The Whip Hand (1951), which was shot in great secrecy in May and June of 1950, was first set in postwar New England. The original story line was a plot to hide the still-alive Adolf Hitler, and germ warfare by Nazis (which is why many of the characters have German names). However, in viewing a rough cut in November 1950, producer Howard Hughes had a change of heart, deciding that Communists were more of a menace than crazed Nazi scientists (it was also the height of the McCarthy "Red Scare" era) and ordered extensive re-shooting in November and December 1950 and May 1951, with the villains now becoming former Nazis but current Communists.
In keeping with the original Nazis-as-villains idea, the hero originally saw Adolf Hitler himself standing on the balcony of the villain's lair. He disappeared when the extensive re-shooting was done. Hitler was played once again by Bobby Watson.
Writer George Bricker was a big fan of William Cameron Menzies, and originally thought with Menzies as set designer and director, RKO might have a modest hit. After Howard Hughes (I) ordered massive re-shooting and rewrites, Bricker was fit to be tied. According to Elliott Reid, most of the cast were dispirited doing the retakes. A lifelong liberal, he and the cultured actor cast as the villain, Otto Waldis, were appalled that their work was being used to fuel anti-Red paranoia.
According to modern sources, The Whip Hand (1951) cost $376,000 to make and was unsuccessful at the box office, which resulted in a loss to RKO of approximately $225,000 ($2.62M in 2023) according to studio records.
Final feature film of Frank Darien, who was best known for his role as Uncle John in Früchte des Zorns (1940).