Fabled billionaire Industrialist, filmmaker, and aviator (1905–1976) who takes a place among the most colorful personalities of the twentieth century. Known as much for his prolific womanizing (his romantic partners included screen legends Jean Harlow and Katharine Hepburn, among others) as for his record-setting aviation exploits and business acumen, Hughes settled into reclusion in his final decades, disappearing from view and seeking refuge in closely guarded havens in Las Vegas, the Bahamas, and elsewhere. His enigmatic persona has remained an evergreen source of fascination more than a quarter century after his death, as evidenced by the fictional portrayals of him in the Oscar-winning films Melvin and Howard (1980) and The Aviator (2004). DS signed “Howard R. Hughes, pres,” one page, 8.5 x 11, July 19, 1932. Final page of a longer agreement between Howard Hughes and noted movie director Howard Hawks, concerning an agreement between The Caddo Company and Hawks. In full: “The undersigned and each of us hereby represent and warrant to and for the benefit of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation that the contract hereto is a duplicate original of the contract between the undersigned, The Caddo Company, Inc., and Howard W. Hawks, dated as of July 12, 1932, and is a duplicate original of the agreement between the said Caddo Company, Inc., and Howard W. Hawks referred to in that certain agreement between The Caddo Company, Inc. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation and Howard W. Hawks likewise dated as of July 12, 1932.” Hawks has also signed beneath Hughes. Hughes involvement in showibz dates to the mid-1920s, when he formed the Caddo Corporation and went on to produce three monumental films—the ambitious aeronautical feature Hell’s Angels (1930), the seminal newspaper film The Front Page (1931), and the potent gangster classic Scarface (1932). The release of Scarface, completed in 1930, was delayed by two years because of censors’ concerns that it glorified the gangster lifestyle and showed too much violence. The “conditions” for its release included the editing of several scenes the addition of the subtitle “The Shame of the Nation,” and the addition of a text introduction, epilogue, and new ending. Hawks, the original director, had no input on these modifications and ultimately disowned the studio release version of the film. Hughes gained a reputation not only as a successful film producer, but as a rebel whose eccentric use of wealth and whose disregard for industry convention was despised by the studio moguls. In 1932 he announced, to the relief of the Hollywood establishment, that he was retiring from the movie business to devote his time to aviation—a “promise” he went on to break with his most notorious production of all, the infamous Jane Russell starrer The Outlaw. Punch and staple holes along top edge, embossed Caddo Company seal over last letter of Hughes’ signature and title, some scattered creasing, and a fold across lower blank area far from any writing, otherwise fine condition. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
