Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies  (2000)

Theatrical Release Information:
Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies

Before he became a billionaire and recluse, Howard Hughes not only ran Hughes Aircraft, he also helmed RKO at a time when the studio was a fairly powerful entity in Hollywood. Narrated by actor Billy Zane, this biography profiles Howard Hughes the film producer. Highlights include interviews with various people who knew and worked with Hughes in Hollywood, as well as commentary by film critic Leonard Maltin and information about Hughes romancing various starlets of the 1940s, such as Ava Gardner, Ginger Rogers, and Katharine Hepburn. The program also features details of Hughes' headstrong battle with the censors. In 1943, he caused an uproar when he briefly released The Outlaw without the Production Code seal of approval. Hughes blatantly used Jane Russell's bosom (and her Hughes-engineered bra) to ballyhoo the film, which became a cause célèbre, though it was not very good. Hughes' flaunting of the censorship system spelled the beginning of the end of the antiquated "Hays Code." Also appearing in this video are Sally Forrest, Janet Leigh, and Terry Moore. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide