Secret comic book movies: Dr. Strange (1978)
By Mike McNulty
“In the name of Ryel… I command you, begone!”
From the pilot, you can tell exactly what kind of series Dr. Strange would’ve been. Just as The Incredible Hulk took inspiration from The Fugitive, this show would be a medical mystery drama along the lines of Dr. Kildare (1961-1966) and the future series House (2004-2012) with supernatural elements.
There’s also clear themes of science vs. superstition at play, as Strange buts heads with hospital administrators over how to treat Clea, while also seeking some explanation besides magic. Considering the 1970s saw the rise of the New Age movement and interest in the occult (which is even alluded towards the movie’s end), the potential for another TV hit for Marvel is clearly there.
Unfortunately, strong potential and having a good premise can only take a would-be television show so far. You still have to worry about a few nagging details like acting, dialogue, pacing, cinematography, and, of particular importance, characterization.
One of the reasons Doctor Strange is such an fascinating character is that, because of his expertise in medicine, he developed something of a god-complex. It’s only when he loses his ability to perform surgery and learns the mystic arts that he learns true humility. But the TV movie Strange doesn’t have any arrogance, and, according to Lindmer, already has “compassion for his fellow man.”
What’s more, he’s given a “chosen one” backstory, complete with his parents, who knew all about their son’s “latent talents,” dying to protect him. In short, all that was interesting about him in the comics has been taken away.
It doesn’t help either that Hooten as Strange comes off a little generic, too. It isn’t a bad performance, but he doesn’t quite radiate the charisma or sex appeal, he’s supposed to have (then again what was sexy in the 1970s isn’t so much in 2020). Far more convincing is Mills as Lindmer, which isn’t surprising considering he was a notable Academy Award-winning character actor, with a career spanning over 70 years. Moreover, he seems far closer to whom Doctor Strange ought to be than Strange is.
Jessica Walter is also good as Morgan le Fey, too. The character, however, is a bit on the one-dimensional side. Aside from wanting power, she also lusts after Strange because, “[she’s] a woman” who hasn’t “felt the touch of man” in hundreds of years. So…yeah, it’s not exactly what you might call a post-feminist viewpoint. However, what the movie sets up for her at the end could’ve easily have been a great ongoing storyline, and a topical one for the time at that, if CBS had Dr. Strange into a full series.