from imdb.com
Trivia for
The Aviator (2004)
Michael Mann was originally going to direct the film, but having directed back-to-back biopics The Insider (1999) and Ali (2001), he decided to produce instead, and offered the script to Martin Scorsese.
This is the first feature film that Leonardo DiCaprio's production company "Appian Way" is involved with.
Nicole Kidman was also considered for the role of Katharine Hepburn. When the scheduled start date was delayed by several months, Cate Blanchett became available after finishing filming The Missing (2003/I) and Martin Scorsese claims that Blanchett had always been his first choice.
Barry Pepper was due to play Howard Hughes's chief engineer, Glenn Odekirk, but due to prior commitment and scheduling conflicts with the film Mr. Ripley's Return (2004), he had to drop out.
Jim Carrey was originally considered for the lead role as Howard Hughes.
Production was delayed in October 2003, when wildfires in southern California burned several sets.
Gwyneth Paltrow was originally signed on to play Ava Gardner but dropped out.
Freckles were painstakingly painted onto Cate Blanchett's face, arms, and chest to make her resemble 'Katherine Hepburn' .
Cate Blanchett had three different red-hair wigs for this film.
Director Scorsese requested that Cate Blanchett watch all of the first 15 films of Kate Hepburn to learn her mannerism and her poise.
In preparation for her role as Hepburn, Blanchett learned to play tennis and golf and took cold showers, something Hepburn is known for.
The budget for the costumes was $2 million.
Kate Beckinsale gained 20 pounds for her role.
Jane Lynch's scenes as Amelia Earhart were cut from the movie.
Several scenes feature actual footage from the western Howard Hughes produced, The Outlaw (1943).
Director Cameo: [Martin Scorsese] Voice of the projectionist Hughes talks to in the screening room.
Cate Blanchett felt that accurately reproducing Hepburn's distinctive upper class New Englander accent was crucial to her portrayal of this Hollywood icon. She did daily voice exercises with the film's voice coach Tim Monich (with whom Blanchett had worked previously on The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)), and also studied Hepburn's early films and documentaries about her to learn her mannerisms.
Scorsese designed each year in the film to look just the way a color film from that time period would look. Achieved mainly through digitally enhanced postproduction, Scorsese recreated the look of Cinecolor and two-strip Technicolor. Watch in particular for the scene where Hughes meets Errol Flynn in the club. Hughes is served precisely placed peas on a plate, and they appear blue or turquoise
just as they'd have looked in the primitive two-strip Technicolor process. As Hughes ages throughout the film, the color gets more sophisticated and full-bodied.