La grande vendetta

Luther Adler is a Viennese actor who imitates the leaders of the day: Mussolini, Hitler, Churchill, he does them all and the audiences roar. Then comes Anschluss and his wife, Patricia Knight walks out on him for, eventually, Hitler. So Adler learns to be a valet, becomes Hitler's valet and replaces him. Unfortunately, he can't just destroy the Third Reich, so he adopts a strategy of making bad decisions: declaring war on Russia instead of invading England and mopping up that front first; delaying the response to the Normandy landing and so forth, up to the Bunker and his disappearance. Plus there's William L. Shirer, speaking before and after about how this story was told to him and he sort of believes it.

I respected Shirer's writing until today. I hope they paid him a lot of money for spouting this nonsense, which is suitable fare for a PRC programmer nine years earlier. To see Frank Tuttle listed as director is astonishing. He had spent many years as a house director for Goldwyn and Paramount, making excellent thrillers. Now, however, he was working for Columbia, so the support network was not something he could manage. Good actors, wasted!

The worst part of it is this is largely the plot of Chaplin's THE GREAT DICTATOR, released a dozen years earlier, in which a Jewish barber takes the place of Hitler. Aren't you supposed to make the melodrama first and the burlesque after?

I recall this movie well. I was fourteen years of age when it was released in 1951 and lived in White Plains,NY. I viewed this picture twice due to it's unique perspective. Luther Adler's view of this period of history was not only interesting, but thought provoking as well as fascinating. Felt Mr. Adler's acting was convincing, along with his unusual look at history. Why can't this interesting movie be made available in either DVD or VHS? I also viewed Adler's role as Hitler in the James Mason film "The Desert Fox". I could be mistaken, but it's my recollection that Mr. Adler, and or the producers challenged viewers to disprove the story; and if proved correct would receive a monetary reward. Please comment!

I saw this movie in 1951 in a theater in Brooklyn, NY with my grandmother for sure and maybe my mother. I was young, only seven years old.For some reason its always stuck in my mind. I remember Luther Adler and that it was in black and white. Something I can't pinpoint exactly was fascinating about it. Possibly it was Adler's performance, the film seemed grim and dark like the subject of World War Two. I remember him ranting and raving, like Hitler would have. Never knew Adler was related to Stella Adler the acting teacher. If it was available, I'd buy it in a minute. I wish it was. Maybe if enough of us comment on it, they would re-release it in VHS or some other form. Luther Adler was an excellent actor. I remember him as the Israeli Prime Minister in CAST A GIANT SHADOW. I also remember him in DOA with Edmond O'Brien as the bad guy,but can't remember him in DESERT FOX with James Mason, another cinema giant.

The first time I saw this movie was in 1952, I then forgot about it for a number of years, then I began to think of the story but I had forgotten the title and the actors.

For 40 odd years I tried in vain to find the name of movie. Several years ago I finally found the title name on IMDb, I was even able to buy a copy of the film.

This is one of those films that make you wonder if it really happened or not.

Enjoy the movie,

Hal

great story, excellent acting. also, i had the joy of seeing luther adler do tevya in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF maybe 25 years after seeing THE MAGIC FACE.

this is one of those movies that stay with you forever...i only wish i could rent it now, to show it to a few friends, and of course see it again.

the music was also interesting. i can still remember the melody when the quick change actors go from one costume to another.

the introduction by newsman shirer at the top of the movie was also a nice touch, and gave a documentary type of feel to the black and white movie.

adler was stunning as Hitler. the resemblance was uncanny.