Hughes was real, and the film accurately depicts his achievements in aviation/film, his major relationships, and his struggles with OCD. The portrayal of his inner thoughts and specific OCD triggers is interpretive.

Hepburn and Hughes had a well-documented relationship. Cate Blanchett's Oscar-winning portrayal is praised for capturing Hepburn's mannerisms and spirit accurately based on historical records.

Gardner had a complex, long-term relationship with Hughes. The film accurately portrays her as one of the few people who understood and tolerated his eccentricities.

Dietrich was Hughes's long-time right-hand man at Hughes Tool Company. His portrayal as managing Hughes's finances and dealing with his erratic behavior aligns with Dietrich's own memoirs.

Trippe was the powerful founder of Pan Am and engaged in fierce competition with Hughes's TWA, lobbying politically against him, as depicted accurately in the film.

Brewster did lead Senate investigations into Hughes's wartime contracts, and historical sources suggest connections to Pan Am's interests. His adversarial role is accurately portrayed.

The film accurately depicts the immense cost, long production time, dangerous aerial filming, and Hughes's obsessive perfectionism (including reshooting for sound) involved in making Hell's Angels.

Hughes was a record-setting pilot. The development and successful record-breaking flight of the innovative H-1 Racer are accurately portrayed.

Hughes and Hepburn had a significant romantic relationship in the mid-1930s, depicted with reasonable accuracy regarding its timeline and dynamics (her independence, his possessiveness).

Hughes gained control of TWA and invested heavily in modernizing its fleet (like commissioning the Constellation) to compete with Pan Am.

Hughes and Gardner had a tumultuous, long-lasting friendship and intermittent romance beginning in the 1940s.

Hughes played a key role in initiating and funding the development of the advanced Constellation airliner for TWA.

Hughes was critically injured in the 1946 crash of the experimental XF-11 reconnaissance plane he was piloting over Beverly Hills, accurately depicted in the film.

Hughes suffered from severe OCD, which worsened over time. The film accurately portrays symptoms like germaphobia, repetitive behaviors, and increasing self-isolation based on biographical accounts.

Hughes devoted enormous resources to building the massive H-4 flying boat under a government contract during WWII, though it was not finished until after the war.

Hughes (with TWA) fought fiercely against Juan Trippe's Pan Am monopoly on international air routes, a battle waged partly through Senator Brewster's committee hearings.

Brewster's committee did investigate Hughes's spending on the XF-11 and H-4 Hercules contracts, alleging waste and failure to deliver during the war.

Hughes famously counter-attacked during the hearings in 1947, defending his reputation and accusing Brewster of corruption, turning public opinion in his favor, as depicted.

Hughes personally piloted the H-4 Hercules on its first and only flight, a short hop over Long Beach harbor in November 1947, silencing some critics.

The film accurately concludes around 1947, showing Hughes's OCD worsening significantly and foreshadowing his later descent into extreme isolation.

Hughes's deep passion for aviation and his pursuit of record-breaking flights are central to the film and are based on historical fact.

The film portrays Hughes's long and troubled development of the H-4 Hercules, the massive wooden airplane, which is a significant part of his aviation legacy.

Hughes's involvement in the film industry, including his direction of films like *Hell's Angels*, is accurately depicted.

The film portrays Hughes's relationships with Katharine Hepburn and Ava Gardner, which were real relationships. However, the film dramatizes some aspects of these relationships and their impact on Hughes's life.

The film shows Hughes's involvement in various business dealings and acquisitions, including his purchase of RKO Pictures. While these are based on real events, the film may simplify the complexities of these transactions.

The film depicts Hughes's interactions with the government and the military, particularly concerning his aviation projects. While these interactions are based on real events, some details are likely dramatized.

The Senate hearings regarding the funding for the H-4 Hercules are a real event and are depicted in the film. Hughes's passionate defense of the project is also accurately portrayed.

The crash of the XF-11, a reconnaissance aircraft Hughes was test-piloting, is a real event and is depicted in the film. This near-fatal crash had a significant impact on Hughes's physical and mental health.

Recreations of movie sets (Hell's Angels), famous nightclubs (Coconut Grove), and the general glamour of Hollywood from the late 1920s to 1940s appear authentic.

The settings related to Hughes's aviation ventures accurately reflect the era of rapid aeronautical development, from early airfields to large wartime production facilities.

The key aircraft central to the plot are accurately recreated visually, showcasing their distinctive designs and scale based on historical models and photographs.

A notable feature: the film uses digital color grading to mimic the look of early two-color and later three-strip Technicolor processes, enhancing the period authenticity of different eras shown.

Costume design accurately reflects the evolving fashions for both men and women across the two decades depicted in the film.

Vehicles, communication devices, and other background technology appear appropriate for the specific years portrayed within the film's timeframe.

The setting for the climatic Senate investigation scenes accurately recreates the formal atmosphere of such government proceedings.

The film accurately portrays the opulent lifestyle afforded by Hughes's immense wealth, including lavish homes, parties, and access to high society.

Captures the spirit of technological advancement in aviation and filmmaking, as well as the high-stakes business and political environment of the era.

The film provides a visually stunning and generally accurate depiction of Hollywood during its Golden Age, including its glamour, its power, and its social dynamics.

The costumes and sets in the film are meticulously researched and contribute to the film's authentic portrayal of the era.

The film touches on the vastness of Hughes's business empire, but it simplifies the complexities of his various holdings and his business practices.