The Magic Face

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.

We are given an introduction that tells us we are about to see a film that may or may not be true. It's not true. So, just clearing that up from the start. There are so many inaccuracies in the set-up and in the final days of Hitler in the bunker. Who on earth is this Patricia Knight (Vera) character?! Anyway, what we get is a film that is ok to watch as we are given another theory as to what really happened to Hitler. It is, of course, complete nonsense.

I've never understood the whole butler thing. Why would anyone want to spend their life voluntarily in the servitude of somebody else!! Especially a member of the male species, who are innately programmed to assert dominance not encompass submissiveness. Unless they fancied them. In this film, Hitler's original valet Manfred Inger (Wagner) proves this homosexual theory as he looks adoringly at Hitler in one particular scene. It is an interesting point to note that nobody else has mentioned but everyone can see.

Check out the cast list on this film - there is someone called Rolf Wanka! Ha ha.

I'm in my 70's. I saw this movie once somewhere when I was very young, maybe 20 - 25 years old. I searched for years to get the name of the movie until finally a movie reviewer in New York City identified it for me. I have searched at least another 10 0r 15 years to find some way to see it again. Finally, I got to watch it on my computer screen in 7 jerky parts on YouTube. It was still fascinating. One of the reviewers said he was able to buy a copy. Does anyone know where one can buy a copy in VHS or DVD? I have described this movie to dozens of people. Some of them in the film business but none have been able to come up with a copy. Does anyone know why this movie is being denied to the public? Or better question, where I can buy a copy?

"The Magic Face" is a strange film that seems to have debuted a bit late. Had it come out during WWII, it would have worked better....and having a different leading man would have made it a bit more logical.

The film stars Luther Adler, a man from a famous acting family and who made a huge name for himself in Yiddish theater as well as on Broadway. Adler made films and TV appearances as well, but clearly he was more known for his stage work. As I mentioned above, he was an odd choice for the role...and I'll explain this.

The film is a 'what if' film about history. Early in WWII, an angry Austrian actor decides to insinuate himself into Hitler's inner circle as a valet. His plan is to one day kill the fuehrer and take on his identity...which he does early in the war. Then, as the faux Adolf, he deliberately makes decision after decision which ruins the German war effort.

The idea of such a substitution is smart and interesting. After all, up until about 1940-41, Hitler's decisions in running the war were pretty spot on and the Germans were highly successful. Substituting him for a man bent on destroying Germany made some sense, as his decisions in 1941 became completely irrational (such as attacking the USSR and declaring war on the USA). But, there is one HUGE problem. If this had happened, why wouldn't this substitute have stopped the Holocaust or just ended the war?? Having a Jewish actor play a fake Hitler and NOT stopping the persecution of Jews just seemed ultra-bizarro...especially since it got much worse around 1941! The only way this might have made sense was to have the actor be a complete anti-Semite himself...though believing Adler to be such a man was difficult back in 1951. Odd...to say the least.

Overall, a cheaply made and strange film...not always logical but never dull.

Very interesting story set around Hitler and a magician and his beautiful wife. Intriguing story which is a very thought provoking possibility as to why Hitler changed tactics during World War II. We wish this movie was available on video so that we could view it again after all these years.