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How accurate is the movie The Aviator

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[[File: Howard Hughes Three.jpg |300px350px|thumb|left|The Aviator Movie Poster]]__NOTOC__
<i>The Aviator</i>, released in 2004, traces some of the key moments in the life of the famous American industrialist and Hollywood producer Howard Hughes. The movie was directed by Martin Scorsese and scripted by serial academy award nominee John Logan. It is a historical epic that focused on a key period in the life of Howard Hughes one of the most famous and arguably important men of the twentieth century.
Scorsese’s movie focuses on the rise of Howard Hughes and his impact on Hollywood, aviation, and his struggle with mental illness over twenty years from the 1920s to the 1940s. The motion picture starred Scorsese muse Leonardo di Caprio as Howard Hughes, Cate Blanchet as the acclaimed actress Katherine Hepburn and Kate Beckinsale played the screen star, Ava Gardiner. The supporting cast featured some high-profile actors who would typically have expected to headline a movie. <i>The Aviator</i>, which was released on Christmas Day was both a box-office smash and praised by critics. The movie received eleven nominations at the Academy Awards and won seven in 2005. When the film was released, there were questions regarding the portrayal of Hughes and other figures in the movie.
====Howard Hughes Character====The movie perfectly captures the early life of Howard Hughes. He was indeed the rather a spoilt child of a very wealthy family in Texas. The young boy Hughes was fascinated by all things technical and this , an interest he probably inherited from shared with his father, Howard . Hughes Senior. He father had invented a drill for the oil industry and had founded the Hughes Tool Company, based in Houston, Texas, which was extremely extraordinarily profitable . <ref> Barlett, Donald L., and James B. Steele. Howard Hughes: His Life & Madness (New York, WW Norton & Company, 2004, p 14</ref>). Howard became very wealthy at the age of 19, because he inherited the majority of Hughes Tools, which was based in Houston, Texas. This allowed him to follow his passions and he had many of these. The wealth of the Texan is captured very well in the movie and it did allow him to live a lavish lifestyle and to fund his many projects. The movie portrays Hughes as a playboy in the roaring 1920s and 1930s and indeed this was the case. Scorsese in his movie manages to capture the drive and the sheer brilliance of Hughes. He was never idle and always had multiple projects on the go.
==Howard Hughes and the movies==The Aviator shows Hughes spending a lot of time in Hollywood both as a producer and a party animal. In this regard became very wealthy at nineteen when he inherited the movie is accurate as Hughes was very important in Tinsel Town and part majority of its inner circle. Hughes uncle had been a writer and one of the early scriptwriters in Tinsel TownTools. The Texan because of the profits from his father’s company was able This allowed him to use follow his own personal money to make films and he was able to operate outside of the studio system <ref>Barlett, ppassions. 45</ref>. In the The movie the young Texan millionaire is show as investing heavily in the movie Hell’s Angels a World War I epic. This was true, and it did go wildly over budget as portrayed the movie and lost a great deal of money. The Aviator portrays captures not only Hughes as gambling everything 's lifestyle but shows that he had on this movie and that he was a novice in used the industry. In fact, Hughes had made movies before and he was an established producer and one of wealth to fund his productions had even won an Academy Awardnumerous projects. The Aviator does show very movie accurately that portrays Hughes movie Hell’s Angels was indeed as a pioneering work playboy in its realism and its use of special effects the roaring 1920s and it was and remains an influential movie <ref> Porter, Darwin1930s. Howard Hughes: Hell's Angel. ( Chicago, Blood Moon Productions, Ltd., 2005), p 78</ref>. Scorsese’s biopic then chronicles the long involvement of Hughes in filmmaking. It correctly shows him as willing Scorsese manages to back risky and controversial subjects. At capture the time there was a growing conservative backlash against Hollywood drive and there was increasing censorship brilliance of the cinema. Hughes did push back against this and he was frequently in trouble with censors over movies such as Scarface and The Outlaw. Scorsese shows Hughes being influenced by Katherine Hepburn with regard to censorship and as a result he takes a rather principled approach to the issue as a result. In reality Hughes disliked censorship because he believed that it was bad for box-office. He was always a business man never idle and for him cinema was a glamorous business and not an art formalways involved with multiple projects.
==The many women in ==Howard Hughes Lifeand the Movies====<i>The multi-millionaire is shown Aviator</i> shows Hughes spending a lot of time in the movie Hollywood both as having many affairs with a bevy of beautiesproducer and a party animal. In this regard, many the movie's portrayal was accurate because Hughes was an integral part of them early Hollywood starlets. It also portrays him as having Hughes uncle had been a long-term relationship with Katherine Hepburn (Blanchet) writer and Ava Gardner (Beckingsdale)one of the early scriptwriters in Los Angeles. This Because of Hughes' profitable oil business, he was able to use his money to make films and operate outside of the early studio system.<ref>Barlett, p. 45</ref>  The movie shows how Hughes invested heavily in the film <i>Hell’s Angels</i> a large extent true World War I epic about the airplane dogfight. Scorsese accurately shows that Hughes went wildly over budget as portrayed and lost a great deal of money. <i>The Aviator</i> portrays Hughes did indeed have as gambling everything that he had on this movie despite being a great many girlfriends and mistresses, but novice in real life the Texan multi-millionaire industry.  Hughes had made movies before, and he was an established producer, and one of his productions had even more promiscuouswon an Academy Award. The picture Aviator does not deal with claims show very accurately that he used his power Hughes movie Hell’s Angels was indeed a pioneering work in its realism and its use of special effects and it was and wealth remains an influential movie.<ref> Porter, Darwin. <i>Howard Hughes: Hell's Angel</i>. ( Chicago, Blood Moon Productions, Ltd., 2005), p 78</ref> Scorsese’s biopic accurately chronicles Hughes involvement in filmmaking. It correctly shows him as willing to force women into sexual relationships with himback risky and controversial subjects. At least one actress later claimed that the time there was a growing conservative backlash against Hollywood and there was increasing censorship of the cinema. Hughes implied that he would ruin her career if she did not become sexually involved with him. It is accurate that push back against this and he had serious relationships was frequently in trouble with Ava Gardner censors over movies such as Scarface and The Outlaw.  Scorsese shows Hughes being influenced by Katherine Hepburn about censorship and the Texan did have strong feelings for both womenas a result, especially for Hepburn. In the movie Hepburn is shown as possibly the love of his life and he wanted takes a principled approach to marry her, which may have been correct. Scorsese’s movie totally glosses over the fact that Hughes was briefly married issue as a result in the late 1920smovie. There are no references to his two wives and the impression is given In reality, Hughes disliked censorship because he believed that he it was never marriedfinancially bad for box-office. The movie captures very well He was always a businessman and for him, the fact that despite his many lovers that Hughes cinema was a very isolated figure glamorous business and at heart a lonely mannot an art form. {{Mediawiki:TabletAd1}}====The many women in Howard Hughes Life====
[[File: Howard Hughes Two.jpg |200px|thumb|left| Katherine Hepburn c1940]]
<i>The Aviator</i> shows that Hughes had numerous relationships with several leading Hollywood actresses. It also showed that he had a long-term relationship with Katherine Hepburn (Blanchet) and Ava Gardner (Beckingsdale). To a large extent, this somewhat accurate. He did have serious relationships with Ava Gardner, and Katherine Hepburn and the Texan did have strong feelings for both women, especially for Hepburn. In the movie, Hepburn is shown as possibly the love of his life, and he wanted to marry her, which may have been correct. Hughes did have several girlfriends and mistresses, but in real life, the Texan multi-millionaire was arguably even more promiscuous. The picture fails to address claims that he used his power and wealth to force women into sexual relationships with him. At least one actress later claimed that Hughes implied that he would ruin her career if she did not become sexually involved with him. Scorsese’s movie also glosses over the fact that Hughes was briefly married in the late 1920s. There are no references to his two wives, and the film gives the impression that he was never married.  Still, the movie captures that despite his several famous and beautiful paramours in Los Angeles, Hughes remained a very isolated figure and lonely man. ====Hughes as the aviator====<dh-ad/>Scorsese titled in his biopic deliberately called the movie <i>The Aviator. This was </i> because the director he believed that Hughes was a great unique and important aviation pioneer in aviation. The movie accurately shows that Hughes was a lifelong lover of aviation and engineeringan innovative aerospace engineer. He had taken flying lessons while still a young man and was a very good an excellent pilot. In the motion picture Scorsese emphasizes that Hughes is shown as a dare-devil and someone who would not hesitate to undertake anything dangeroustake extraordinary personal risks to advance aviation. The  In real life, the Texan was indeed a dare-devil , and he was a fearless flyer. He survived four serious crashes and was badly severely burned on one occasion. Hughes was also famed as a round the world aviator , and he broke several world records. The Texan at one time held the record for the fastest time to fly around the globe, that was briefly held by the legendary Charles Lindbergh.  The producer and businessman was also personally involved in the design and manufacture of new aeroplanes and this is something very well shown in the motion picture. Hughes also had a controlling share in the TWA airline and was instrumental in the development of the modern airliner.  The multi-millionaire founded the Hughes Aircraft Company, and this was very important in the which played a critical role development of a great many important aviation technologies. The movie also shows his interest in flying boats and his design for the Spruce Goose, the largest seaplane of all time and these were all true .<ref>Barlett, p 245</ref>. Scorsese captures the importance of aviation in the life of Hughes and his contribution to the history of flight. Many have praised the movie for reminding the world that the subject of the biopic was a great significant figure in the history of aviation.  ====Hughes and his 's struggle with mental health====[[File: Hughes One.jpg|300px|thumb|left| Howard Hughes c1940]]In one of the opening scenes of the movie the <i>The Aviator</i>, a young Hughes is , while being bathed by his mother, and she is cautioning him of warned by her about the many dangers that he faced in the world . This scene shows that Hughes from an early age was conditioned by his mother to fear germs and warning him especially against dirt. This scene essentially foreshadows the mental health problems that Hughes is portrayed as a rather eccentric character even experiences throughout the movie.  Even in his heyday Hughes as an aviator and Hollywood mogulmovie producer, he has portrayed as extremely eccentric. The director and the script indicated movie essentially argues that Hughes eccentric behaviour behavior was a result of his upbringing and his growing mental instability that is apparent by . His mental illness evident throughout the end of the moviefilm, but becomes increasingly serious as he ages. One theory is surrounding Hughes was that Hughes his problems was were a result of syphilis, which was a sexually transmitted disease, and which often led that can lead to serous severe mental health issues. Many have rejected But this theoryexplanation is not particularly plausible. It does seem that  Hughes did have OCD and was obsessed with dirt and cleanliness. This is shown very He was well known to be a germophobe. In the film, Scorsese shows to extent of his phobia when some government agents raided his Hollywood home and . Hughes is panicked by the idea that they are bringing germs into his home. His OCD became worse as it was untreated, and . The movie shows that his mental health grew worse because he also became was dependent on painkillers after to alleviate his constant pain from his various plane crashes. Scorsese’s movie film does represent the variety of mental health issues that Hughes experienced but not their complex origins and causes. The 2004 motion picture  Despite Scorsese's efforts, his movie was heavily criticised criticized for not referencing the showing Hughes long physical and mental decline of Hughes. In later life , he became a recluse in Las Vega Vegas and lived in appalling conditions , and he only had his hair , and nails cut once a year .<ref> Meneghetti, Michael. "Feeling Yourself Disintegrate: The Aviator as History." <i>Canadian Journal of Film Studies </i> 20, no. 1 (2011): 2-19 </ref>. The man who was one of the richest wealthiest men in America the world became petrified permanently paralyzed by his fear of germs. However, Scorsese does refer to hints at Hughes' future mental deterioration in the final scene when the Texan has a breakdown after seeing two men in germ-suits. [[File====The Congressional Hearing and Hughes====Hughes had constant legal problems and at one point was before the courts over a fatal car accident in the 1930s. The movie climaxes in 1947 when Hughes is forced to testify before the Senate, to defend himself against accusations that he had wasted government money during the war, that had been given to him for the production of the H4 Hercules Flying Boat and that the plane was not airworthy. The motion picture suggests that a rival of Hughes had bribed Senator Owen Brewster, to bring the charges against him as part of a vendetta. Just as in the motion picture the Texan millionaire was forced to testify before Congress, which was a major news story at the time. In one of the final scenes, Hughes is shown flying the H4 seaplane and thereby proving that he had made a plane that could be used by the American air force and that he had not wasted government money.<ref>Poyntz, S. " The way of the future" probing The Aviator for historical understanding: <i>Celluloid blackboard: Teaching history with film</i> (2007), p.41 </ref>  In reality, the hearing into Hughes alleged misuse of funds was, not surprisingly, much more complex. Some have claimed that the Texan fabricated the story that a business rival had bribed the Senator, investigating Hughes One.jpg|200px|thumb|This was part of a clever strategy to get out of his legal troubles. The Texan was never charged with wasting government money, and the investigation was soon dropped. However, there are lingering suspicions about Hughes business activities. The movie does not mention the Texan’s role as a philanthropist and that he founded the world-renowned Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) which has developed many pioneering medications and treatments. <ref> McCook, A. (2005). What the aviator left| out: visionary Howard Hughes c1940Medical Institute had trouble taking off in its early days. The Scientist, 19(2), 52-53 </ref> ====Conclusion====<i>The Aviator</i> focuses on Hughes life between when he moved to Los Angeles and flew the Spruce Goose. The movie successfully captures the aspects of Hughes's personalities, complex, tireless, and charisma, that that captivated America in the 1920s through the late 1940s. It also demonstrates how he became increasingly crippled over time his worsening mental illness. However, the film's explanation for the cause of his mental health problems is simplistic.  The movie also shows tries to focuses on Hughes's reputation as a womanizer. His relationships with Katherine Hepburn and Ava Gardner are explored in the film, but The Aviator ignores both his marriage and how he sexually harassed women throughout his movie career.  Hughes was an outstanding pilot who took extraordinary risks. Whether he Scorsese’s motion picture does capture the brilliance and his slow descent into mental illness and even alludes to his later years that were marred by instability when he lived as a virtual recluse. <div class="portal" style="width:85%;">====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====* [[How Historically Accurate is the movie Gangs of New York?]]* [[How Historically Accurate is the Outlaw King?]]* [[How historically accurate is the Medici Masters of Florence Series?]]* [[Is the movie Dunkirk historically accurate?]]* [[How historically accurate is the movie 'The Battle of the Bulge'?]]* [[How historically accurate is the movie 'Tora, Tora, Tora'?]]* [[How historically accurate is the movie 'A Bridge Too Far'?]]* [[How Historically Accurate is Season 2 of Versailles?]]* [[How accurate is the movie Patton?]]* [[How accurate is Stanley Kubrick's 'Spartacus'?]]* [[How Historically Accurate is season 3 of The Last Kingdom?]]* [[How Historically Accurate is Season 2 of Last Kingdom?]]* [[How Historically Accurate is season 1 of The Last Kingdom?]]* [[How Historically Accurate is Alexander?]]* [[How historically accurate is the Gladiator?]]</div> ====Recommended Reading====Fay, Stephen, Lewis Chester, and Magnus Linklater. <i>Hoax: the inside story of the Howard Hughes--Clifford Irving affair</i> (New York, Viking Adult, 1972).
==The Congressional Hearing and Hughes==Hughes often had legal troubles and at one point was before the courts over a fatal car accident in the 1930s. The movie climaxes in 1947 when Hughes is forced to testify before the SenateBrown, to defend himself against accusations that he had wasted government money during the warPeter Harry, that had been given to him for the production of the H4 Hercules Flying Boat and that the plane was not airworthyPat H. The motion picture suggests that a rival of Hughes had bribed Senator Owen Brewster, to bring the charges against him as part of a vendetta. Just as in the motion picture the Texan millionaire was forced to testify before Congress, which was a major news story at the timeBroeske. In one of the final scenes Hughes is shown flying the H4 seaplane and thereby proving that he had made a plane that could be used by the American air force and that he had not wasted government money<refi>Poyntz, S. " The way of the future" probing Howard Hughes: The Aviator for historical understanding:. Celluloid blackboard: Teaching history with film (2007), p.41 Untold Story</refi>. In reality, the hearing into Hughes alleged misuse of funds was much more complex . Some have claimed that the Texan fabricated the story that a business rival had bribed the Senator, investigating Hughes. This was part of a clever strategy in order to get out of his legal troubles. The Texan was never charged with wasting government money and the investigation was soon dropped. However, there are lingering suspicions about Hughes business activities. The movie does not mention the Texan’s role as a philanthropist and that he founded the world-renowned Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) which has developed many pioneering medications and treatments. <ref> McCookNew York, A. (2005). What the aviator left out: visionary Howard Hughes Medical Institute had trouble taking off in its early days. The ScientistDa Capo Press, 19(22004), 52-53 </ref>.
==Conclusion==The Aviator concentrates on Hughes during his prime when he was a leading figure in Hollywood, businessHigham, and aviationCharles. The movie does capture the personality of <i>Howard Hughes who was a complex, tireless, and charismatic figure who captivated a generation. It also captures the man’s essential loneliness and his growing mental instability. However, its explanation for the cause of his mental health problems is too simplistic. : The movie does portray Hughes as a great womaniser but neglects to show that he was actually married for some of the film. It also portrays him as a great aviator and there is some truth to this. Scorsese’s motion picture does capture the brilliance and his slow descent into mental illness and even alludes to his later years that were marred by instability, when he lived as a virtual recluse. However, The Aviator, fails to address many issues in Hughes life such as his often-controversial business practices and the dark side of his womanizing. ==Recommended Reading==Fay, Stephen, Lewis Chester, and Magnus Linklater. Hoax: the inside story of the Howard Hughes--Clifford Irving affair Secret Life</i> (New York, Viking AdultMacmillan, 19722004).
Brown, Peter Harry, and Pat H. Broeske. Howard Hughes: The Untold Story (New York, Da Capo Press, 2004).====References====<references/>
Higham, Charles. Howard Hughes{{Contributors}}[[Category:Wikis]][[Category:Historically Accurate]] [[Category: The Secret Life (New York, Macmillan, 2004).==References==History of Science]]

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