Legendary beauty Hedy Lamarr invented frequency hopping; a film may show her intellectual side: Lamarr and George Antheil developed many of the fundamental ideas for frequency hopping spread-spectrum technology that is the foundation of much of modern data and voice wireless communication. Their patents were kept secret until 1985, delaying recognition. A foundation is helping to fund "Face Value," a screenplay about these broader aspects of Lamarr's life beyond her screen talent.
Lamarr received a Pioneer Award in 1997 from the Electronic Frontier Foundation while Antheil was recognized posthumously. The Associated Press reported that the actress, then in her mid-80s, said on learning of the award, "It's about time." Her son apparently traveled to accept on her behalf; she died in 2000. In an uncredited article about her written around 1997, this prescient quote appears: "I should probably sell my life story to Ted Turner," says the film goddess-inventor-patriot, "because it's unbelievable."
Dave Hughes successfully lobbied for Antheil and Lamarr's nomination for that Pioneer Award. He is a technical adviser for the screenplay about her life. (Hughes himself will receive West Point's Distinguished Graduate award in late May, a signal honor by his alma mater. And someone should, in fact, schedule a movie to be made about his life, too.)
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