Melvin and Howard (1980)
The story of hard-luck Melvin Dummar, who claimed to have received a will naming him an heir to the fortune of Howard Hughes. (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Jonathan Demme
Written By: Bo Goldman
Starring: Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, Charles Napier, Michael J. Pollard, Gloria Grahame, Pamela Reed, Paul Le Mat, Rick Lenz, Denise Galik, Elizabeth Cheshire, Chip Taylor, Melvin E. Dummar
Country: USA
Where to Stream
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Melvin and Howard belongs to 18 collections
1. boobs (collaborative: moderated by Pickpocket - 51 stars)
2. Psychotronic Film and Video Guides (collaborative: moderated by Gregzilla - 40 stars)
3. Jonathan Rosenbaum's Top 1000 Movies (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 38 stars)
4. New York Times' The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made (collaborative: moderated by theficionado - 32 stars)
5. Academy Award - Oscar - ALL Best Picture, Directing, Acting & Screenplay Nominees (collaborative - 22 stars)
6. Feel Good Movies (collaborative: moderated by Midaso - 17 stars)
7. Oscar: Best Writing (adapted/original) (collaborative: moderated by paulofilmo - 10 stars)
8. David Thomson's 1000 Films (collaborative: moderated by MMAlpha - 7 stars)
9. Best by different standards (public: sesito71 - 6 stars)
10. National Society of Film Critics: Best Film (collaborative: moderated by CCLZA - 4 stars)
11. Triumvirate of Oscar Winning Actors/Actresses in the Cast (3 or more) (collaborative: moderated by Dunstan-xxx - 4 stars)
12. Oscar: Best Actress In A Supporting Role (collaborative: moderated by doganay - 2 stars)
13. Character name in title (collaborative: moderated by Pickpocket - 2 stars)
14. Best Original screenplay (collaborative: moderated by Roman_Herbom - 2 stars)
15. NBR Top 10 Films (collaborative: moderated by xacviant - 1 star)
16. Blank Check with Griffin & David (public: TychoCelchuu - 1 star)
17. Available on Divicast (collaborative: moderated by Dunstan-xxx)
18. 1980: Year in Review (public: polanski28)
Browse the full list of collections
| Date | User | Rating | |
| Sep 05, 2022 | doyler29 | 90 86th |
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We see the way that circumstances often keep Dummar down, like his milkman job being rigged in a way to permanently prevent him for saving money, and his own bad choices stopping him from getting ahead, but it's not framed as a depressing story so much as a somewhat life affirming depiction of the truth. People like Dummar do not become people like Hughes, but sometimes the fact that Dummar got Hughes to sing the song he wrote is enough of a reason to keep trying.
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| Nov 19, 2019 |  |
WWallce4prez | 84 85th |
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Robards is great, Steenburgen is great, but it is Demme's treatment of his main character that is the star of the show. Melvin is obviously a kind of loser, but we are given such a rich character who only wants to chase dreams. He doesn't make the right choices and he goes about most things the wrong way, but Melvin soars in his ambition. A unique take on the American Dream.
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| Mar 31, 2018 |  |
Neonman | 83 73rd |
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A peculiar portrayal of poor people, who are seen with sentimental and heightened, yet perhaps distant and critical eyes. I got involved in their wide portrait of struggles and earnest efforts, yet wrestled with their stupidity, irrationality, and how much they flip-flopped amongst each other (at the expense of other characters). Hard film to pin down, but I liked it, not just for its cinematic prowess, but for how consistently entertaining, enthralling, and even maddening it can be.
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| Dec 11, 2015 |  |
JakeAesthete | 39 36th |
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It's kind of ironic that Demme is probably best known for Silence of the Lambs when he seems much more naturally suited for this type of warm-hearted, slightly corny comedy-drama. It's really nothing too special, and the pacing is very choppy at times, but it's at least nice to see such an affectionate portrayal of the working class (even if it's niceness gets in the way of more nuanced critique), one can only imagine how condescending this would have been in the hands of, say, Robert Altman.
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| Nov 15, 2013 |  |
spleen | 89 93rd |
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Sums up the new American dream. Work hard your whole life with the hope that one day you'll be driving through the desert and pick up a homeless old guy who turns to be an eccentric millionaire who leaves you a huge inheritance in his will. Same thing happened to me; except Instead of Howard Hughes it was Sheckey Greene and instead of millions of dollars, I had to listen to a three hour tirade about how he wasn't really Buddy Hackett. Ah well, live and learn.
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| Nov 09, 2013 |  |
snallygaster | 47 44th |
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Demme doesn't examine any of the obvious factual questions about Dummar's questionable "true story"; instead he uses it as a conceit to observe working class life. We see Melvin, Lynda et al wandering around through a lifestyle they seem destined never to break free of -- barring some miracle, of course. It's more clever than it appears, although only slightly more interesting.
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| Sep 22, 2013 | glm01 | 81 68th |
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81.000
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| Apr 30, 2013 | DougieD | 70 35th |
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For a movie called "Melvin and Howard" it certainly has an awful lot of Melvin and very little Howard. It's a likable film based on an interesting true story. Mary Steenburgen is a delight in her career making, Oscar-winning role. Jason Robards' award nominations are slightly baffling though, as he only has two brief scenes and doesn't really do much.
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| Jul 27, 2012 |  |
3dRevelation | 64 30th |
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Should probably just be titled Melvin. I thought the film was just kind of flat. It wasn't very exciting, but at the same time not terrible. Robards is good in his brief role, but I didn't care much for the others.
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| Apr 26, 2012 |  |
wetwillies | 90 80th |
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Based on a crazy, true story, Melvin and Howard has Jonathan Demme doing what he does best, I think: showing us America through the eyes of his unique characters. Paul Le Mat may not be popular but he's excellent and Mary Steenburgen is very good and the screenplay is great. But Jason Robards as Howard Hughes is probably the most impressive thing in the whole picture.
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| Apr 19, 2012 | glm | 82 71st |
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82.000
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| Dec 11, 2011 |  |
PerryStroika | 63 53rd |
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The ending's not much. It's like a road trip where getting there is fun, but arriving is a disappointment.
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| Mar 12, 2010 |  |
billkerwin | 84 60th |
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This film has a casual indie feel about it and features excellent performances by Paul Le Mat, Mary Steenburgen and Jason Robards in a superb cameo as Howard Hughes. Demme's direction, although it feels casual, is artful and effective.
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| Aug 16, 2007 |  |
DavidKahane | 94 89th |
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Demme depicts the struggles of Melvin Dummar's life with an honest but understanding approach. The resulting film is recognizably Demme, rich in unconventional details and telling moments. Mary Steenburgen won an Oscar for playing one of Melvin's wives, but it's fellow nominee Jason Robards who's most impressive as the ragged Hughes. With one prolonged scene in a pickup truck, Robards delivers a master class in building a character.
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| Aug 14, 2007 |  |
MartinTeller | 67 30th |
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A good enough movie, but not really special.
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| Mar 03, 2007 |  |
TheDiceman | 70 82nd |
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Very good.
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| Average Percentile 55.27% from 200 Ratings |  |