Business Movers Summary: "Howard Hughes Blows Up Hollywood | Censored | 2"

Episode Details:

• Title: Howard Hughes Blows Up Hollywood | Censored | 2
• Podcast: Business Movers
• Host: Lindsey Graham
• Release Date: August 7, 2025

Introduction: Howard Hughes Takes a Stand

The episode begins in early spring of 1931 at the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) offices in Hollywood, where a 25-year-old millionaire film producer, Howard Hughes, faces scrutiny over his latest gangster film, Scarface.

Jason Joy, head of the studio relations office, confronts Hughes about the film's content:

Howard Hughes (00:00): "It feels a bit like I've been called into the principal's office."

Jason Joy (00:00):

"We have concerns."

Hughes challenges the MPPDA's expectations for his protagonist, arguing for a more realistic portrayal of gangsters rather than sanitized heroes.

Assembling the Perfect Team: Hughes and Hawks

In late 1930, Hughes collaborates with renowned director Howard Hawks to direct Scarface. Their relationship evolves from past legal disputes to a partnership aimed at creating a definitive gangster film.

During a golf match, Hughes persuades Hawks to take on the project:

Howard Hughes (04:30): "This is my way of making a hit. And I want you to make it with me."

Howard Hawks (04:30):

"If you change your mind and start pulling strings, I'll walk. No discussion."

Hughes ensures Hawks has full creative freedom, setting the stage for the film's controversial production.

Battling the Censors: The Struggle for Scarface

Scarface is met with resistance from the MPPDA due to its violent content and morally ambiguous protagonist, Tony Camonte, modeled after real-life mobster Al Capone. The MPPDA demands multiple changes, including:

• Removal of suggestive dialogue and sexual undertones.
• Alteration of the film's ending to depict Tony as a coward rather than a tragic antihero.

Hughes reluctantly complies initially but soon defies the MPPDA by submitting his original cut:

Howard Hughes (17:20): "I can’t do that. Keep me back with me."

The MPPDA remains unsatisfied, leading Hughes to continue his fight for creative control.

Release and Reception: Scarface Hits the Screens

Despite numerous edits, Scarface faces obstacles in gaining widespread approval. Hughes opts for a strategic premiere in Los Angeles without prior fanfare, targeting journalists to garner positive reviews:

Howard Hughes (05:32): "Explains the struggles I'd face getting Scarface into theaters, the constant interference, and the drastic changes the regulators demanded."

The resulting media praise boosts the film's popularity, but financial losses ensue due to high production and editing costs:

Lindsey Graham (19:10): "Ticket sales of around $600,000 left Howard nursing a loss of $100,000."

Hughes recognizes the unsustainable cost of constant battles with censors and begins contemplating a shift in focus.

Venturing into Aviation: A New Frontier

Frustrated with Hollywood's limitations, Hughes shifts his investment towards aviation, founding Hughes Aircraft Company. He achieves notable feats, including:

• Breaking the airspeed record at 352 mph with the H1 Racer.
• Setting a transcontinental flight record from Los Angeles to New York in seven and a half hours.
• Completing a record-breaking 91-hour flight around the world.

These accomplishments provide Hughes with the freedom he lacked in the film industry, though his passion for Hollywood remains.

Returning to Hollywood: The Outlaw and Jane Russell

In 1940, Hughes returns to filmmaking with The Outlaw, a Western featuring Jane Russell. Determined to capitalize on the allure of sex in cinema, Hughes invents a special bra to accentuate Russell's figure:

Howard Hughes (30:28): "This bra... Keeps everything exactly where the audience wants it."

Jane Russell (30:28):

"You really think this bra is going to save your movie?"

Despite comfort issues leading Russell to discard the bra during filming, Hughes remains committed to leveraging her star power to drive the film's success.

Struggles and Strategy: Overcoming Censorship with Publicity

The Outlaw encounters censorship challenges similar to Scarface. Hughes employs controversial marketing tactics by staging fake outrage from religious and women's groups to generate buzz. This strategy pays off in San Francisco, where the film garners significant attention and a modest profit despite initial resistance.

However, broader releases face obstacles due to stricter local censorship boards:

Howard Hughes (31:09): "It was a long drawn out battle of attrition."

Eventually, after multiple edits and relentless publicity, The Outlaw secures approval in key markets, achieving profitability and establishing Hughes as a maverick in Hollywood willing to defy authorities to push his creative vision.

Conclusion: The Cost of Creativity and Future Ambitions

Despite the eventual success of The Outlaw, Hughes faces substantial financial losses and growing fatigue from continuous battles with censorship. Reflecting on the high costs of his independent approach, Hughes contemplates future ventures, torn between his passion for filmmaking and the burdens it imposes.

As the episode concludes, Hughes sets his sights on further consolidating his influence within the Hollywood system:

Lindsey Graham (41:04): "Howard had produced a movie that Americans wanted to see. But it was a long drawn out battle of attrition."

The narrative sets the stage for the next episode, where Hughes plans to invest heavily in Hollywood by acquiring RKO Pictures, signaling the next phase of his ambitious journey in the film industry.

Notable Quotes

• Howard Hughes (04:30): "This is my way of making a hit. And I want you to make it with me." ([Howard Hughes Blows Up Hollywood | Censored | 2], [04:30])

• Howard Hawks (04:30): "If you change your mind and start pulling strings, I'll walk. No discussion." ([Howard Hughes Blows Up Hollywood | Censored | 2], [04:30])

• Howard Hughes (05:32): "Explains the struggles I'd face getting Scarface into theaters, the constant interference, and the drastic changes the regulators demanded." ([Howard Hughes Blows Up Hollywood | Censored | 2], [05:32])

• Howard Hughes (17:20): "I can’t do that. Keep me back with me." ([Howard Hughes Blows Up Hollywood | Censored | 2], [17:20])

• Howard Hughes (30:28): "This bra... Keeps everything exactly where the audience wants it." ([Howard Hughes Blows Up Hollywood | Censored | 2], [30:28])

• Jane Russell (30:28): "You really think this bra is going to save your movie?" ([Howard Hughes Blows Up Hollywood | Censored | 2], [30:28])

Further Recommendations

For those interested in delving deeper into Howard Hughes's tumultuous relationship with Hollywood, the episode recommends the following books:

• Howard Hughes, His Life and Madness by Donald L. Bartlett and James B. Steele
• Howard Hughes and the Creation of Modern Hollywood by Jeffrey Richardson
• Sex, Lies and Stardom by Karina Longman
• Howard Hughes's Hollywood by Karina Longman

Note: This summary excludes advertisement segments and non-content sections to focus solely on the narrative and key discussions surrounding Howard Hughes's endeavors in Hollywood and his battles with censorship.