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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.

Author
Juanito

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
259,654

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
234

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

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

Fake!

Elmyr de Hoax

The Forgery

The Art Forger

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

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

The Economist

Time

Newsweek

The New York Times

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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

Sandra

Nina

Helga

Jane

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

Library of Congress

The Senate Building

National Library of America

The Louvre

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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

Mr. X - Project X

Octavio - Project Octavio

HH - Project H

Crazy - Project Paranoid

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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

A prune

A nickel

An apple

A puppy

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Question 7 of 10

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

He had a friend who worked at the bank.

He created a fake id and posed as Howard Hughes.

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

He was unable to cash the check.

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

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

Hughes' love of ice cream.

Hughes' treatment of employees.

Hughes' animals.

Hughes' bribing of politicians.

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

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

He threatened Suskind with a gun.

He paid a prostitute to sleep with him.

He convinced Suskind's wife to keep him quiet.

He gave Suskind a new car.

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

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

Irving's wife Edith confessed to the hoax.

Hughes did a live interview on television.

Hughes did a telephone conference with journalists.

Hughes denounced Irving in scathing letters sent to every national newspaper in the country.

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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.

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

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