Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Tony Curtis | ... | Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. / Martin Donner / Dr. Gilbert / Ben. W. Stone / Dr. Joseph Mornay / Robert Boyd Hammnd | |
Karl Malden | ... | Father Devlin | |
Edmond O'Brien | ... | Capt. Glover - HMCS Cayuga | |
Arthur O'Connell | ... | Warden J.B. Chandler | |
Gary Merrill | ... | Pa Demara | |
Joan Blackman | ... | Lt. Catherine Lacey | |
Raymond Massey | ... | Abbott Donner | |
Robert Middleton | ... | R.C. Brown | |
Jeanette Nolan | ... | Ma Demara | |
Sue Ane Langdon | ... | Eulalie Chandler | |
Larry Gates | ... | Cardinal | |
Mike Kellin | ... | Clifford Thompson | |
Frank Gorshin | ... | Barney | |
Cindi Wood | ... | WAC Lieutenant | |
Dick Sargent | ... | Hotchkiss (as Richard Sargent) |
Based on a true story, a bright young man who hasn't the patience for the normal way of advancement finds that people rarely question you if your papers are in order. He becomes a marine, a monk, a surgeon onboard a Canadian Warship, and a prison warden. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>
Tony Curtis portrays "Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr.," who faked being a doctor, warden, monk and teacher. When I saw this at the theater 45 years ago, I thought it was fascinating. Much older and seeing it on tape about 10 years ago, it wasn't as interesting as I had remembered. I guess when you're a kid, everything on the big screen is impressive.
Humor helped in this film, giving it some life here and there as it's a bit slow-moving but still entertaining. I've usually found Curtis entertaining to watch, a man who played a lot of interesting characters. I still think he is/was an underrated actor, too.
It was nice seeing the main character, although being a fake, still asking for God's help in certain situations, inside knowing he was not doing the right thing. Those parts would be edited out if the film was re-made today. I agree, too, with a fellow reviewer that faking being a surgeon is not something to be laughed at, especially if he was doing his operating on you or me!