The Amazing Howard Hughes

While "The Amazing Howard Hughes" lacks the great CGI and beautiful polish of the later Hughes biopic "The Aviator", it is a terrific film--and better in some ways. Unlike "The Aviator", "The Amazing Howard Hughes" gives a much more complete account of the billionaire's life. While it fails to did in as much psychological depth as the later film and doesn't build the same sense of sadness, it is a very full portrait. While both films skip most of his childhood (and this is a shame), this made for TV movie goes from his early career through his final years--living as an insane recluse. In the process, Tommy Lee Jones did a wonderful job--looking and sounding much like the man he was portraying. Overall, a great look at the life of Hughes and one of the best made for TV films of the 1970s. And, not surprisingly, it helped to launch Jones' career to much greater heights. Well worth seeing.

This film is outstanding on all levels covered all of Hughes' life which is surprising for a t.v. movie.

Don't ever look for any movie t.v. or not to tell the full story of anyones life.This film was done at a time when there was actually(URGH)truth and balance in media.

I saw this movie with the limited opinion that he was just some nut case and came away with the opinion that he was an extraordinary complicated man who let his ego get the better of him.

There is a message in this film for all of us and that is not to ignore your problems or difficulties.

I feel sorry for younger people who will never get the chance to see a biopic that would tell a persons story as accurately as they could.

At least not one that was made in this country and certainly not one that was done by Americans.

Tommy Lee Jones put himself squarely on the map as a far more convincing Howard Hughes than Leonardo diCaprio in Martin Scorsese's hopelessly romantic and shamelessly inaccurate 'The Aviator' (with Tovah Feldshuh nothing like the caricature Cate Blanchett made of Katherine Hepburn), while America's number one weirdo's final descent into madness in which the world's richest man ended his days as a bearded, kleenex-wielding shuffling skeleton ironically suffering from malnutrition is also far better depicted.

Hughes' most lasting contribution to film history was not actually the lousy movies he directed but as the back seat driver who wrecked RKO, a crime rarely even hinted at in the many films his antics inspired, but along with his reactionary politics should make his name live in infamy with all serious film buffs everywhere.

Tommy Lee Jones is the quintessential Howard Hughes,with mannerisms, voice,and he looks just like Howard Hughes (Check out old news reels) His acting puts the frosting on the cake. In the same regard Ed Flanders portrayal of Noah Dietrich, is right on the money as well. I also like the "Aviator" (2004) Martin Scorsese's ,interpretation is also great;but Tommy Lee Jones (for me) became Howard Hughes,through 1924-1976. This film deserves to be remastered for sound/video, but for now I'm quite satisfied with my DVD version of this 1977 Mini Series Classic!

Found this movie again - buried in my Dvd collection.

Tommy Lee was just superb. As much as any bio drama can, this movie portrays the man, H. R. Hughes pretty well. I won't even compare the other bio-drama so many here mention because they're simply two completely different movies movies made in two completely different eras.

Why must people's opinions be so rooted in comparing same-subject movies?

This is a strong and unique movie.

The character is in fact developed enough psychologically that we fully understand his drive; a common enough story; never able to please his father, Howard drives himself to utter perfection in everything. Sets the highest goals, and achieves them. Unfortunately, the cost of that is one's sanity.

As Albert Einstein said, 'the only difference between genius and insanity is that genius has its limits.' I believe his OCD behaviours were with him all his life, easier to dismiss or call 'ecentric' and somewhat more controllable in his youth, but obviously, culminated into total loss of control because the mind (& body following along) can only control just so much. It is utterly overwhelming to realize one is losing control, or even if they are in denial of that, the fallout exists - either way they will suffer the collateral damage - and then the mind turns on itself - to control what it thinks is controllable. The same paradoxical idea, for example bulemics exhibit - controlling their weight in destructive ways - is about feeling in control, yet it's out of control behaviour.

For Howard, it was germs. It was trying to grasp at anything he thought he had left in the realm of control, like the care of his own body.

Yet, the controller is denying the obvious out of control results, obsessively repeating the steps to give himself the illusion of control.

Hughes exhibited quite paradoxical behaviour throughout his life. This, combined with his genius, and as portrayed here, rather inappropriate social behaviours, leads me to strongly believe he was on the spectrum for Aspergers.

Just a fascinating & brilliant man. Regardless of his tragic end.