He certainly didn't always get the best roles, which is a shame considering how great he was. For me-

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kmiv — 10 years ago(April 28, 2015 05:57 PM)

Apparently he lobbied Coppola hard to play Vito Corleone - shot auditions of himself running scenes from the book, etc. That would've been interesting.

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Liquid_Ozymandias — 10 years ago(July 26, 2015 07:41 PM)

Welles and Olivier were reportedly both up for the part. Coppola was only seeking the best for Vito, it seems.

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generalusgrant — 10 years ago(July 27, 2015 07:36 PM)

Rod Steiger was the one who lobbied hardest for the role. I never heard Olivier was up for the part?? He would have ruined the film, it would have been asinine poor casting.

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CountJohn — 10 years ago(August 02, 2015 02:24 PM)

The studio suggested Olivier.
From what I've heard the creative people involved with The Godfather only ever wanted Brando, it was just a question of whether they would get him.

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metalman091 — 10 years ago(September 02, 2015 12:06 AM)

I think Orson Welles would have made an excellent King Lear.

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wolfgirv-1 — 10 years ago(September 26, 2015 11:32 PM)

The Omnibus tv series produced a (shortened) version of King Lear in 1953, with Welles in the title role. It is on DVD and well worth a look.

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metalman091 — 10 years ago(March 17, 2016 07:29 AM)

According to Dan O'Herlihy, the producers of ROBINSON CRUSOE [1954] wanted Luis Brunel to use Orson Welles in the title role. Brunel felt Welles was too loud and too fat. A screening of MACBETH [1948] was shown so Brunel could see a beared Welles. Brunel went for O'Herlihy [who also appeared in MACBETH.

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wylierichardson-966-922691 — 9 years ago(May 16, 2016 12:29 AM)

The husband in "Gaslight"
Hamlet (altho Olivier was definitive in the movie version)
Any of the supporting roles in "Spartacus"

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TonTon — 4 years ago(June 13, 2021 02:06 AM)

I agree with the OP that Welles would have been brilliant in ROPE.

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Blue Wave — 3 years ago(May 04, 2022 06:17 AM)

He would have been awesome as a Sith Lord in the Star Wars franchise. He would have intimidated everybody with that voice.

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TonTon — 3 years ago(May 09, 2022 01:48 PM)

Welles would have been good in a filmed version of the Suspense radio plays he starred in.
He could also have played Javert in a version of LES MISERABLES.
Norman Maine in a version of A STAR IS BORN in the 1940s.

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WarrenPeace — 3 years ago(June 12, 2022 05:21 AM)

Or put them to sleep.
"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

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WarrenPeace — 3 years ago(June 12, 2022 05:21 AM)

Superman
"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

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pglynn — 3 years ago(June 26, 2022 09:12 AM)

As God; he had the beard for it

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WarrenPeace — 3 years ago(June 26, 2022 09:14 AM)

The Terminator
Jason or Freddy
Predator
Rambo
"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall