Melvin and Howard

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Melvin and Howard

R

1980

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

60%

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.

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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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

09/12/2023

Melvin and Howard has the same beautiful, dippy warmth as its characters.

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Tim Pulleine

Sight & Sound

07/11/2018

Affectionately good-humoured as much of the observation is... the film's eye is, if never savage, then sometimes at least moderately scathing.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

10/23/2004

3.5/4

Robards is a chillingly effective Hughes. But this movie belongs to Paul Le Mat, as Dummar.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

03/16/2022

3/4

...striking, engrossing...

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Larry Vitacco

Philadelphia Gay News

05/27/2020

3/4

Tak Fujimoto's photography and Craig McKay's editing are without fault.

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Pat Padua

Spectrum Culture

08/28/2018

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.

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Scott R

@ScottR Dec 20

NYT 1000 films. I’m not sure if I fully grasp the critique of the American Dream implications here, but this was entertaining despite the pain you could feel with the frittering away of small gains. The true story aspect was also fascinating and involvement of the NV and UT communities. Saw on YouTube.

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Vincent S.

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies Aug 25

An American classic that started the genius of Jonathan Demme!

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Jul 27

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 22

Funny in 1 hour and 35 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Geke g

08/05/2024

As good as The ghost by Mel Gibson

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Munkhchimeg T

08/05/2024

Really nice movie. The 80s vibe is so good. Best movie

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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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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