Often recalled as an eccentric industrialist, Howard Hughes was also the most important movie producer during the golden age of Hollywood. At a time when filmmaking was highly formulaic and heavily censored, Hughes used his enormous wealth to push the boundaries of onscreen sex and violence, pioneering the concept of the multimillion-dollar blockbuster. Illustrated with photos and some rather bold film posters from the era, this history also recounts how Hughes's role in a government antitrust case led to the collapse of the entire studio system.