Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 04/06/07 Home Video 10/16/07 MPAA Rating Rated R for language Running Time 1 hour 55 minutes Genre Drama Director Lasse Hallström Writer William Wheeler Cast Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Marcia Gay Harden, Julie Delpy, Hope Davis Studio Miramax Films |
THE HOAX
SYNOPSIS
In 1971, Clifford Irving achieved the very heights of
American journalism, nabbing a series of
unprecedented interviews with the most famous
man in the world – ultra-reclusive, immensely
powerful, superstar billionaire Howard Hughes –
revealing his most intimate memories and
controversial secrets.
Actually, that's a lie.
In 1971, writer Clifford Irving told an incredible
whopper – one that became one of the most
audacious and outrageous hoaxes ever perpetrated
on the media and American public. Claiming to have
obtained Howard Hughes' long sought-after
memoirs, Irving pulled the wool over the entire
publishing industry's eyes, and nearly made off with
major cash and worldwide fame, until his clever
yarn unraveled into a serious crime.
Now from Academy Award®-nominated director
Lasse Hallström (CIDER HOUSE RULES, CHOCOLAT)
comes THE HOAX, a riveting caper inspired by
Irving's untrue story. Jumping off from the still
controversial facts surrounding Irving's ruse into a
fictional reverie, the film mischievously and
In 1971, Clifford Irving achieved the very heights of
American journalism, nabbing a series of
unprecedented interviews with the most famous
man in the world – ultra-reclusive, immensely
powerful, superstar billionaire Howard Hughes –
revealing his most intimate memories and
controversial secrets.
Actually, that's a lie.
In 1971, writer Clifford Irving told an incredible
whopper – one that became one of the most
audacious and outrageous hoaxes ever perpetrated
on the media and American public. Claiming to have
obtained Howard Hughes' long sought-after
memoirs, Irving pulled the wool over the entire
publishing industry's eyes, and nearly made off with
major cash and worldwide fame, until his clever
yarn unraveled into a serious crime.
Now from Academy Award®-nominated director
Lasse Hallström (CIDER HOUSE RULES, CHOCOLAT)
comes THE HOAX, a riveting caper inspired by
Irving's untrue story. Jumping off from the still
controversial facts surrounding Irving's ruse into a
fictional reverie, the film mischievously and
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
imaginatively explores how a man, an industry and an entire nation could become intoxicated by a good
story . . . in sheer defiance of the fact that it never really happened.
Golden Globe winner Richard Gere takes on the roguish role of Clifford Irving, an ambitious yet struggling
writer who's been looking for that one big story for so long, he brazenly decides to make one up. At first
the idea is just a savvy artistic prank, but if that's what the world wants, Irving believes he can take it
further. Shrouding himself in a clever cloud of secrecy, he drops the news to a major publisher that he
has been approached by the one man the entire world most wants to know about – aviator, movie mogul,
ladies man and eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes – to ink his priceless biography.
There's just one little problem: not a word of what Clifford is saying has an ounce of truth to it. He's never
so much as seen a glimpse of the real Howard Hughes. But Irving banks on the idea that Hughes'
seclusion and notoriously thin hold on reality will allow the con to succeed. Hughes has not been seen or
heard from in public for over a decade. He is a total recluse. Irving relies on this fact to protect his bogus
story – as Hughes refuses to confirm or deny anything so prevalent is his fear of appearing in public.
Recruiting his anxiety-prone but loyal best friend Dick Suskind (ALFRED MOLINA) and European artist wife
(Academy Award® winner MARCIA GAY HARDEN) into the scheme, Clifford soon finds himself in a wild
maze of treachery, as he is forced to dodge the fallout of his falsehoods at every turn. What started as an
adventurous lark soon turns into a seemingly inescapable maze of forgeries, thefts, tall tales, deceptions
and impersonations.
Yet Clifford's plan works like magic as his publishers, hungry for a bestseller at any cost, are hoodwinked
by the thrill of it all. When Clifford stumbles upon possible links between Hughes and a corrupt Nixon
administration, the stakes for his book grow even higher. Clifford is on top of the world . . . until the real
Howard Hughes shockingly emerges to pull the rug out from under him. Only now, Clifford is so caught up
in the tale he created that he may no longer know where his incredible story ends and reality begins.
--© Miramax Films
story . . . in sheer defiance of the fact that it never really happened.
Golden Globe winner Richard Gere takes on the roguish role of Clifford Irving, an ambitious yet struggling
writer who's been looking for that one big story for so long, he brazenly decides to make one up. At first
the idea is just a savvy artistic prank, but if that's what the world wants, Irving believes he can take it
further. Shrouding himself in a clever cloud of secrecy, he drops the news to a major publisher that he
has been approached by the one man the entire world most wants to know about – aviator, movie mogul,
ladies man and eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes – to ink his priceless biography.
There's just one little problem: not a word of what Clifford is saying has an ounce of truth to it. He's never
so much as seen a glimpse of the real Howard Hughes. But Irving banks on the idea that Hughes'
seclusion and notoriously thin hold on reality will allow the con to succeed. Hughes has not been seen or
heard from in public for over a decade. He is a total recluse. Irving relies on this fact to protect his bogus
story – as Hughes refuses to confirm or deny anything so prevalent is his fear of appearing in public.
Recruiting his anxiety-prone but loyal best friend Dick Suskind (ALFRED MOLINA) and European artist wife
(Academy Award® winner MARCIA GAY HARDEN) into the scheme, Clifford soon finds himself in a wild
maze of treachery, as he is forced to dodge the fallout of his falsehoods at every turn. What started as an
adventurous lark soon turns into a seemingly inescapable maze of forgeries, thefts, tall tales, deceptions
and impersonations.
Yet Clifford's plan works like magic as his publishers, hungry for a bestseller at any cost, are hoodwinked
by the thrill of it all. When Clifford stumbles upon possible links between Hughes and a corrupt Nixon
administration, the stakes for his book grow even higher. Clifford is on top of the world . . . until the real
Howard Hughes shockingly emerges to pull the rug out from under him. Only now, Clifford is so caught up
in the tale he created that he may no longer know where his incredible story ends and reality begins.
--© Miramax Films