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 80 wins & 131 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

Several cast members in this movie have been directed by Woody Allen: Alan Alda in Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993), and Everyone Says I Love You (1996), Leonardo DiCaprio in Celebrity (1998), Alec Baldwin in Alice (1990), To Rome with Love (2012), and Blue Jasmine (2013), Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine (2013), Edward Herrmann in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Frances Conroy, Kenneth Welsh, and Sir Ian Holm in Another Woman (1988).

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Goofs

Errol Flynn holds a drink in his right hand and a cigarette in his left hand as the man behind him hits him with the crumpled-up paper ball. As he turns around to react in the next shot, the drink in now his left hand, and the cigarette is in his right hand.

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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 Miramax Films logo is also shown in 2-color Technicolor at the beginning of the movie, but before the Warner Bros. Pictures logo.

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Connections

References Bringing Up Baby (1938)

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Soundtracks

Happy Feet
(1930)
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen
Performed by The Manhattan Rhythm Kings

User Reviews

"..the way of the future.."

One of the best Leo's performances. Cate did a great job as well. Martin Scorsese just never fails to amaze us.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA Germany

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:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1