The Aviator
Directed by	Martin Scorsese
Produced by	Michael Mann Sandy Climan Graham King Charles Evans, Jr.
Written by	John Logan
Starring	Leonardo DiCaprio Cate Blanchett John C. Reilly Willem Dafoe Jude Law Alec Baldwin Kate Beckinsale Alan Alda Gwen Stefani
Music by	Howard Shore
Cinematography	Robert Richardson
Editing by	Thelma Schoonmaker
Distributed by	USA/UK/Germany theatrical UK/Germany DVD Miramax Films Buena Vista Distribution Latin America/Australia theatrical USA/Latin America/Australia DVD Warner Bros. Spain 20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	17 December 2004 (premiere) 19 December 2004 (premiere) 25 December 2004 10 February 2005
Running time	169 min. Michael Kenneth Mann (born February 5 1943 is an American Film director, Screenwriter, and producer. Graham King (born December 19, 1961) is a Film producer and President and CEO of Initial Entertainment Group who is best known for his Charles E "Chick" Evans Jr ( July 18 1890 &ndash November 6 1979) was a leading amateur Golfer of the 1910s John David Gynn Logan (born 24 September 1961) is an American Screenwriter. Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11 1974 is a three-time Academy Award -nominated and Golden Globe -winning American film actor. Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett (born 14 May 1969 is an Academy Award -winning Australian Actress and Stage director. John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an Academy Award - and two-time Golden Globe -nominated American Actor. William J "Willem" Dafoe (born July 22, 1955) is a three-time Academy Award -nominated American Film and stage Jude Law (born 29 December 1972 is an English Actor. He began acting with the National Youth Music Theatre in 1987 and had his first TV role in 1989 Alexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III (born April 3 1958 is an Academy Award -nominated and Emmy - and Golden Globe Award -winning American Kathryn Bailey "Kate" Beckinsale (born 26 July 1973 is an English actress, known for her roles in the films Pearl Harbor (2001 Alan Alda (born January 28 1936 is an American Actor. He is well known for his role as " Hawkeye Pierce " in the Television series Gwen Renée Stefani (born October 3 1969 (ˈgwɛn stɛˈfɑːni is an American recording artist and Fashion designer Stefani fronts the rock band No Doubt Howard Leslie Shore (born October 18, 1946) is an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Grammy Award -winning Canadian Composer Robert Bridge Richardson (born August 27, 1955 in Hyannis Massachusetts) is an American Cinematographer. Thelma Schoonmaker (born 3 January) is an American 3-time Academy Award -winning Film editor who has worked with director Martin Scorsese Also see general Walt Disney Studios or Buena Vista. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures is a motion picture and television feature Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila The year 2004 in film involved some significant events Major releases of sequels took place Events 324 - Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 1355 - The St Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead The year 2005 in film involved some significant events Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Devil's Rejects, Cheaper
Language	English
Budget	$110 million[1]
IMDb profile

The Aviator is a 2004 American biographical drama film, directed by Martin Scorsese, and based largely on the book Howard Hughes: The Secret Life by Charles Higham. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The year 2004 in film involved some significant events Major releases of sequels took place United States cinema has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century A biographical motion picture &mdash often shortened to biopic &mdash is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people A drama film is a Film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes A film director, or filmmaker, is a person who directs the making of a Film. Charles Higham may refer to Charles Higham (archaeologist (b 1939 British archaeologist specialising in the archaeology of Southeast Asia Charles It tells the story of the eccentric aviation pioneer Howard Hughes, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, following his life from the late 1920s through the 1940s, a time when Hughes was directing and producing Hollywood movies as well as test-piloting his own groundbreaking new aircraft. Howard Robard Hughes Jr (December 24 1905 – April 5 1976 was an American Aviator, Industrialist, Film producer / director, Philanthropist Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11 1974 is a three-time Academy Award -nominated and Golden Globe -winning American film actor. The film also illustrates Hughes' descent into severe obsessive-compulsive disorder and reclusiveness. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD is a Chronic Anxiety disorder most commonly characterized by obsessive Distressing Intrusive thoughts

Plot

Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes

Leonardo DiCaprio (right) as Howard Hughes and John C. Reilly (left) as Noah Dietrich

The Aviator has no opening credits other than the title. Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11 1974 is a three-time Academy Award -nominated and Golden Globe -winning American film actor. Howard Robard Hughes Jr (December 24 1905 – April 5 1976 was an American Aviator, Industrialist, Film producer / director, Philanthropist Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11 1974 is a three-time Academy Award -nominated and Golden Globe -winning American film actor. Howard Robard Hughes Jr (December 24 1905 – April 5 1976 was an American Aviator, Industrialist, Film producer / director, Philanthropist John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an Academy Award - and two-time Golden Globe -nominated American Actor. Noah Dietrich ( February 28, 1889 - February 15, 1982) was the chief executive officer of the Howard Hughes empire from 1925 until The film begins with nine-year old Hughes being bathed by his mother, who warns him of disease: "You are not safe. "

The film next shows him in 1927, as a 22-year old preparing to direct Hell's Angels. Hell's Angels is a 1930 American epic War film, directed by Howard Hughes and starring Jean Harlow, Ben Hiring Noah Dietrich (John C. Reilly) to run Hughes Tool Co, while he oversees the flight sequences for the film, Hughes becomes obsessesed with shooting the film realistically, even re-shooting the dogfight himself. By 1929, with the film finally complete, when The Jazz Singer is released, Hughes re-shoots the film for sound, costing another year and $1. The Jazz Singer is a 1927 American Musical film. The first feature-length motion picture with synchronized Dialogue 7 million. Nevertheless, Hell's Angels is a huge hit, and Hughes makes Scarface and The Outlaw. This article is about the 1932 film For the 1983 remake see Scarface. The Outlaw is a 1943 American Western film, directed by Howard Hughes and starring Jane Russell. However, there is one goal he relentlessly pursues: aviation. Aviation refers to activities involving man-made flying devices ( Aircraft) including the people organizations and regulatory bodies involved with them During this time, he also pursues Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett). Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12 1907 – June 29 2003 was an American actress of film television and stage Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett (born 14 May 1969 is an Academy Award -winning Australian Actress and Stage director. The two go to nightclubs, play golf and fly together, and as they grow closer, move in together as well. During this time Hepburn becomes a major support and confidant to Hughes, and helps alleviate the symptoms of his obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD is a Chronic Anxiety disorder most commonly characterized by obsessive Distressing Intrusive thoughts As Hughes' fame grows, he is seen with more starlets.

Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn

Hughes takes an interest in commercial-passenger travel, and purchases majority interest in Transcontinental & Western Air (TWA), the predecessor to Trans World Airlines. Trans World Airlines ( TWA) renamed TWA Airlines LLC in 2001 was a major U In 1935, he test flies the H-1 Racer but crashes in a beet field; "Fastest man on the planet," he boasts to Hepburn. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Three years later, he flies around the world in four days, shattering the previous record by three days. Meanwhile, Juan Trippe (Alec Baldwin), owner of Pan American Airlines, and Senator Owen Brewster (Alan Alda) worry over the possibility that Hughes might beat them in the quest for commercial expansion. Juan Terry Trippe ( June 27 1899 – April 3 1981) was a US Airline Entrepreneur and pioneer and the Alexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III (born April 3 1958 is an Academy Award -nominated and Emmy - and Golden Globe Award -winning American Ralph Owen Brewster ( February 22, 1888 &ndash December 25, 1961) was an American politician from Maine. Alan Alda (born January 28 1936 is an American Actor. He is well known for his role as " Hawkeye Pierce " in the Television series Brewster has just introduced the Commercial Airline Bill, which will give world expansion solely to Pan Am. Trippe advises Brewster to check to the "disquieting rumors about Mr. Hughes. "

Kate Beckinsale as Ava Gardner

Hepburn and Hughes eventually break up, but he soon has a new interest: 15-year old Faith Domergue (Kelli Garner) and later, Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale). Kathryn Bailey "Kate" Beckinsale (born 26 July 1973 is an English actress, known for her roles in the films Pearl Harbor (2001 Ava Lavinia Gardner ( December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an Academy Award -nominated American actress Faith Domergue ( June 16, 1924 - April 4, 1999) was a film actress Kelli Brianne Garner (born April 11 1984 is an American actress Ava Lavinia Gardner ( December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an Academy Award -nominated American actress Kathryn Bailey "Kate" Beckinsale (born 26 July 1973 is an English actress, known for her roles in the films Pearl Harbor (2001 He also fights the Motion Picture Association of America over the steamy scenes in The Outlaw. The Outlaw is a 1943 American Western film, directed by Howard Hughes and starring Jane Russell. He learns of Pan Am's efforts to run TWA off the map yet secures contracts with the Army Air Force on two projects, a spy plane and a troop transport. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. By 1946, Hughes has only finished the XF-11 reconnaissance aircraft and is building the H-4 Hercules ("Spruce Goose") flying boat. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout With the strain of meeting deadlines and budgets, Hughes starts to show signs of alarming behavior, repeating phrases over and over and exhibiting a phobia over dust and germs. That July, he takes the XF-11 for a test flight. One of the propellers malfunctions, causing a crash in a Beverly Hills neighborhood. Rushed to the hospital, he slowly recuperates but learns the Spruce Goose is no longer needed but orders production to continue. When he is discharged, the whole TWA fleet is built and ready to go, but he is in danger of being bankrupted by the airline and his flying boat. Afraid of the media trying to find him, Hughes places microphones and taps Ava's phone lines to keep track of any suspicious activity. After being confronted by Gardner, he returns home to find the FBI searching his house for incriminating evidence that he embezzled government funds. Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets usually financial in nature by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted The incident is both a powerful trauma for Hughes and gives his enemies knowledge about his condition. Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event. Hughes meets with Brewster, who offers to drop the charges if Hughes supports the CAB Bill and sells the TWA stock to Trippe. Hughes sinks into a deep depression afterwards, shutting himself in his screening room, growing ever more paranoid and detached from reality; terrified of germs, he urinates into dozens of empty milk bottles. Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, unipolar disorder, clinical depression, or simply depression Hepburn tries to visit him, but is unable to help. Trippe then pays Hughes a visit, but an enraged Hughes vows he will never sell TWA. Trippe warns Dietrich that the world will see what Hughes has become if he goes to the Hearings. After nearly three months, Hughes finally emerges and prepares to face the Senate, with encouragement from Ava Gardner, who helps him get cleaned up. Hughes arrives at the Hearings, and starts off with counter-claiming Brewster's charges: "Why not tell the truth, Senator? Why not tell the truth that this investigation was really born on the day that TWA first decided to fly to Europe?" Humiliated and enraged by this turn of events, the Senator formally states that Hughes charged the Defense Department $56 million for aircraft that never flew. The United States Department of Defense ( DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government Hughes defends himself and reveals that Trippe essentially bribed Brewster to hold the hearings.

The "Spruce Goose"

Hughes successfully test flies the flying boat himself. After the flight, he talks to Dietrich and his mechanic Odie (Matt Ross) about a new jetliner for TWA and makes a date with Gardner at a celebration party on the Long Beach shoreline. Matthew Brandon Ross (born January 3, 1970) is an American actor Hughes seems free of his inner demons until he sees three attendants in business suits and white gloves edging towards him, which triggers an obsessive-compulsive fit as he begins repeating "The way of the future. " Dietrich and Odie take Hughes in a bathroom and hide him there, while Dietrich fetches a doctor and Odie stands outside guarding the door. Alone inside, Howard has a flashback to his boyhood, being washed by his mother and resolving he will fly the fastest aircraft ever built, make the biggest movies ever and become the richest man in the world. As the film ends he mutters "the way of the future. . . the way of the future" into a darkened mirror.

Cast

As appearing in screen credits (main roles identified):^[2]

A full cast and production crew list is too lengthy to include, see: IMDb profile. Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11 1974 is a three-time Academy Award -nominated and Golden Globe -winning American film actor. Howard Robard Hughes Jr (December 24 1905 – April 5 1976 was an American Aviator, Industrialist, Film producer / director, Philanthropist Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett (born 14 May 1969 is an Academy Award -winning Australian Actress and Stage director. Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12 1907 – June 29 2003 was an American actress of film television and stage Kathryn Bailey "Kate" Beckinsale (born 26 July 1973 is an English actress, known for her roles in the films Pearl Harbor (2001 Ava Lavinia Gardner ( December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an Academy Award -nominated American actress John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an Academy Award - and two-time Golden Globe -nominated American Actor. Noah Dietrich ( February 28, 1889 - February 15, 1982) was the chief executive officer of the Howard Hughes empire from 1925 until Alexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III (born April 3 1958 is an Academy Award -nominated and Emmy - and Golden Globe Award -winning American Juan Terry Trippe ( June 27 1899 – April 3 1981) was a US Airline Entrepreneur and pioneer and the Alan Alda (born January 28 1936 is an American Actor. He is well known for his role as " Hawkeye Pierce " in the Television series Ralph Owen Brewster ( February 22, 1888 &ndash December 25, 1961) was an American politician from Maine. Sir Ian Holm CBE (born 12 September, 1931) is an English award-winning Actor known for his stage work and for many film roles Danny Huston (born 14 May 1962) is an American actor and director William John "Jack" Frye ( March 18, 1904, Sweetwater Oklahoma  &ndash February 3, 1959) was an aviation pioneer who Gwen Renée Stefani (born October 3 1969 (ˈgwɛn stɛˈfɑːni is an American recording artist and Fashion designer Stefani fronts the rock band No Doubt Jean Harlow ( March 3, &ndash June 7,) was an American Film Actress and Sex symbol of the 1930s Jude Law (born 29 December 1972 is an English Actor. He began acting with the National Youth Music Theatre in 1987 and had his first TV role in 1989 Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn ( June 20, 1909 &ndash October 14, 1959) was an Australian Film Actor, most Adam Scott (born April 3, 1973) is an American Actor. Scott is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Matthew Brandon Ross (born January 3, 1970) is an American actor Glenn Odekirk born at Waseca Minnesota, on 09 May 1905 a son of Edward John and Louise (Lewis Odekirk Kelli Brianne Garner (born April 11 1984 is an American actress Faith Domergue ( June 16, 1924 - April 4, 1999) was a film actress Frances Conroy (born November 13, 1953) is an Emmy -nominated Golden Globe - and SAG Award -winning American Actress Brent Jay Spiner (born February 2, 1949) is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of the Android Lieutenant Commander Robert Ellsworth Gross ( May 11, 1897 – September 3, 1961) was an American businessman involved in the field of Aviation. Stanley DeSantis ( 1953 - August 16, 2005) was an American Actor and businessman Louis Burt Mayer (born Lazar Meir July 4, 1884 &ndash October 29, 1957) was an early Film producer, most Edward Kirk Herrmann (born July 21, 1943) is an American Television and Film actor Joseph Ignatius Breen ( October 14 1890 &ndash December 5 1965) was an American film Censor. William J "Willem" Dafoe (born July 22, 1955) is a three-time Academy Award -nominated American Film and stage ^[2]]

Production

Style

Hughes crashes in a field; screenshot showing the simulated two-color film emulation used in scenes depicting events before 1935.

For the first 50 minutes of the film, scenes appear in shades of only red and cyan blue; green objects are rendered as blue. Cyan (saɪæn from Greek κυανός / kyanos, meaning "blue" may be used as the name of any of a number of a range of colors in the blue/green part of This was done, according to Scorsese, to emulate the look of early two-color movies, in particular the Multicolor process, which Hughes himself owned. Multicolor is a subtractive natural color process for motion pictures. Many of the scenes depicting events occurring after 1935 are treated to emulate the saturated appearance of three-strip Technicolor. Technicolor is the trademark for a series of color film processes pioneered by Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation Other scenes were stock footage colorized and incorporated into the film. Film colorization is any process that involves adding Color to Black and white, sepia or monochrome moving-picture images The color effects were created by Legend Films. Legend Films, a San Diego -based company was founded in August 2001.

"Spruce Goose" movie model

Movie models

In Aviator, Howard Hughes’ HK-1 Hercules (he hated the nickname “Spruce Goose” and only referred to the "Flying Boat" to confidantes) lifts off impressively off the waves in Long Beach Harbor. The short but much heralded flight on 2 November 1947 was recreated by using a remarkable flying scale model. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. When Martin Scorsese began planning his aviation epic, a decision was made to film flying sequences with scale models rather than CGI special effects. Computer animation Computer-generated imagery (also known as CGI) is the application of the field of Computer graphics or more specifically 3D computer graphics The critical reaction to the CGI models and their lack of realism in Pearl Harbor (2001) had been a crucial factor in Scorsese's decision to use full-scale static models and scale models in this case. Pearl Harbor is a 2001 War film directed by Michael Bay. It features a large Ensemble cast, including Ben Affleck, The building and filming of the flying models proved both cost-effective and timely. ^[3]

The remote controlled Spruce Goose flying boat model was one of series of movie models made by Joe Bock and his team of model builders from Aero Telemetry (Aero F/X) Inc. in Huntington, California. Aero Telemetry’s primary business was in building UAVs and satellite telemetry systems for the government and defense contractors. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV is an unpiloted Aircraft. UAVs can be remote controlled or fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans or more complex dynamic Telemetry (synonymous with Telematics) is a Technology that allows the remote measurement and reporting of Information of interest to the system designer Bock and his team were given only three months to complete three movie models. The 375 lb, 25 ft wingspan Spruce Goose was joined by 30 ft wingspan, 750 lb XF-11 and 18 ft wingspan, 450 lb H1 Racer. The models were shot with forced perspective against backdrops of the original locations at Long Beach and other California sites from helicopter platforms. Forced perspective is a technique that employs Optical illusion to make an object appear farther closer larger or smaller than it actually is ^[3]Four of the miniature models used in the film are on display at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, with the original Hughes HK-1 "Spruce Goose". The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is an aviation Museum which displays a number of Military and Civilian Aircraft and Spacecraft McMinnville is the name of McMinnville Oregon McMinnville Tennessee. Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

Distribution

The film had several distributors worldwide. For example, it was distributed in the U.S. (theatrical), UK, and Germany by Miramax Films, and in Latin America, Australia, and on U. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. S. DVD by Warner Bros. Pictures. DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and

20th Century Fox held Spanish rights. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.

Reception

The film received highly positive reviews with the review tallying website Rotten Tomatoes reporting that 180 out of the 203 reviews they tallied were positive for a score of 89 percent and certification of fresh. Rotten Tomatoes is a Website devoted to reviews information and news of Movies. ^[4] The film grossed $102M at the U. S. box office and $111M at the foreign box office. A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for Admission to a venue Film critic Roger Ebert, described the film and its subject Howard Hughes in these terms:[1]

Box office

DVD

The film was released in DVD in a two-disc-set in widescreen and full screen versions. The first disc includes commentary with director Martin Scorsese. The second disc includes "The Making of The Aviator," "Deleted Scenes" as well as 11 other special features.

The film was later released in Blue-Ray and HD DVD on November 6, 2007. Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

Awards

Main article: List of awards won by The Aviator

The Aviator was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, and won five, including Best Supporting Actress for Cate Blanchett. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett (born 14 May 1969 is an Academy Award -winning Australian Actress and Stage director. It also won the BAFTA Award for Best Film. This page lists the winners and nominees for the BAFTA Award for Best Film, BAFTA Award for Best Film not in the English Language and Alexander Korda Award for Best British

See also

• The Aviator soundtrack

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• Official site
• The Aviator at the Internet Movie Database
• The Aviator at Rotten Tomatoes
• High Life by Robert Richardson, ASC. Rotten Tomatoes is a Website devoted to reviews information and news of Movies. The American Society of Cinematographers ( ASC) is an educational cultural and professional organization
• Leonardo DiCaprio interview for The Aviator