The Imposter is a 1975 Shaw Brothers film starring David Chiang, Danny Lee and Chen Kuan-tai.
When a carriage containing 30,000 pieces of silver is raided, with everyone on board killed save for security leader Tseng Yung (Danny), Tseng's brother had to seek the only person capable of clearing his name; Ge Liang (David), the "Man with Seven Faces", a Master of Disguise super-thief and Robin Hood-like protector of the public. Ge decides to investigate, and uncovers a much larger conspiracy.
Do not confuse this with the 2012 film of the same name.
Contains Examples of:
- Anti-Hero: The title character is a thief, conman and wanted fugitive, but he's on the side of good and willing to risk his neck to protect innocents.
- Armies Are Evil: Who knew the true villain of the story turns out to be Captain Lo, who is working for the bandits in exchange for a share of the silver for himself?
- Bald Head of Toughness: Liang is bald and a super-thief protector of the public.
- Clear My Name: The key plot of the film.
- Cold-Blooded Torture: After being framed for working in cahoots with the bandits, Tseng Yung is shown being brutally flogged by prison guards to confess where he had hidden the stolen pieces of silver.
- Death from Above: The bandit's raid on the caravan begins with them dropping boulders from above when the caravans are passing a narrow valley.
- Dressing as the Enemy: Another tactic favoured by the titular Imposter.
- Illegal Gambling Den: A casino frequented by the corrupt military is one of the locations Ge Liang infiltrates in order to search for clues. While disguised, of course.
- Just Like Robin Hood: Ge Liang, the master thief who seeks to help innocents and oppose villainous bandits.
- Leave No Survivors: The bandits are determined to ensure no witnesses are alive after their raid, including killing children.
- Master of Disguise: The titular Imposter, who has a Red Baron title "The Seven-Faced Man". He lives up to his name as well for the entire film.
- The Mole: The true informer who is working with the bandits is Captain Lo Gin Yin, who is using Tseng as The Scapegoat while plotting to steal and divide the 30,000 pieces of silver which the carriage is escorting with the bandits working for him. Naturally, it's up to the titular Imposter to expose their treachery.
- Protagonist Title
- Smoking Is Cool: Played straight when Ge Liang puffs on a cigar (on an ornate holder) while disguised in the gambling den scene.
- Sole Survivor: Tseng Yung is the only survivor of the bandit raid on his caravan, but unfortunately he ends up being suspected as an informant for the bandit raiders and ends up getting framed and imprisoned.
- Spoiler Cover: Sort of, but the Celestial DVD cover
actually shows all seven disguises Ge Liang uses throughout the entire film. - Wig, Dress, Accent: This is the standard procedure used by Ge Liang when disguising himself.
- Would Hurt a Child: Whoo boy, would they! During the bandit raid, the bandit leader actually stomps Tsu-tsu's baby daughter to death. Before stabbing Tsu-tsu and her son mere seconds later.
