Trivia

Had said in interviews that he was supposed to direct the now-beloved Casablanca (1942) and Michael Curtiz was meant to direct Sergent York (1941). However, the two directors had lunch together and Curtiz complained that he knew nothing about the "hill people", while Hawks was struggling to make this "musical comedy", so they switched films. Hawks said that he always considered "Casablanca" a musical comedy because of the number of singing scenes in the café, namely the "La Marseillaise" scene. Later, Hawks said that Curtiz shot the film "beautifully and the whole picture came out different because of the two people in it [Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman]. They made you believe something. When I saw 'Casablanca' I liked it, but I never had any faith in my doing anything like that".

He never got over the plane-crash death of his brother Kenneth Hawks, who Hawks said probably had the potential to be an even greater filmmaker than himself. Nonetheless, he continued to fly after his brother's death and went on to shoot many films about pilots.

John Wayne gave the eulogy at his funeral.

Despite his collaborations and associations with politically outspoken stars, such as the famously right-wing John Wayne or the left-wing Humphrey Bogart, Hawks himself remained resolutely apolitical throughout his life.

His friend John Ford called him "The Grey Fox" of Hollywood for his womanizing ways (regardless of whether he was married or not at the time).

His wife saw Lauren Bacall on the cover of a magazine and persuaded him to put her in the movies. Bacall was only 20 when she made her screen debut in Le Port de l'angoisse (1944).

Directed five different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Walter Brennan, Gary Cooper, Margaret Wycherly, Barbara Stanwyck and Arthur Hunnicutt. Cooper and Brennan won Oscars for their performances in one of Hawks' movies.

Although he was one of the most prolific directors of his generation, having directed five actors to Oscar nominations, he himself was nominated for an Academy Award only once.

Of all the famous actresses he directed, he considered Frances Farmer the best he ever worked with. He directed her in Le vandale (1936). Hawks was also very fond of Barbara Stanwyck, Carole Lombard and Rosalind Russell.

Many aspects of Lauren Bacall's screen persona in Le Port de l'angoisse (1944), her film debut, were based on Hawks' wife at that time, Slim, including her glamorous dresses, long blonde hair, smoky voice and demure, mysterious demeanor. Humphrey Bogart's character also refer to Bacall by the nickname "Slim" in the movie.

Worked in a plethora of genres over the course of his career, including westerns, screwball comedies, film noirs, action/adventures, period epics, war dramas, racing films, science-fiction, and gangster pictures.

He was presented with an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement by his friend John Wayne at the 1974 Academy Awards ceremony.

To build their New England-style home, Hawks' wife Slim used the set plans from his film L'impossible Monsieur Bébé (1938).

Was the uncredited "ghost director" on the science-fiction classic La Chose d'un autre monde (1951), for which his longtime editor and friend Christian Nyby received sole credit. It was only near the end of Hawks' life that both he and Nyby conceded that he had indeed directed most of the film, as had long been rumored. On the other hand, several of the film's cast members, including Kenneth Tobey and James Arness, were adamant in interviews that Nyby did in fact direct the film by himself, although Hawks--as the film's producer--did have input.

Died the day after Charles Chaplin.

Quentin Tarantino said that Hawks' Rio Bravo (1959) may be his favorite movie of all time.

Served in the US Army Signal Corps during World War I.

Ashes scattered in the desert near Calimesa, CA.

Frequently worked with William Faulkner. Faulkner wrote or co-wrote many of Hawks' films.

Brother-in-law of Mary Astor.

Attended Throop Polytechnic Institute (which later become the California Institute of Techonology) and the Phillips Academy (a prep school). Later studies engineering at Cornell University. His biographer, Todd McCarthy, wrote that his educational experiences were a very important factor in the formation of his studied character, which he brought to his films, as well as every other endeavor in his life.

He has directed eleven films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Scarface (1932), Train de luxe (1934), L'impossible Monsieur Bébé (1938), Seuls les anges ont des ailes (1939), La dame du vendredi (1940), Sergent York (1941), Boule de feu (1941), Le grand sommeil (1946), La Rivière rouge (1948), La Chose d'un autre monde (1951) (uncredited) and Rio Bravo (1959).

In April 1996 he was voted the fourth greatest director of all time by "Entertainment Weekly".

Brian De Palma dedicated Scarface (1983), his remake of Hawks' Scarface (1932), to him.

Cousin-in-law of William Powell, brother-in-law of Douglas Shearer and Norma Shearer, son-in-law of Edith Shearer.

His son, Peter John Ward Hawks, was born to wife Athole on July 31, 1924, and adopted by Howard in 1928. Son David Winchester Hawks was born October 9, 1929. Daughter Barbara born May 20, 1936. Daughter Kitty Stephen Hawks born February 11, 1946. Son Gregg born October 22, 1954.

His uncredited voice is used during the opening credits of Chérie, je me sens rajeunir (1952). The off-screen voice twice says, "Not yet, Cary," when Barnaby (Cary Grant) opens his front door to come outside.

Directed three of the American Film Institute's 100 Funniest Movies: L'impossible Monsieur Bébé (1938) at #14, La dame du vendredi (1940) at #19 and Boule de feu (1941) at #92.

One of his distant cousins, Elizabeth Ellen Robinson, was the mother of Mary Gish and grandmother of Lillian Gish and Dorothy Gish.

He was an infamous teller of tall tales, usually ones where he exagggerated his already considerable involvement in the making of his films and ones where he sounded like a tough guy (punching producers, etc.)

Interviewed in Peter Bogdanovich's "Who the Devil Made It: Conversations With Robert Aldrich, George Cukor, Allan Dwan, Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, Chuck Jones, Fritz Lang, Joseph H. Lewis, Sidney Lumet, Leo McCarey, Otto Preminger, Don Siegel, Josef von Sternberg, Frank Tashlin, Edgar G. Ulmer, Raoul Walsh." NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1997.

In a 1972 interview, Hawks named whom he considered the best American film directors of his generation: John Ford, Frank Capra, Leo McCarey, and George Stevens. He also admitted that he hadn't seen many international films, but singled out one French director for praise - François Truffaut.

His first venture into the film business was as a prop boy on Petite princesse (1917) on which he apparently was allowed to direct some scenes uncredited.

Second cousin of Carole Lombard.

As of the fifth edition of "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" (edited by Steven Schneider), 11 of Hawks' films are included, second only to Alfred Hitchcock in abundance. The films are: Scarface (1932), L'impossible Monsieur Bébé (1938), Seuls les anges ont des ailes (1939), La dame du vendredi (1940), Sergent York (1941), Le Port de l'angoisse (1944), Le grand sommeil (1946), La Rivière rouge (1948), La captive aux yeux clairs (1952), Les hommes préfèrent les blondes (1953) and Rio Bravo (1959).

Brother of Kenneth Hawks.

He was initially going to direct Gunga Din (1939), but was replaced after L'impossible Monsieur Bébé (1938) flopped. George Stevens replaced him.

Cousin-in-law of Clark Gable.

Quentin Tarantino has named Hawks as his favorite director and praised him as "the greatest storyteller in the history of cinema".

Is portrayed by James Cahill in Le rêve de Frances (1983)

He was educated at Pasadena High School, Pasadena, CA; Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire from 1908-12; and Cornell University, New York, from 1914-16, obtaining a degree in Engineering.

He had two sons and two daughters.

Designer in plane factory 1919 - 22.

Brother of William B. Hawks, brother-in-law of Bessie Love.

Is portrayed by Ross Elliott in Bogie (1980), by Howard Platt in Norma Jean & Marilyn (1996) and by Adam Roarke in Hughes and Harlow: Angels in Hell (1977)

1974 awarded an Honorary Oscar for a Master American Film Maker whose creative effort holds a distinguished place in World Cinema.

Brother-in-law of Eden Hartford.

He was in the American Army Air Corps 1917 - 19.

Father-in-law of Ned Tanen. Ned Tanen married Kitty Hawks (Hawks' daughter). They divorced in 1983.

He was asked to direct Le Pont de la rivière Kwaï (1957) but declined. After the box-office failure of La Terre des pharaons (1955), he didn't want a second one in a row, and he thought the critics would love this movie but the public would stay away. One particular concern was the all-male lead roles.