Hollywood knows not to let facts derail a good tale

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 1/21/5 | Ruthe Stein

[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.

[razorback-bert]

what he had to wear below his belt

A sock?

[ThreeYearLurker]

Brother Ray could have played in the NBA!

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

My bad. I was actually thinking of the guy from St. Elsewhere, playing Jefferson IIRC. Unless my meds are still off.

[frog_jerk_2004]

According to Page Six in the NY Post, Bobby Darin used to wear a condom while performing on stage because he used to get so excited performing that he would frequently have an orgasm. I am looking for corroborating references on the 'net.

DARIN: "Some where beyond the Seaayaaahhhhhhh!"

[Jinjelsnaps]

Ruthe never gets around to even mentioning all of Michael Moores' lies.

Speaking of which, I heard that Moore entered F9/11 into the "Best Movie" category instead of "Best Documentary" - I rather like that, because it shows even he knew F9/11 was a work of fiction ;-)

[SmithL]

I heard that Moore entered F9/11 into the "Best Movie" category instead of "Best Documentary" - I rather like that, because it shows even he knew F9/11 was a work of fiction

heh heh heh,
Funny you should mention that. This is from the AP, today:

Michael Moore's gamble to hold his hit film "Fahrenheit 9/11" out of the documentary category -- to boost its best-picture prospects -- backfired. The movie was shut out across the board. Moore won the documentary prize two years ago for "Bowling for Columbine."