Welles as Hitler???

[Tony]

In the July 28th,1943 isue of Variety Magazine it was announced that "Orson Welles will be playing Hitler in an upcoming Paramount film entitled 'The Hitler Gang' ".

The film was released in 1944, directed by John Farrow (father of Mia) but starring Robert Watson as Hitler, instead of Welles.

Does anyone know why Welles didn't do this project?

Imagine: playing Hitler 2 years before he died! And wasn't Orson too tall?

[Tony]

No joke!

Just in case you guys thought my post is some kind of bad joke, it's 100% true; I'm not making it up. Welles was going to play Hitler, and I've never heard about this or read about it anywhere else; a friend was reading old Variety's and discovered it, and read it to me.

I still can't imagine Welles as Hitler... ???

[Wilson]

Welles spent time in the second half of 1943 making JANE EYRE, so I would imagine that film took the place of the Hitler film. Welles may also have realized that he was unsuited (to say the least) to play Hitler, or Variety my have been reporting something less than factual.