Melvin and Howard
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Movie Reviews of Melvin and Howard
Movie Review: A hidden jeweled picture!
Summary: 5 Stars
When the name of Jonathan Demme had not reached the stardom that years after would confer for him The Silence of the lambs, this movie surprised me kindly. Underneath this is a corrosive spoof of our society. A film that gives you much more you are usually to receive, so I recommend you to check it out again, because unfairly, it was overneglected in those ages due perhaps, of major fireworks films that you know but I won `t mention them, by reasons attained with the wise discretion.
I watched it again two weeks ago and definitively improves with the ages. Mary Steenbrugen deserved this Prize. And what else can it be said about the geniality and talent in excess of Jason Robards featuring Howard Hughes?
From any angle you want to examine this picture has not any fissure. Go for it.
Movie Review: An offbeat, small treasure of a film and possibly true!
Summary: 4 Stars
This review is for the Universal DVD released in 2004.
The movie begins with Melvin Dummar (Paul Le Mat) accidentally finding an injured old man (Jason Robards) out in the cold Nevada desert. The haggardly old man convinces Melvin to drive him to Las Vegas and during the long drive, the old curmudgeon tells Melvin that he is Howard Hughes. Melvin is skeptical of the claim and even more so when the old man panhandles some pocket change from Melvin at the end of the trip. Later that morning Melvin returns to his mobile home somewhere in rural Nevada and later that day his pickup truck and motorcycle are repossessed. This apparently is the straw that breaks the camel's back for Melvin's wife Lynda (Mary Steenburgen) and she leaves him for another man. This sets up the rest of the movie where both Howard Hughes and Lynda are far from gone from Melvin's life.
The movie is supposedly based on a true story. The debatable issue is if Melvin Dummar really did meet and save billionaire Howard Hughes and did Hughes return the favor years later after he died by leaving Dummar 1/16th of his estate in a dubious hand-written will. The movie's goal isn't really trying to prove the veracity of the Hughes events. The story is in essence about a hardworking blue-collar guy who gets a few big breaks, in fact one potentially colossal break, and a few smaller breaks dropped in his lap, but in all cases does a seemingly poor job in handling them. Melvin is likable and earnest, but instead of taking charge of life, it seems that life takes charge of him. The movie is also a wonderful snapshot of lower middle class life in the later part of the `70's. There's a great scene in a gaudy Las Vegas wedding chapel, and later they participate in an outrageously artificial TV game show. It also had that unmistakable `70's aura of pursuing the American dream with ostentatious wealth such as a brand new, but cheaply constructed and unoriginal suburban house, an enormous Cadillac convertible, a monstrosity of a motorboat and a mammoth-size console TV. You also get your fill of some of the more comical and obnoxious country & western songs from that era. The charm of the movie is that when things go wrong, Melvin picks himself up, keeps his chin up, doesn't seem at all bitter, tries again tomorrow and nobody can take away his wonderful memories from yesterday. I don't recall a single moment in the film being laugh-out-loud funny, but just about every scene put a smile on my face. But overall for me, it wasn't a great film, but a very good one.
As for the DVD, it's a nice widescreen color presentation. The opening shot seemed noticeably grainy, and the rest of the movie had just average resolution and sharpness with no film defects. I've seen much sharper DVDs from late `70's films, but on the other hand, the comparative slight loss in sharpness made it look and feel like a cheap late 1970's film, true to the characters of the movie itself. The audio is excellent. The only bonus the original trailer.
Movie: B
DVD Quality: B+
Movie Review: "C'mon old timer, sing me a song..."
Summary: 4 Stars
Directed by Jonathan Demme, Melvin and Howard (1980) tells the supposedly true story of Melvin E. Dummar, a man who may have had a chance encounter with the late multi-billionaire recluse Howard Hughes before his death, and Dummar's inclusion into Hughes' will.Demme, who also directed Something Wild (1986) and Silence of the Lambs (1991) does a wonderful job of relating the story of Melvin (Paul Le Mat) and how he came across Howard Hughes (Jason Robards) stranded in the desert outside of Las Vegas and gave him a ride. Hughes, looking disheveled and grisly, stated that he was who he was, but Melvin didn't take him seriously, thinking he was just some old wino.
Some time goes by, Howard Hughes passes away, and a mysterious stranger leaves a handwritten letter in Melvin's gas station. The document, which appears to be Hughes will, names Melvin as a beneficiary, entitling him to somewhere in the neighborhood of $156 million dollars. Well, this immediately launches Melvin into the public spotlight and focuses much attention on the validity of the will.
While the movie is titled Melvin and Howard, it's mostly about Melvin, and deals with his many ups and downs (mostly downs) in a particular period of his life. Melvin switches jobs a few times, working as a magnesium bagger, milk truck driver, and gas station owner, and deals with personal problems like his wife leaving, cars repossessed, being in debt up to his ears...Paul Le Mat, who many may recognize as John Milner from American Graffiti (1973) is wonderful as the poor but likeable schlub who, due to his natural good nature, may have found himself in a position to inherit millions. The supporting cast is great including Robards, Dabney Coleman, John Glover, Pamela Reed, and Mary Steenburgen, who won an academy award for best supporting actress as Melvin's wife, Lynda. The real Melvin E. Dummar even makes an appearance as a counter clerk at a bus terminal. And speaking of academy awards, it should also be noted that Bo Goldman won the award for best writing for this film.
There are no special features on this release, only a trailer, but the picture looks wonderful in the wide screen format. There is another release, one from Anchor Bay Entertainment that does include some more extras like commentary and production notes not available here, so if you are interested in those kinds of things, you might want to search it out. Does Melvin get the money in the end? It doesn't really matter, at least not in the scope of this film. I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys good filmmaking and is interesting in discovering an under-appreciated movie with great scripting, casting, dialogue, direction, and music. Everything clicks really well in this little 'slice of life' gem.
Cookieman108
Movie Review: A Minor Classic Still Delivers The Riches Of Howard Hughes' Fortune
Summary: 4 Stars
I recently picked up a copy of "Melvin and Howard," a picture that I remembered fondly from many years ago--to be pleasantly rewarded once again by its subtle, yet unmistakable charms. Even though this movie was warmly regarded upon it's release, it's not a film I would characterize as ever having been immensely popular. Despite being directed by Jonathan Demme, who went on to many great films including "Silence of the Lambs," and despite Oscars for Mary Steenburgen and its screenplay--it's a film I feel has been largely forgotten.
It's unfortunate, because I think "Melvin and Howard" is a terrific film based on a fascinating true life incident. It has a real indie sensibility about it, a smallness, an attention to slice-of-life drama, a richness in detail. Today, I really don't believe this would have been a studio film. For such a BIG story, this is a little (but rich) comedy.
Essentially, the plot follows the adventures of Melvin Dummar--a small town loser. Melvin claims to have once given a ride to billionaire Howard Hughes and upon Hughes' death claimed to have a will naming him heir to the Hughes' fortune. Of course, this becomes scrutinized and debated. Is the story true? Are the papers valid? And although these events are based on fact, the films plays out as a smart satire on the nature of greed and asks us to determine what qualities in life make us the richest.
Paul Le Mat, an interesting actor, has his best role here as Melvin. Jason Robards plays, very briefly, as the man who may or may not be Hughes (a few minutes was enough to garner him an Oscar nomination). And Mary Steenburgen is a riot as Melvin's first wife. She swept most of the major awards that year, hers is a deft comedic performance reminiscent of a young Jean Arthur. This is a MUST for her fans.
There's a lot of joy to be had in this small picture, and I definitely want to recommend it. It's a sophisticated telling, as well. It never purports to advance what is true or not--and that'll leave you with a smile and some good discussion points when the film ends. KGHarris, 10/06.
Movie Review: a fun movie that may just be true
Summary: 4 Stars
for as long as this movie has been out it wasn't till just this past weekend that i watched it for the first time. what a treat! as a boy i grew up in willard, utah, and was familiar with who melvin dummar was long before the howard hughes will incident took place. so it was extra fun for me to watch the segment of the movie that was filmed at the actual gas station that dummar operated back in the 70s. my dad operated a fruit stand just down the highway from there for a bunch of years till the property owner decided to build a house on the property and we relocated the stand. the old gas station is still there today, though no longer in business, on the old highway 89 that passes through willard. but being from that area i did notice a couple of trivial errors. when the willard sequence begins it gives the impression that the body of water you see in the background is the great salt lake. it isn't. actually that is willard bay you can see. the salt lake is several miles beyond on the other side of a big rock dike built in the 60s. but that's okay, no big deal. the other descrepency was when melvin went to salt lake city to drop the will off at the lds church headquarters the movie referred to temple square as "mormon square". no harm done really and none of that detracted from my enjoyment. so if you'd like to spend a little time with a fun movie i highly recommend this one. sure, the hughes will was thrown out by the courts, but that doesn't mean it was a fake, just that with all that fortune at stake that there were those with a motive to discredit anything that came along. maybe melvin dummar was robbed by the system. who can say for sure. and as for melvin i am unsure what became of him as his family moved from willard after the movie was made and i myself have moved away as well, though my parents still live there and i visit from time to time.