The Aviator (2004)

A biopic depicting the early years of legendary Director and aviator Howard Hughes' career from the late 1920s to the mid 1940s.

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writer:

John Logan

Stars:

Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale

Won 5 Oscars. Another 81 wins & 130 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leonardo DiCaprio	...	Howard Hughes
Cate Blanchett	...	Katharine Hepburn
Kate Beckinsale	...	Ava Gardner
John C. Reilly	...	Noah Dietrich
Alec Baldwin	...	Juan Trippe
Alan Alda	...	Senator Ralph Owen Brewster
Ian Holm	...	Professor Fitz
Danny Huston	...	Jack Frye
Gwen Stefani	...	Jean Harlow
Jude Law	...	Errol Flynn
Adam Scott	...	Johnny Meyer
Matt Ross	...	Glenn Odekirk
Kelli Garner	...	Faith Domergue
Frances Conroy	...	Mrs. Hepburn
Brent Spiner	...	Robert Gross

Storyline

Biopic of billionaire Howard Hughes, starting with his early filmmaking years as owner of R.K.O. Pictures, but mostly focusing on his role in designing and promoting new aircraft. Hughes was a risk-taker spending several fortunes on designing experimental aircraft and eventually founding TWA as a rival to Pan Am airlines owned by his great rival Juan Trippe. When Trippe's politico Senator Ralph Owen Brewster accuses Hughes of being a war profiteer, it's Hughes who gains the upper hand. Hughes also had many women in his life including a long relationship with Katharine Hepburn. From an early age, however, Hughes was also germophobic and would have severe bouts of mental illness.

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Plot Keywords:

obsessive compulsive disorder | test flight | film producer | howard hughes character | california | 

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Taglines:

For some men, the sky was the limit. For him, it was just the beginning.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content, nudity, language and a crash sequence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many had tried to produce a Howard Hughes biopic before this. Among the failed attempts are: 1. A companion piece to Reds (1981) planned by actor and director Warren Beatty. 2. John Malkovich and partner Russell Smith attempted in 1993. 3. The adaptation planned by Allen Hughes and Albert Hughes, who wanted Johnny Depp in the lead. 4. A Brian De Palma-directed biopic with Touchstone, which fell through because of the $80 million price tag. 5. In January 2000, it was announced that Milos Forman was to direct a biopic with Edward Norton as Hughes, and a script by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. 6. In January 2002, Jim Carrey and director Christopher Nolan tried to start the project with Castle Rock Productions, but it didn't get off the ground soon enough to beat this movie into production.

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Goofs

When Howard arrives at the Hepburns', and the dog greets him, there is a visible laser pointer on the dog's head, indicating that the dog followed the laser to Howard's body rather than actually greeting him.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Allene Hughes: Q-u-a-r-a-n-t-i-n-e.
Young Howard Hughes: Quarantine. Q-u-a-r-a-n-t-i-n-e. Quarantine.

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Crazy Credits

The Warner Brothers logo is the classic shield version, and is shown in 2-color Technicolor, rendered as a static painted card instead of the modern 3D animated sequence.

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Connections

Referenced in Jay Dyer: Hitchcock's Psycho Psyche & MK Ultra (2016)

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Soundtracks

Brazil
(1939)
Music by Ary Barroso
Lyrics by Bob Russell (uncredited)
Performed by Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks

User Reviews

Seemed like a TV movie re-hash

For all the 'Oscar buzz' one hears about this film, I came away rather disappointed. Why? 1. DiCaprio is a fine actor, granted. He does NOT possess the physical intensity that Hughes had, not to mention almost being the physical opposite. It'd be like Steve Martin playing James Dean. It's just WRONG. 2. For all the accolades Blanchett gets as Hepburn, she's somewhat of a caricature. Her accent was too over the top. What, did Scorcese think we wouldn't know who she was supposed to be? 3.I think an unknown as Hughes would have been a better idea, but then it might not have gotten the big box office receipts we're hearing about. And that's what's really at the bottom of this. I'll take the Tommy Lee Jones TV version any day!

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Aviator

Filming Locations:

Bullocks Wilshire, 3050 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$110,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$858,021, 19 December 2004

Gross USA:

$102,610,330

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$213,719,942

Company Credits

Production Co:

Forward Pass, Appian Way, IMF Internationale Medien und Film GmbH & Co. 3. Produktions KG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

170 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1