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Melvin and Howard (1980)
Melvin and Howard (1980)
Director: Jonathan Demme
Writer: Bo Goldman
Cast: Paul Le Mat, Mary Steenburgen, Jason Robards, Elizabeth Cheshire
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Melvin and Howard is a comedy drama that's based on the true story of a Utah gas station owner who claimed he once picked up Howard Hughes in the Nevada desert and gave him a ride to the casino...He also claimed that years later he was given a will written by Hughes that left Melvin 156 million. Does he get the money? Or was it a scam as many said? The film cleverly weaves it's story of the chance desert encounter and the life of Melvin without taking a stance to his credibility. The film leaves it up to the viewer to decide, and does this while making us laugh at some of the misfortunes that befall Melvin.
That's Jason Robards as the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes and Paul Le Mat as the happy go lucky Melvin. Robards has a bit role in this movie, the core of the movie is Paul Le Mat, best known for his work in American Graffiti. He's real good here, so is his first wife played with chirpy levity by Mary Steenburgen. The sometimes happy, sometimes troubled couple, provide the bulk of the story and the smiles.
Writer: Bo Goldman
Cast: Paul Le Mat, Mary Steenburgen, Jason Robards, Elizabeth Cheshire
Genre: Comedy, Drama
"The story of hard-luck Melvin E. Dummar, who claimed to have received a will naming him an heir to the fortune of Howard Hughes."
Melvin and Howard is a comedy drama that's based on the true story of a Utah gas station owner who claimed he once picked up Howard Hughes in the Nevada desert and gave him a ride to the casino...He also claimed that years later he was given a will written by Hughes that left Melvin 156 million. Does he get the money? Or was it a scam as many said? The film cleverly weaves it's story of the chance desert encounter and the life of Melvin without taking a stance to his credibility. The film leaves it up to the viewer to decide, and does this while making us laugh at some of the misfortunes that befall Melvin.
That's Jason Robards as the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes and Paul Le Mat as the happy go lucky Melvin. Robards has a bit role in this movie, the core of the movie is Paul Le Mat, best known for his work in American Graffiti. He's real good here, so is his first wife played with chirpy levity by Mary Steenburgen. The sometimes happy, sometimes troubled couple, provide the bulk of the story and the smiles.
We see a broke Melvin trying anything he can to get some quick cash. Including getting his wife on a TV game show, where the host hits on her. Before that we see her working as a dancer/stripper in a club, much to her husband's chagrins.
Gloria Graham has an acting credit in this film, though she's only in a couple scenes and has but a few words to speak. To bad she was underused here. At just over 90 minutes the film flies by and easily could have sustained another 20 or 30 minutes. I enjoyed it.
Gloria Graham has an acting credit in this film, though she's only in a couple scenes and has but a few words to speak. To bad she was underused here. At just over 90 minutes the film flies by and easily could have sustained another 20 or 30 minutes. I enjoyed it.