The film, which Welles directed, co-wrote and starred in, featured the character Elmyr de Hory recounting his career as a professional art forger.

Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg said the case involving art conservator Mohamed Aman Siddique reminded him of the film, which was released in 1974.

Defence barrister George Defteros told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday the main issue in the prosecution case against Mr Siddique would be whether or not the paintings were forgeries.

Mr Defteros said the key witness would be Melbourne University's art expert, associate professor Robyn Sloggett, and he was seeking her report on the alleged art fraud and her notes.

Mr Siddique, 65, and a co-accused – art dealer Peter Gant, 58 – appeared briefly before Mr Rozencwajg on Thursday for a filing hearing after both men were charged by summons last month.

The men are charged with: dishonestly obtaining $2.5 million in 2007 by producing a painting known as Lavender Bay and falsely representing it was an authentic artwork painted by Whiteley in 1988; dishonestly obtaining $1.1 million between July 2007 and December 2010 by producing a painting known as Orange Lavender Bay and falsely representing it was painted by Whiteley; attempting to obtain $950,000 by producing a painting known as Through the Window, Lavender Bay and offering it for sale while falsely representing it was by Whiteley; dishonestly obtaining $950,000 by providing the painting Through the Window, Lavender Bay as collateral to defer payment of a $950,000 debt owed by Mr Gant, by falsely representing it was by Whiteley.

The court was told on Thursday that police would allege Mr Siddique produced the fake paintings and Mr Gant sold them.

Mr Rozencwajg adjourned the case for a committal mention on October 20.

Investigating police had asked Dr Sloggett to examine the paintings before the men were charged.

According to the Melbourne University website, Dr Sloggett is director of the Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation and has qualifications in art history, philosophy and cultural materials conservation. She manages the centre's conservation, teaching and research programs.

Mr Siddique recently lost an application for the return of other artworks police suspect may be forgeries, but the court was told on Thursday this case could now go to the Supreme Court.

Police seized works last March from two of Mr Siddique's premises, which formed the basis of the charges relating to the Whiteleys. In June some paintings by artists including Charles Blackman and Arthur Streeton were returned to him.

Some works by Howard Arkley have been retained pending further investigation and testing.