The Great Impostor (1960) in Color — Starring Tony Curtis & Karl Malden

The Great Impostor (1960) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the incredible true story of The Great Impostor (1960) in color for just €15.00. Directed by Robert Mulligan, this biographical comedy-drama stars Tony Curtis as the real-life Ferdinand Waldo Demara, a man who assumed dozens of false identities throughout his life, alongside Karl Malden, Edmond O’Brien, and Arthur O’Sullivan. Available now as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for instant viewing on any device.

Plot Summary

Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. (Tony Curtis) is perhaps the most remarkable fraud in modern history — a man of no formal qualifications who successfully impersonated doctors, professors, prison wardens, monks, and naval officers with astonishing confidence and occasional genuine competence. The film traces his extraordinary career of deception from its beginnings, driven not by financial gain but by an insatiable desire to be someone important.

Demara’s adventures take him from monastery to military service, from a college campus to a maximum-security prison where he serves as warden, each time reinventing himself with stolen credentials and relying on his remarkable intelligence and audacity to carry off each impersonation. His most famous exploit comes when he poses as a Royal Canadian Navy surgeon aboard a destroyer during the Korean War, performing complex surgical operations — including removing a bullet from near a soldier’s heart — with no medical training whatsoever, using only a textbook and his extraordinary nerve.

But Demara’s successes inevitably lead to exposure. His fame from the Korean surgical feats brings newspaper publicity, and the real owners of his stolen identities begin to recognize their names. As authorities close in, Demara is forced to confront the fundamental contradiction of his life — a brilliant man capable of mastering any profession who cannot bring himself to earn honest credentials.

The film explores both the comedy of his outrageous deceptions and the underlying sadness of a man forever running from himself, whose greatest talent may be the one thing he can never authentically claim as his own.

Cast & Crew

Director: Robert Mulligan

Stars: Tony Curtis, Karl Malden, Edmond O’Brien, Arthur O’Sullivan, Gary Merrill, Joan Blackman, Robert Middleton, Raymond Massey

Tony Curtis delivers one of his finest performances, conveying both the breezy confidence that makes Demara’s impersonations convincing and the vulnerability beneath the masks. Karl Malden brings gravitas as one of Demara’s unwitting employers, while the supporting cast expertly portrays the various authority figures alternately fooled and fascinated by this extraordinary con man.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized edition of The Great Impostor enriches the diverse settings — from stark monasteries to Korean War combat zones to sun-drenched Southern campuses — with vivid color that underscores the dramatic variety of Demara’s many lives. The military uniforms, academic robes, medical scrubs, and prison settings each gain distinct visual identity, making the scope of his deceptions visually stunning. Now also available in colour.

Buy your DRM-free MP4 copy today for just €15.00 and enjoy instant download access on any device.

Historical Significance

Released in 1960, The Great Impostor tells the real story of Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr., whose documented impostures rank among the most extraordinary in recorded history. Robert Mulligan, who would go on to direct To Kill a Mockingbird two years later, brings sensitivity and humor to a story that could easily have become mere farce. The real Demara served as a consultant on the film. Through colorization, this remarkable biographical film is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes, from original black-and-white
• Audio: Original English mono
• Runtime: 112 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — play on any device
• Instant download: Delivered immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Was Ferdinand Demara a real person?
A: Yes, Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. (1921-1982) was a real American who successfully impersonated a surgeon, civil engineer, sheriff’s deputy, assistant prison warden, doctor of applied psychology, hospital orderly, lawyer, child-care expert, Benedictine monk, Trappist monk, college student, and more. His Korean War surgery exploits are well documented.

Q: Did Demara really perform surgery in the Korean War?
A: Incredibly, yes. Posing as Dr. Joseph Cyr aboard HMCS Cayuga, Demara successfully performed numerous medical procedures including extracting a bullet lodged near a soldier’s heart. He studied a textbook the night before each operation and never lost a patient during his time aboard.

Q: Who directed this film?
A: Robert Mulligan directed the film just two years before his masterpiece, To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). His ability to balance humor with dramatic depth makes this biographical film both entertaining and poignant.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file compatible with all major devices and media players.

Q: Is this download DRM-free?
A: Yes, the file has no digital rights management restrictions, so you can watch it on any device without limitations.

Q: How quickly will I receive my download?
A: Instantly — a download link appears on screen and is also sent to your email immediately after purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• Some Like It Hot (1959) Movie in Color —
• The Defiant Ones (1958)
• The Outsider (1961)
• Who Was That Lady? (1960)
• Sweet Smell of Success (1957)