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Quiz about The Hoax Howard Hughes Fake Autobiography
Quiz about The Hoax Howard Hughes Fake Autobiography

"The Hoax": Howard Hughes' Fake Autobiography Quiz


"The Hoax" (2006) - Clifford Irving (Richard Gere) helped Howard Hughes write his autobiography. The only problem was that he'd never even met Howard Hughes.

A multiple-choice quiz by Juanito. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
Juanito
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
259,654
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
227
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Clifford Irving (Richard Gere) wrote a book about the art forger Elmyr de Hory. de Hory forged the works of many famous painters including Picasso. What was the title of this book? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Irving copied Howard Hughes' handwriting from letters that were published in what popular news magazine? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. On occasion when Irving was supposedly off interviewing Hughes, he was actually meeting with his mistress. Who was his mistress? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Irving and his accomplice Dick Suskind (Alfred Molina) committed a felony when they photographed government documents consisting of Hughes' testimony before the Senate. What building were they in? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. To ensure that rival publishers didn't find out about the autobiography of Hughes while it was being written, how were Hughes and the book referred to at the offices of McGraw-Hill? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Suskind who co-authored the autobiography of Hughes, claimed to have received what from Hughes, when he first met the billionaire recluse? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. How was a check made out to H.R. Hughes cashed by Irving? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. There was much discussion and controversy at McGraw-Hill concerning what material being published in the fake autobiography? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. How did Irving ensure that Suskind wouldn't confess about the hoax? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. How was the hoax ultimately exposed, after the books had already been printed? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Clifford Irving (Richard Gere) wrote a book about the art forger Elmyr de Hory. de Hory forged the works of many famous painters including Picasso. What was the title of this book?

Answer: Fake!

Less than two years after writing the biography of one of the greatest art forgers of all time, Irving would be in his own scandal for the fake autobiography of Howard Hughes.
Both were later featured in "F for Fake" (1974), a pseudo-documentary by Orson Welles.
2. Irving copied Howard Hughes' handwriting from letters that were published in what popular news magazine?

Answer: Newsweek

The "Newsweek" cover (April 19, 1976) featured a pencil sketch of Hughes' face, and said "The Secret World of Howard Hughes". From the article alone, Irving was able to glean a lot of useful information, including samples of Hughes' handwriting.
3. On occasion when Irving was supposedly off interviewing Hughes, he was actually meeting with his mistress. Who was his mistress?

Answer: Nina

Irving and Nina (Julie Delpy) had been in a secret relationship, which had been ended. Irving didn't want to have contact with her, for his wife's sake, but eventually gave in when Nina kept contacting him. He also told her about the fake autobiography he was writing.
4. Irving and his accomplice Dick Suskind (Alfred Molina) committed a felony when they photographed government documents consisting of Hughes' testimony before the Senate. What building were they in?

Answer: Library of Congress

Irving was prepared to go pretty far to keep this hoax accurate, so as to avoid detection. Irving and Suskind even stole documents from the Department of Defense.
5. To ensure that rival publishers didn't find out about the autobiography of Hughes while it was being written, how were Hughes and the book referred to at the offices of McGraw-Hill?

Answer: Octavio - Project Octavio

Hughes was well known for his eccentricities, which made it easy for Irving to make any demand that he wanted. The publishers weren't going to question too hard any special request because they didn't want to risk losing Hughes on the project.
6. Suskind who co-authored the autobiography of Hughes, claimed to have received what from Hughes, when he first met the billionaire recluse?

Answer: A prune

The organic prune anecdote would have made the first encounter with Hughes sound even more authentic. Such a minor detail, yet nobody would have been surprised if it had been true, given Hughes' behavior.
7. How was a check made out to H.R. Hughes cashed by Irving?

Answer: His wife created a fake id with the name Helga R. Hughes.

Irving made a fake passport for his wife, Edith Irving (Marcia Gay Harden). She took the check to Switzerland, and successfully opened a bank account there and cashed the check for one million dollars.
8. There was much discussion and controversy at McGraw-Hill concerning what material being published in the fake autobiography?

Answer: Hughes' bribing of politicians.

There was information regarding bribing that linked Hughes directly with US president Richard Nixon. Irving's book was even discussed in the White House due to the potential damage that might be done.
9. How did Irving ensure that Suskind wouldn't confess about the hoax?

Answer: He paid a prostitute to sleep with him.

Irving got Suskind really drunk, and paid the prostitute, although Suskind didn't know. This made Suskind feel extremely guilty for what he'd done. Suskind wasn't about to come clean about the autobiography, and risk his wife finding out about what he had done.
10. How was the hoax ultimately exposed, after the books had already been printed?

Answer: Hughes did a telephone conference with journalists.

After being exposed during the telephone conference that Hughes did with journalists who had known him, the Irvings eventually confessed.
Clifford Irving gave back the advance and served 14 months in prison.


It is amazing what Clifford Irving tried to get away with, and if it hadn't been for Howard Hughes himself speaking with journalists, nobody might have ever known. Although Irving ultimately failed, it sure is an interesting tale. I hope you enjoyed my quiz.
Source: Author Juanito

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nannanut before going online.
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