Customer Reviews

Howard Hughes: Aviator, Director, Billionaire (3 Movie Pack)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

HOWARD HUGHES: Aviator, Director, Billionaire was released by St. Clair in the wake of 2004's THE AVIATOR, which was a fast and loose biography of the reclusive Hughes. His directing efforts extended to a total of two films: HELL'S ANGELS (1930) and THE OUTLAW (1943), the latter of which is included here. The balance consists of two movies Hughes was the uncredited producer of, and a lead-off bio made specifically for this DVD set.

Harold Lloyd's last film, THE SIN OF HAROLD DIDDLEBOCK (1947), was re-cut by Hughes in 1950. He re-issued it under the name MAD WEDNESDAY.

THE FRONT PAGE (1931) was an early sound film, and it suffers somewhat from the limitations of primitive mikes and electronics. Nonetheless, this remains the definitive version of the Ben Hecht stageplay. Watch for Clark Gable and Herman Mankiewicz (he wrote CITIZEN KANE) in uncredited bit parts.

THE OUTLAW (1943) is a overlong fictionalized account of Billy the Kid and Doc Holliday, with ingenue Jane Russell's cleavage the star of the show. An average western with an above-average cast directed by a relative amateur (Hughes).

HOWARD HUGHES' HELL'S ANGELS completes the Hughes directorial library. This epic includes the only color footage of Jean Harlow in existence. The aerial battles here are still quite amazing to see.

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Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to 10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.

DISC ONE:
Documentary: Howard Hughes: Aviator, Director, Billionaire
(5.5) The Outlaw (1943) -Jane Russell/Jack Buetel/Thomas Mitchell/Walter Huston (uncredited: Ben Johnson/Dickie Moore/Wallace Reid Jr./Lee Shumway)

DISC TWO:
(6.3) The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947) - Harold Lloyd/Rudy Vallee/Edgar Kennedy/Franklin Pangborn/Lionel Stander/Margaret Hamilton
(7.3) The Front Page (1943) - Adolphe Menjou/Pat O'Brien/Edward Everett Horton/Mae Clarke/Slim Summerville/Frank McHugh (uncredited: Clark Gable/Herman J. Mankiewicz)

This dvd was excellent!! Thank you for replacement dvd. I learned so much about Howard Hughes. What an incredible man. Thank you again for everything!!! Liza =)