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Drama

The Amazing Howard Hughes (1977): Cast & Plot

The Amazing Howard Hughes (1977) movie poster

The Amazing Howard Hughes is a 1977 drama directed by William A. Graham, starring Tommy Lee Jones as Howard Hughes, Morgan Brittany and Tannis G. Montgomery. It runs 3 hours 35 minutes.

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The Amazing Howard Hughes (1977) movie poster
Released
Runtime
3h 35m (215 min)
Director
William A. Graham
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
Studio
Roger Gimbel Productions
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Amazing Howard Hughes About?

The premise of The Amazing Howard Hughes without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

The Amazing Howard Hughes is a 1977 television film that dramatizes the life of American aviation pioneer and filmmaker Howard Hughes. Adapted from the book by his longtime business partner Noah Dietrich, the biopic features performances by Tommy Lee Jones, Ed Flanders and Tovah Feldshuh.

The Amazing Howard Hughes Themes & Keywords

· 14 tags
  • character name as title
  • howard hughes character
  • katharine hepburn character
  • billie dove character
  • fiorello laguardia character
  • lewis milestone character
  • jane russell character
  • jean peters character
  • pilot
  • billionaire
  • eccentricity
  • recluse
+2 more
  • director
  • based on book
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Cast & crew

The Amazing Howard Hughes Cast & Characters

Tommy Lee Jones leads the cast as Howard Hughes, with Morgan Brittany as Ella Hughes and Tannis G. Montgomery as Mrs. Hughes. Directed by William A. Graham; 57 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Amazing Howard Hughes

· 53 more
Show all 57 cast members
From the director

More from William A. Graham

More films directed by William A. Graham, best-rated first: Return to the Blue Lagoon, Blood Crime, Acceptable Risk and Dying to Belong.

Full filmography
Plot

The Amazing Howard Hughes Plot Summary

What happens in The Amazing Howard Hughes from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Howard Hughes, Tommy Lee Jones, emerges on screen as a figure of dazzling talent and growing isolation. The film traces a life built on relentless pursuit—first a wealthy heir who could afford ambitious bets, then a Hollywood mover who reshaped the era’s cinema with a knack for pushing boundaries. He shows a genius for spotting potential and a willingness to bankroll projects that would become enduring milestones, from the thrill of the sky to the allure of the screen. The narrative follows his evolution from an energetic producer who could assemble big-scale productions to a man whose insistence on perfection borders on compulsion, colorfully illustrating how brilliance can coexist with fragility.

Full summary

The whole story of The Amazing Howard Hughes, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Amazing Howard Hughes?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor portrays Howard Hughes in the film?
Cars

Cars in The Amazing Howard Hughes

2 cars on screen: the 1930 Duesenberg J Ep. 2 and the 1931 Pierce-Arrow Model 43 Ep. 2.

  • 1930 Duesenberg J Ep. 2 in The Amazing Howard Hughes 1930 Duesenberg J Ep. 2 Minor role
  • 1931 Pierce-Arrow Model 43 Ep. 2 in The Amazing Howard Hughes 1931 Pierce-Arrow Model 43 Ep. 2 Minor role
Details

The Amazing Howard Hughes Also Known As

8 alternative titles, including “A lenyűgöző Howard Hughes” and “El increíble Howard Hughes”.

Also known as
  • A lenyűgöző Howard Hughes
  • El increíble Howard Hughes
  • Der legendäre Howard Hughes
  • Hämmästyttävä Howard Hughes
  • 더 어메이징 하워드 휴즈
  • Úžasný Howard Hughes
  • Удивительный Говард Хьюз
  • 世纪的男性

Seen The Amazing Howard Hughes?
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Movies Like The Amazing Howard Hughes

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Aviator, Howard Hawks: A Hell of a Good Life and Howard Hawks: American Artist.

FAQ

The Amazing Howard Hughes FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Amazing Howard Hughes, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Amazing Howard Hughes?

The Amazing Howard Hughes runs 3 hours 35 minutes (215 minutes).

When was The Amazing Howard Hughes released?

The Amazing Howard Hughes was released on April 13, 1977.

Who directed The Amazing Howard Hughes?

The Amazing Howard Hughes was directed by William A. Graham.

More films by William A. Graham

Who is in the cast of The Amazing Howard Hughes?

The Amazing Howard Hughes stars Tommy Lee Jones as Howard Hughes, Morgan Brittany as Ella Hughes and Tannis G. Montgomery as Mrs. Hughes, among 57 credited actors.

Does The Amazing Howard Hughes have a post-credit scene?

No. The Amazing Howard Hughes has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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