IMDb > Melvin and Howard (1980)
Melvin and Howard
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Melvin and Howard (1980) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 2)
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.
Melvin and Howard (1980) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   1,884 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 15% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Bo Goldman (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Melvin and Howard on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 September 1980 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
A true story? more
Plot:
The story of hard-luck Melvin Dummar, who claimed to have received a will naming him an heir to the fortune of Howard Hughes. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Producer Ned Tanen Dead At 77
 (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 6 January 2009, 1:31 AM, PST)

Jason Robards Dies
 (From WENN. 28 December 2000)

User Comments:
No Special Effects, No Mega-Buck Stars, Just a Great Film more (26 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jason Robards ... Howard Hughes

Paul Le Mat ... Melvin Dummar
Elizabeth Cheshire ... Darcy Dummar

Mary Steenburgen ... Lynda Dummar
Chip Taylor ... Clark Taylor
Melvin E. Dummar ... Bus Depot Counterman

Michael J. Pollard ... Little Red
Denise Galik ... Lucy
Gene Borkan ... Go-Go Club Owner #1
Lesley Margret Burton ... Go-Go Dancer
Wendy Lee Couch ... Go-Go Dancer
Marguerite Baierski ... Go-Go Dancer
Janice King ... Go-Go Dancer
Deborah Ann Klein ... Go-Go Dancer
Theodora Thomas ... Go-Go Dancer
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
95 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
One of the extras in the wedding scene was named Jonathan Demme (no relation to the director of the film). more
Goofs:
Continuity: While the men are in the truck talking, a sandwich being eaten has the bite area alternately changing from one side of the bread between shots. more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Hard Way to Go more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
12 out of 14 people found the following comment useful.
No Special Effects, No Mega-Buck Stars, Just a Great Film, 4 June 2004
10/10
Author: dglink from Alexandria, VA

In this day of $100 million plus movies with special effects that drown out the dialog and stars with out-sized egos and paychecks to match, a film like Jonathan Demme's minor masterwork, "Melvin and Howard," would be lucky to get a video distributor. Even a quarter century ago on its initial release, the film was largely ignored by audiences despite glowing reviews, Academy Awards, and critics kudos. However, those who make the effort to seek out this wonderful fable will be rewarded. Based on a story that may or may not have been true, "Melvin and Howard" spins the tale of an easy going hard luck kinda guy named Melvin Dummar who gives a lift to an old man he finds asleep in the desert. The man says that he is Howard Hughes, and, years later, when Hughes dies, Melvin finds a will that has been left on his filling station desk that names him as one of the heirs to the Hughes fortune. Since we know the ending before the film starts, the pleasures lie in the quirky characters and situations that screenwriter Bo Goldman and a terrific cast have created. Despite the circus that surrounded the question of the will's validity, Melvin was content just knowing that, during their drive, Howard Hughes had sung a song that Melvin had written. His evident joy in that simple event was a rare personal quality even in 1980. There are a lot of other unpretentious, yet memorable, moments in this outstanding film.

Was the above comment useful to you?
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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Melvin and Howard (1980)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Was Melvin telling the truth? joanbrazas
Gloria Graham olblueeyes40
Bate Brothers scene??! enicolau1
This story is in the news djhunnicut
P.T. Anderson sites this movie as influencing Hard Eight lvis74
Why R? And3ww
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