It’s no secret that prosthetics are commonly used in Hollywood (we’re looking at you, Boogie Nights). The legendary Citizen Kane actor/writer/producer Orson Welles had a penchant for prosthetic noses, and one of them landed him in a strange predicament overseas.

Welles was apparently not happy with his nose, believing it too small. It was also “dainty and lacked character,” according to Vulture, and caused him to feel insecure. As a result, Welles wore a prosthetic nose, “usually as large as [he] could find,”  in many of his films.

Cast in 1959’s Ferry to Hong Kong as a pompous captain, Welles first met with director Lewis Gilbert to discuss doing a makeup test prior to shooting. Years later, Gilbert recalled their conversation in his autobiography. Welles stated that he wouldn’t do a makeup test: “I have one problem with my face – my nose. It’s too small and I always fix that myself.” 

When Gilbert asked how he would manage to “fix” his nose on this shoot in Hong Kong, Welles answered that everything was ready to go. “It’s all arranged. I had a parcel sent ahead specially. Everything for making a false nose is in it.”

The case of the missing nose

There was just one problem – the package containing the all-important prosthetic was nowhere to be found. Gilbert claimed that 20 people searched for the nose, combing through all the post offices in Hong Kong. On a shoot that was already logistically difficult, this scavenger hunt was not a welcome distraction.

Fortunately, someone located the precious proboscis and delivered it to the set the following morning. Welles insisted he would apply it himself, which he did each day with varying success. “Only when scenes were cut together did we find out what we had let ourselves in for,” Gilbert recalled. “Some shots had the nose tilting upwards; others had it tilting downwards. Occasionally it went sideways and in one shot it was suddenly big and hooked.” Needless to say, this caused some continuity issues in the film’s appearance. 

Today, there’s no evidence that Orson Welles’ Ferry to Hong Kong nose survived filming or the trip back to America. We do know that the ridiculous nose hunt and resulting continuity errors in the film didn’t stop Welles from wearing prosthetics in future films.

Sir Laurence Olivier’s famous false nose

Orson Welles’ prosthetic certainly wasn’t the only famous fake honker in Hollywood. An unusual piece of film history went up for auction in late 2024: the prosthetic nose worn by Sir Laurence Olivier in his unforgettable 1955 portrayal of Richard III in the film of the same name.

The nose, along with other unique props, costumes, and personal items from Olivier’s life, was part of an extensive collection that belonged to the legendary actor and his wife, Dame Joan Plowright, now 94. Olivier passed away in 1989. 

An ‘evil’ transformation

To transform into the scheming Richard III, Olivier wore the famous prosthetic nose, plus a hump, glove for a withered hand, and shoulder-length black wig. He wanted to “look the most evil thing there was” for the role, and these details helped make that vision a reality. The film, which Olivier also directed and produced, was viewed on millions of televisions across the U.S. and helped to “popularise Shakespeare [more] than any other single work,” according to the British Film Institute.

The beaked nose was presented in a box along with a note from a makeup artist, celebrating Olivier’s 80th birthday. It reads: “Dear Larry, We have both made 80. Happy Birthday. Here is the first nose we used in Spain. Remember you would not shoot on the 13th.”

It sold for $2,275 USD at the auction — quite a bargain for such a famous piece of movie history.

More Olivier items went on the auction block

In addition to the facial prosthetic, other props from Olivier’s many Shakespearean roles were up for grabs in the sale. These included the iconic crown from his final performance as King Lear, a televised 1983 performance that won him an Emmy award.

Other enticing items offered in the auction: Olivier’s personal red leather script holder, his gold pocket watch with a “Richard III” inscription, Academy Award nomination plaques, personal photos, and keepsakes. Dame Plowright’s Tony and Golden Globe awards were also included in the sale.

The auction, held in Los Angeles and online through Julien’s Auctions and TCM, had much to offer fans and serious collectors. “It’s such an amazing collection,” said Giles Moon, the auction’s lead specialist. “There are so many treasures.”