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Melvin and Howard

Play trailer Poster for Melvin and Howard R Released Sep 19, 1980 1h 35m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
When luckless dreamer Melvin Dummar (Paul Le Mat) rescues a grizzled, half-dead man (Jason Robards) from the desert, he's skeptical of the man's claim that he's actually reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. But in the wake of Hughes' death a decade later, a will appears naming Melvin the recipient of $156 million, and a media circus ensues. Accused of forgery, Melvin vigorously maintains his innocence despite a strong intuition that he'll never see any of the money.
Melvin and Howard

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Critics Consensus

A spirited character study and clear-eyed treatise of the American Dream, Melvin and Howard hits the jackpot with its lovable cast and director Jonathan Demme's humanism.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker Melvin and Howard has the same beautiful, dippy warmth as its characters. Sep 12, 2023 Full Review Tim Pulleine Sight & Sound Affectionately good-humoured as much of the observation is... the film's eye is, if never savage, then sometimes at least moderately scathing. Jul 11, 2018 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Robards is a chillingly effective Hughes. But this movie belongs to Paul Le Mat, as Dummar. Rated: 3.5/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...striking, engrossing... Rated: 3/4 Mar 16, 2022 Full Review Larry Vitacco Philadelphia Gay News Tak Fujimoto's photography and Craig McKay's editing are without fault. Rated: 3/4 May 27, 2020 Full Review Pat Padua Spectrum Culture Hypnotic shots of asphalt echo Two-Lane Blacktop, Easy Rider and other American road movies while forging its own human path - not of counterculture, but of connection. Aug 28, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C Funny in 1 hour and 35 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/22/25 Full Review Geke g As good as The ghost by Mel Gibson Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/06/24 Full Review Munkhchimeg T Really nice movie. The 80s vibe is so good. Best movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/05/24 Full Review Alec B As with all Demme movies the characters are observed in such wonderful details. All of those quick little close-ups of the cast (especially Steenburgen) really get you to empathize with with them. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review dave s Melvin and Howard, an early offering from director Jonathan Demme, starts off strong but eventually noodles away into no man's land as it documents in meticulous detail the rather dull and uneventful live of its anti-hero, Melvin Dummar (Paul Le Mat). In the compelling opening segment, Melvin finds a disheveled and injured man on the side of the road who claims to be Howard Hughes (Jason Robards). After they go their separate ways, the film focuses solely on Melvin, a likable loser who has relationship troubles, employment problems and far too many dealings with repo companies. Had the film simply jumped to Hughes death years later and dealt with the legal issues surrounding the validity of his will it would have been a much more compelling experience. As it is, it feels more like a ‘whatever happened to' follow-up story for Le Mat's character from American Graffiti. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member As with all Demme movies the characters are observed in such wonderful details. All of those quick little close-ups of the cast (especially Steenburgen) really get you to empathize with with them. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Melvin and Howard

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Cast & Crew

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Jonathan Demme

Director

Paul Le Mat

Melvin Dummar

Jason Robards

Howard Hughes

Mary Steenburgen

Lynda Dummar

Jack Kehoe

Jim Delgado

Pamela Reed

Bonnie Dummar

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Melvin and Howard

Melvin and Howard (1980) Melvin and Howard (1980) Melvin and Howard (1980) Melvin and Howard (1980) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When luckless dreamer Melvin Dummar (Paul Le Mat) rescues a grizzled, half-dead man (Jason Robards) from the desert, he's skeptical of the man's claim that he's actually reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. But in the wake of Hughes' death a decade later, a will appears naming Melvin the recipient of $156 million, and a media circus ensues. Accused of forgery, Melvin vigorously maintains his innocence despite a strong intuition that he'll never see any of the money.
Director
Jonathan Demme
Producer
Art Linson, Don Phillips
Screenwriter
Bo Goldman
Production Co
Universal Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 19, 1980, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 9, 2004
Runtime
1h 35m