The Great Impostor (1961)

Director:

Robert Mulligan

Writers:

Robert Crichton (novel)
Liam O'Brien (writer)

Release Date:

3 February 1961 (West Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Will the Real Fred Demara Please Stand Up??

Plot:

Based on a true story, a bright young man who hasn't the patience for the normal way of advancement...

Plot Keywords:

Prison Warden | Impostor | State Trooper | Priest | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Tony Curtis	...	Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. / Martin Donner / Dr. Gilbert / Ben. W. Stone / Dr. Joseph Mornay / Robert Boyd Hammnd
Edmond O'Brien	...	Captain Glover - HMCS Cayuga
Arthur O'Connell	...	Warden J.B. Chandler
Gary Merrill	...	Pa Demara
Joan Blackman	...	Lt. Catherine Lacey - WRCN Nursing Sister
Raymond Massey	...	Abbott Donner
Robert Middleton	...	R.C. Brown - Federal prison guard
Jeanette Nolan	...	Ma Demara
Sue Ane Langdon	...	Eulalie - Chandler's daughter
Larry Gates	...	Cardinal
Mike Kellin	...	Clifford Thompson (prisoner in maximum security section)
Frank Gorshin	...	Barney - Federal prison inmate
Cindi Wood	...	WAC Lieutenant
Dick Sargent	...	Hotchkiss - Medical Assistant 2nd Class, HMCS Cayuga (as Richard Sargent)
Robert Crawford Jr.	...	Fred Demara Jr. (as Robert Crawford)

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Korean

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Bob Hastings' movie debut.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Flying Nun: The Not So Great Impostor (#3.7)" (1969)

A real personal performance by Tony Curtis for me

My favorite Tony Curtis picture has always been The Great Imposter. He's supported in this true story of a man who wouldn't settle for the humdrum by a wonderful cast of Hollywood players.

This film is particularly personal to me because I knew a Ferdinand Waldo DeMara character in my life. This person was not a great impostor like Curtis plays in this film, but like DeMara was amazingly bright and was a quick study. Even though he didn't have a high school diploma just like Fred DeMara, like DeMara with study he could learn enough to do anything. Unfortunately in the span of his life on earth all he did was use his brain was to con the social service system. And like Karl Malden's priest confidante to Tony Curtis, I told him he could do so much more with his life. Tony Curtis's performance is spot-on for me.

I have to say that my favorite moment in the movie is when DeMara is finally unmasked and we see a series of reaction shots of the various people he's fooled. Most of the facial expressions are of shock, but Raymond Massey who plays the Abbott of a Trappist Monastery reads the newspaper and has a grin that is priceless.

Recently Leonardo DiCaprio did a similar film and Catch Me If You Can did not take as lighthearted an approach as The Great Imposter. But the two should be viewed side by side for comparison. Leo's Frank Abegnale is also spot-on, but I think I like Tony Curtis's performance a tad better.

Maybe because this film is so personal others might not see it as I do, but I give it the best rating around.