what can you tell me about Howard Hughes?

Question

Without having to refer to web sites and doing lots of reading?!? I know when he was born and when he died and that he was an American Aviator, but I have just watched the movie and was saddened that it ended when it did! Can you fill in the blanks in movie time?

Answer 1

See the movie HOAX (Richard Gere and Alfred Molina) and it's a "sequel" of sorts to AVIATOR.

After the events in Aviator he had, simplifying it, "good years and bad years" before a whole bunch of bad years. He married twice after the movie ended, both times to actresses (Terry Moore [who claims they never divorced and had enough evidence that she got a substantial settlement from his estate] and Jean Peters) and became, as mentioned above, the most powerful man in Las Vegas which he loved because he saw the desert as clean. He surrounded himself with Mormon bodyguards (chosen because Mormons don't smoke or drink and because he was convinced he was the reincarnation of a Mormon pioneer)- one of his bodyguards was the character actor Wilford Brimley (most famous for the Quaker Oats commercials). Eventually his insanity overtook him and he spent most of his days naked, wearing Kleenex boxes for shoes, saving his urine and nail clippings- basically the breakdown scene from the movie but for longer. He bought a lot of properties in the Bahamas including a luxury hotel whose occupants he kicked out during the middle of the night when he arrived, and that's where he remained as a complete hermit until his death. He occasionally- very rarely- talked to people on the telephone, but mostly he sat in his room watching movies on his privates screen.
His estate was estimated at well over a billion dollars but he died intestate (without a will). Many wills surfaced but pretty much all were ruled to be fakes. The estate was eventually split between many cousins, Terry Moore, the IRS, lawyers, and taxes.
In a way it was a pity that he inherited so much money and had a man as talented as Noah Dietrich (John Reilly in the first movie/Eli Wallach in HOAX) who was FAR FAR FAR FAR more important in making him a billionaire than Hughes was. (Basically, Noah Dietrich made the money and Howard spent it, sometimes on brilliant things that helped the company admittedly, but usually on money pit hobbies and obsessions.) Had he not been rich and powerful he would not have been able to force those around him to adapt to his illness, and by having to live in the sane world he probably would have conquered his illness much better, but because he could pay to adapt the world around him he was completely consumed by it.

Answer 2

Vaz,
just off the top of my head (and because I from Southern California) I can tell you that because of Howard Hughes - Las Vegas was changed forever in 1968.

All those free shows that occurred earlier in the 1960's with Frank, Dino, Sammy, Joey, and Peter? They now all had to be "fee" based - meaning everything was now a "pay for see" effect. Hence, when the Rat Pack left town - the magic kind of left with it. I know this because of my many previous readings of Vegas and my many visits to that town.

Hope this helps you at least a bit!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gerry :)

Answer 3

Howard Hughes was an amazing man. He was so smart. He invented a lot of things including a special bra for one of the Hollywood busty beauties. Too bad that he had some psychological problems that destroyed his life and kept him from having a real family.

Answer 4

Supposedly a "hero", an extraordinary aviator, also quite crazy, paranoid, megalomaniac and egotistical. He got where many of us mortals wish to get in dreams. And squandered it becoming a crazy reclusive bum with money, in jockey shorts, almost naked, living in small rooms in abandoned wharehouses, eating chicken and noodle soups, and watching the same movie all over again. And surrounded by bodyguards in dark shoes, grey pants, blue dark jackets and neckties with dark glasses guarding this wacky old guy. What he needed was a psychiatric ward. Damn!

Answer 5

The movie could hardly drag you into the world he inhabited toward the end. He became a recluse, afraid of germs, and eventually wasted away in various hotel rooms. He died a pathetic shadow of his former self. It really was a sad ending to an incredibly adventurous life.

Answer 6

Owned American Airlines, did much to advance aviation history and much of it he did at his own expense.
He was extremely smart, he was an obsessive/compulsive germaphobe.
He loved Hollywood actress types and stalked and wiretapped many of them.
He died, filthy and malnourished .

Answer 7

I can tell you he was extremely wealthy, and had an obsession with germs. He wore paper covers over his shoes, etc. and was quite reclusive towards the end of his life.

Answer 8

Ha had built the largest all wooden flying boat The Spruce Goose,it flew once ,,,

Answer 9

never watched the film i know he left all his money to a chap who gave him a lift home but the chap didnt get it as lawyers and other people said he wasnt sane but he did used to save his in bottles and he was mad on aviation

Answer 10

He was the world's wealthiest man at one time.