Posted on 01/21/2005 12:58:13 PM PST by SmithL
Whoppers: In "The Aviator," Howard Hughes is depicted coming to Katharine Hepburn's rescue after she's ended their affair. Hughes learns that a sleazy Hollywood tabloid is about to publish incriminating photos of her with Spencer Tracy. Hepburn's new lover is married, and Hughes realizes that the publicity could ruin her career. There's a dramatic scene of Leonardo DiCaprio as Hughes negotiating for the negatives, which ultimately are handed over in return for stock in his airlines.
The only problem is none of this happened. "The Aviator" -- a Golden Globe winner for best drama and a sure bet to score numerous Oscar nominations next week -- is one of several current biopics that distort aspects of their subjects' lives.
Hughes did help Hepburn in a moment of need. After she'd been branded box office poison in the late 1930s, he bought the rights to "The Philadelphia Story" as a star vehicle for her. But to show DiCaprio reading a script wouldn't pack the same wallop as him perusing hot pictures of his ex in the arms of another man.
DiCaprio, who helped develop "The Aviator," defends this fabrication. "The intent is the same, to show that Howard still loves her," he told me.
The whoppers that "Aviator" and its likely Oscar competitors tell about their subjects often concern sex -- or the lack of it. "Beyond the Sea" leaves the impression that Sandra Dee is the only woman Bobby Darin ever was intimate with. Darin, however, married again after their divorce and reportedly was known to participate in orgies. Well, it was the '60s. But Dee and Dodd Darin, her son with the crooner, might not have supported Kevin Spacey's efforts to get the film made had he penciled in an orgy scene.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
CBS:But the subject in the National Guard memos is true!!!
LOL!
I didn't see the movie "Beyond the Sea", but did they mention or portray anything related to when Bobby Darin used to perform on stage and what he had to wear below his belt?
Scorsese is an idiot. I'll never drop a dollar to see some bulls**t flick about Hughes. Who cares, says I. But a movie about Dean Martin, the "King of Cool"? Now there's a movie I'd likely see multiple times, and buy the DVD and CD!
THat's ok. I had believed DeCaprio had drowned on the Titanic...
So9
"The Aviator" -- a Golden Globe winner for best drama"
Winner for best DRAMA. I'm pretty sure that means it's not a documentary. Next thing you know, they'll be telling us that "1776" is a hoax, and George Washington never sang and danced.
George Washington was known as a very enthusiastic and skilled dancer. (I don't know whether he sang.)
I've read the Constitution at least a few times, and I don't recall any choreographic notations or a musical score ;-)
George Washington said practicing dancing made him a better horseman. (This is true.)
Never heard of that.
"George Washington was known as a very enthusiastic and skilled dancer. (I don't know whether he sang.)"
Tough, with wooden teeth....
Speaking of the late and very great Ray Charles, I heard him say during a concert that a friend of his once asked why a blind man would keep so many beautiful women around. His answer: "Heh heh, I can do a lot more with my hands than you can ever do with your eyes".
Good point.
LOL!
actually George isn't in the cast of 1776.
letters from him are read aloud.
you must have been thinking of Adams or Lee.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.