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The Great Impostor

  • 19601960
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Tony Curtis and Sue Ane Langdon in The Great Impostor (1960)
ComedyDrama
Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. is a versatile man who gets his kicks out of impersonating a marine, a monk, a navy surgeon and a prison warden, eventually getting in trouble with the law for it.Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. is a versatile man who gets his kicks out of impersonating a marine, a monk, a navy surgeon and a prison warden, eventually getting in trouble with the law for it.Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. is a versatile man who gets his kicks out of impersonating a marine, a monk, a navy surgeon and a prison warden, eventually getting in trouble with the law for it.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Mulligan
  • Writers
    • Robert Crichton(novel)
    • Liam O'Brien(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Tony Curtis
    • Karl Malden
    • Edmond O'Brien
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Mulligan
  • Writers
    • Robert Crichton(novel)
    • Liam O'Brien(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Tony Curtis
    • Karl Malden
    • Edmond O'Brien
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Photos14

    Tony Curtis and Sue Ane Langdon in The Great Impostor (1960)
    Tony Curtis and Bob Herron in The Great Impostor (1960)
    Tony Curtis in The Great Impostor (1960)
    Tony Curtis in The Great Impostor (1960)
    Karl Malden in The Great Impostor (1960)
    Karl Malden in The Great Impostor (1960)
    Tony Curtis and Joan Blackman in The Great Impostor (1960)
    Tony Curtis and Sue Ane Langdon in The Great Impostor (1960)
    Raymond Massey in The Great Impostor (1960)
    Tony Curtis, Joan Blackman, and Sue Ane Langdon in The Great Impostor (1960)
    Tony Curtis, Joan Blackman, and Sue Ane Langdon in The Great Impostor (1960)
    Tony Curtis, Joan Blackman, Sue Ane Langdon, and Joanna Dix in The Great Impostor (1960)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tony Curtis
    Tony Curtis
    • Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr.as Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr.…
    Karl Malden
    Karl Malden
    • Father Devlinas Father Devlin
    Edmond O'Brien
    Edmond O'Brien
    • Capt. Glover - HMCS Cayugaas Capt. Glover - HMCS Cayuga
    Arthur O'Connell
    Arthur O'Connell
    • Warden J.B. Chandleras Warden J.B. Chandler
    Gary Merrill
    Gary Merrill
    • Pa Demaraas Pa Demara
    Joan Blackman
    Joan Blackman
    • Lt. Catherine Laceyas Lt. Catherine Lacey
    Raymond Massey
    Raymond Massey
    • Abbott Donneras Abbott Donner
    Robert Middleton
    Robert Middleton
    • R.C. Brownas R.C. Brown
    Jeanette Nolan
    Jeanette Nolan
    • Ma Demaraas Ma Demara
    Sue Ane Langdon
    Sue Ane Langdon
    • Eulalie Chandleras Eulalie Chandler
    Larry Gates
    Larry Gates
    • Cardinalas Cardinal
    Mike Kellin
    Mike Kellin
    • Clifford Thompsonas Clifford Thompson
    Frank Gorshin
    Frank Gorshin
    • Barneyas Barney
    Cindi Wood
    Cindi Wood
    • WAC Lieutenantas WAC Lieutenant
    Dick Sargent
    Dick Sargent
    • Hotchkissas Hotchkiss
    • (as Richard Sargent)
    Robert Crawford Jr.
    Robert Crawford Jr.
    • Fred Demara Jr.as Fred Demara Jr.
    • (as Robert Crawford)
    Doodles Weaver
    Doodles Weaver
    • Farmer Hauling Fertilizeras Farmer Hauling Fertilizer
    Ward Ramsey
    Ward Ramsey
    • Lieutenant Commander Howard - HMCS Cayugaas Lieutenant Commander Howard - HMCS Cayuga
    • Director
      • Robert Mulligan
    • Writers
      • Robert Crichton(novel)
      • Liam O'Brien(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>
    impostorforgerycanadabased on novelprison warden9 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The True Life Story of the Actual Amazing Masquerader...His Romantic Escapades...His Adventures as Six Different Men!!!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Tony Curtis as Demara is shown boarding HMCS Cayuga (a Tribal Class destroyer) which was the actual ship the real Demara sailed in.
    • Goofs
      Curtis is assigned to HMCS Cayuga on 16 June 1951. However, in the Captain's cabin, the picture on the wall is of Queen Elizabeth II, who ascended the throne on 6 February 1952 on the death of her father, King George VI. Also the portrait appears to be the 1956 Annigoni painting of the queen.
    • Quotes

      Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr.: Help me dear God, I don't want to kill anybody.

    • Connections
      Referenced in The Flying Nun: The Not So Great Impostor (1969)

    User reviews14

    Review
    Top review
    It's almost impossible to believe..
    That this movie, made in 1961, wasn't the inspiration for Frank Abagnale (Catch me if you can), the bit Spielberg/DeCaprio/Hanks hit currently in theaters. When I saw the promos for CMIYC I thought, "Hey! This is a remake of an old Tony Curtis film!"

    The IMDB search shows that The Great Impostor was made in 1961; Frank Abagnales adventures as an imposter started in '62 or '63. Wonder if he saw the film?

    I can't remember if I loved The Great Impostor or not but I'm guessing I did; the plot is sooooooooo similar to Catch Me If You Can and I liked that film quite a lot!
    helpful•18
    12
    • Chaz-12
    • Dec 29, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 1961 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Korean
    • Also known as
      • Ein charmanter Hochstapler
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal International Pictures (UI)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Tony Curtis Collection
    Tony Curtis Collection
    Aug 1Trailers from Hell
    Tony Curtis obituary
    Sep 30The Guardian - Film News

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    Tony Curtis and Sue Ane Langdon in The Great Impostor (1960)
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    By what name was The Great Impostor (1960) officially released in India in English?
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