, Clea suffers partial amnesia and nightmares. This make her utterly terrified of falling asleep and is submitted into Dr. Strange’s care. Being the maverick psychiatrist that he is, Strange suspects there’s more going on with Clea than mere somniphobia. It’s also fairly obvious he has the hots for her, as well, just like his comic book counterpart.