Rating: 
Summary: Where there's a will there's an Oscar
Review: A fun movie with one unnecessary nude scene. This is the screenwriter's and director's view of what happened if Melvin Dummar was telling the truth about the "Morman" will. Outstanding performances by Jason Robards as Howard Hughes and Paul LeMat as Melvin. Mary Steenburgen won the best actress Oscar. Some Gong Show style laughs. If you like the old Vegas hotels and scenes, see "Diamonds are Forever" and "Viva Las Vegas." Tom Willett
Rating: 
Summary: A good film to see and to own
Review: An interesting and touching story
Rating:
Summary: "C'mon old timer, sing me a song..."
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: Underappreciated classic
Review: First off, Mary Steenburgen won the Best SUPPORTING Actress Oscar for this, not Best Actress. Secondly, it is a shame this movie has been somewhat forgotten after all these years. All the performances are fantastic and the direction by Jonathon Demme (Oscar winner for 'The Silence Of The Lambs) is magnificent. A film to treasure.
Rating:
Summary: Souped up santa sley
Review: I agree with the previous reviewers that this movie is quality. However, the video presentation on this latest DVD is poor. The dark shots show a fuzzyness/dullness that caught my attention. It is less noticable as the movie goes on. No complaints with the sound.
Rating:
Summary: Souped up santa sley
Review: I agree with the previous reviewers that this movie is quality. However, the video presentation on this latest DVD is poor. The dark shots show a fuzzyness/dullness that caught my attention. It is less noticable as the movie goes on. No complaints with the sound.
Rating:
Summary: Forgotten Modern Day Fable
Review: It's amazing that a film that won such critical acclaim in it's day and two major Oscars(best supporting actress for Mary Steenburgen and best original screenplay)could wallow in such obscurity. It's probable that the offbeat subject matter made this film such a hard sell. Jonathan Demme, years before he made "The Silence of the Lambs", was primarily known as the director of quirky comedies("Handle With Care","Something Wild", "Married to the Mob"). This film concerns itself with a blue-collar dreamer, Melvin Dummar(Paul LeMat) who one night may have picked up eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes(Jason Robards) and subsequently may or may not have been named as a beneficiary in Hughes' will. This, however, is not the primary focus of the film, rather, it's main focus is the array of get-rich-quick schemes that Melvin involves himself in. LeMat, primarily known for playing John Milner in "American Graffiti", gives a touchingly funny reading of Melvin. We laugh and also cry as Melvin's schemes take it's toll on his livelihood and his marriage. Steenburgen is a comic marvel as Melvin's first wife, Linda, who is at the edge of her sanity as Melvin's schemes blow up. Robards gives a effectively low-key reading of the eccentric recluse. In the wake of the recent success of "The Aviator" this is not a bad film to check out.
Rating:
Summary: A forgotten classic
Review: It's too bad Paul Le Mat's career never really took off, as he played the common man, good or bad, as well as anybody. While he achieved immortality in the "American Grafitti" movies, and got the thankless role in "The Burning Bed", "Melvin and Howard" was his star vehicle. The movie tells the story of the very real Melvin Dummar, who made a big splash over twenty years ago by having his name appear in one version of the will of Howard Hughes. To the unitiated, Howard Hughes was at one time the richest man in the world, and flat-out owned several Las Vegas casinos. Dummar claimed his only prior contact with Hughes was giving him a ride once late at night after the billionaire had crashed his motorcycle while riding in the desert. The motorcycle riding would not have been out of character with Hughes at the time. However, nobody has ever been able to prove that this will was real. In fact, several investigations have leaned towards Dummar instigating a very clumsy fraud. But on the other hand, nobody has been able to say with 100% authority that the will was NOT real. The movie chooses to take this premise, to the gain of the American cinema. So the story goes on the premise that Dummar was telling the truth. Hey, if they can make the fictional "Shakesphere in Love", using real characters, why not this story? The genius of the movie is that it portrays mostly Melvin, and mostly the parts of his life that have nothing to do with Howard Hughes. He is portrayed as a complete loser when it comes to finances, barely able to hold even menial jobs, and foolishly spending money he doesn't have. This kind of person would probably try a scheme like the Hughes will, but yet the character is likeable. We feel the pain of not being able to pay everyday bills, and really root for the guy. We don't know whether it's a true reflection of the man, but we like who we see on the screen. I first saw this film when it came out, and I was living in Illinois. I never dreamed then that I'd someday be living in Las Vegas, where a lot of the story takes place, and next to Utah, where the rest does. While the movie doesn't dwell on the tourist part of Vegas, it does provide some interesting shots that show the incredible growth the Strip has experienced in the last twenty years. The entire location of the film is now my home turf. This, and seeing that other participants in the film would have future successes (Demme, Mary Steenburgen, Dabney Coleman, Pamela Reed) baffles me why I only see four reviews of a movie this good, that's been around so long. Find it and see it.
Rating:
Summary: A forgotten classic
Review: It's too bad Paul Le Mat's career never really took off, as he played the common man, good or bad, as well as anybody. While he achieved immortality in the "American Grafitti" movies, and got the thankless role in "The Burning Bed", "Melvin and Howard" was his star vehicle. The movie tells the story of the very real Melvin Dummar, who made a big splash over twenty years ago by having his name appear in one version of the will of Howard Hughes. To the unitiated, Howard Hughes was at one time the richest man in the world, and flat-out owned several Las Vegas casinos. Dummar claimed his only prior contact with Hughes was giving him a ride once late at night after the billionaire had crashed his motorcycle while riding in the desert. The motorcycle riding would not have been out of character with Hughes at the time. However, nobody has ever been able to prove that this will was real. In fact, several investigations have leaned towards Dummar instigating a very clumsy fraud. But on the other hand, nobody has been able to say with 100% authority that the will was NOT real. The movie chooses to take this premise, to the gain of the American cinema. So the story goes on the premise that Dummar was telling the truth. Hey, if they can make the fictional "Shakesphere in Love", using real characters, why not this story? The genius of the movie is that it portrays mostly Melvin, and mostly the parts of his life that have nothing to do with Howard Hughes. He is portrayed as a complete loser when it comes to finances, barely able to hold even menial jobs, and foolishly spending money he doesn't have. This kind of person would probably try a scheme like the Hughes will, but yet the character is likeable. We feel the pain of not being able to pay everyday bills, and really root for the guy. We don't know whether it's a true reflection of the man, but we like who we see on the screen. I first saw this film when it came out, and I was living in Illinois. I never dreamed then that I'd someday be living in Las Vegas, where a lot of the story takes place, and next to Utah, where the rest does. While the movie doesn't dwell on the tourist part of Vegas, it does provide some interesting shots that show the incredible growth the Strip has experienced in the last twenty years. The entire location of the film is now my home turf. This, and seeing that other participants in the film would have future successes (Demme, Mary Steenburgen, Dabney Coleman, Pamela Reed) baffles me why I only see four reviews of a movie this good, that's been around so long. Find it and see it.
Rating:
Summary: A good film to see and to own
Review: Jonathan Demme is too successful for his own good. Long before Silence of the Lambs, he made this near-perfect film from a Bo Goldman script about a congenital loser named Melvin Dummar who one night gives Howard Hughes, whom he mistakes for a derelict, a ride to Vegas. His frenetic life takes up most of the rest of the movie, until a mysterious will signed by Hughes turns up naming Melvin as the recipient of $156,000,000. How this changes or fails to change Melvin's life is just another of the sweet ironies of this neglected, unassuming little masterpiece. Mary Steenburgen and Paul Le Mat make their characters achingly real as they try in their often divergent ways to find some kind of success in life, only to realize, divorced and living miles apart, that they were obviously meant for each other. Jason Robards manages to make Howard Hughes somewhat human underneath the millionaire's grizzled misanthropy. It's been ages since an American filmmaker showed this much love for his characters. One of the Great American films.
|
