Search - Melvin and Howard

Jonathan Demme's breakthrough movie featured the shaggy energy and affection for marginal American eccentrics that marked his earlier Citizens Band (1977) and such later films as Something Wild (1986) and Married to the Mob (1988). Melvin Dummar (Paul LeMat) is a barely-getting-by Nevada milkman. One day in the early 1970s, while driving down a lonely highway, Melvin picks up a shaggy, bearded bum (Jason Robards Jr.) and offers him a ride into town. Melvin gives the bum a quarter at the end of the ride, and that, so far as Melvin is concerned, is that. The story goes off on a new tangent, involving the on-and-off marriage between Dummar and his contest-happy wife Lynda (Mary Steenburgen). During one of the multitude of financial crises endured by the Dummars, Melvin discovers that the tramp he picked up was none other than billionaire Howard Hughes -- and when Hughes dies, Melvin inherits $150 million. The movie's wide acclaim included Oscars for Steenburgen and Goldman's script and New York Film Critics Awards in almost all major categories, including Best Picture and awards for Demme, Goldman, Steenburgen, and Robards. Demme would gain even greater attention in the 1990s as the director of The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Philadelphia (1993). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Paul Le Mat - Melvin Dummar
Jason Robards, Jr. - Howard Hughes
Mary Steenburgen - Lynda Dummar
Jack Kehoe - Jim Delgado
Michael J. Pollard - Little Red
Dabney Coleman - Judge Keith Hayes
Pamela Reed - Bonnie Dummar

1980	Best Supporting Actress (winner)	Los Angeles Film Critics Association	Mary Steenburgen
1980	Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Com (nominee)	Golden Globe	Paul Le Mat
1980	Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (nominee)	Golden Globe	Jason Robards, Jr.
1980	Best Supporting Actress (winner)	Golden Globe	Mary Steenburgen
1980	Best Original Screenplay (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Bo Goldman
1980	Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Jason Robards, Jr.
1980	Best Supporting Actress (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Mary Steenburgen
1980	Best Supporting Actress (winner)	New York Film Critics Circle	Mary Steenburgen
1980	Best Director (winner)	New York Film Critics Circle	Jonathan Demme
1980	Best Screenplay (winner)	New York Film Critics Circle	Bo Goldman

Jonathan Demme's award-winning comedy about Melvin Dummar, who became an overnight celebrity when a will appeared declaring him the inheritor of Howard Hughes' estate, gets a straightforward presentation for its release on DVD. Melvin and Howard has been given a letterboxed transfer to disc in the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1, which has also been enhanced for anamorphic playback on 16 x 9 monitors. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Mono, and the dialogue is in English, with optional subtitles in French and Spanish and closed captions in English. The film's original theatrical trailer has been included as a bonus. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

These movies have the touch and feel of Melvin and Howard...
19	The Commitments (R)
3	Cries and Whispers [Criterion Collection] (R)
16	Fun with Dick and Jane (PG)
38	White Men Can't Jump (R)
16	Down and Out in Beverly Hills (R)
6	My Favorite Year (PG)
17	House Party [Widescreen/Fullscreen] (R)
17	Norma Rae (PG)
91	Trading Places (R)
24	The World According to Garp (R)
3	The Heartbreak Kid [Fullscreen] (PG)
7	The Heavenly Kid (PG-13)
30	Up in Smoke (R)
71	Stripes (R)
2	Hangin' With the Homeboys (R)
76	Hot Shots! (PG-13)
These movies have the subject or theme of Melvin and Howard...
1	Return of the Secaucus 7 (R)
8	The Last Picture Show [Special Edition] (R)
36	The Graduate (PG)
13	A Hard Day's Night (G)
11	School Daze [Widescreen/Fullscreen] (R)
2	Queens Logic (R)
6	Local Hero (PG)
1	Jacknife (R)
24	Grand Canyon (R)
1	End of the Line (PG)
S	29th Street (R)
5	D.C. Cab (R)
3	The Billion Dollar Hobo (G)
7	Tin Men (R)
72	Steel Magnolias (PG)
S	Serial (R)
3	Metropolitan [Criterion Collection] (PG-13)
These movies share cast/crew with Melvin and Howard...
50	Philadelphia (PG-13)
4	Something Wild (R)
23	Married to the Mob (R)
15	Swing Shift (PG)
116	The Silence of the Lambs [Widescreen] (R)
5	Miami Blues (R)
42	Scrooged (PG-13)
5	Julia [Widescreen] (PG)
2	Who Am I This Time? (PG)
2	Caged Heat (R)
37	Parenthood (PG-13)
2	Fighting Mad
51	The Untouchables (R)
40	Dick Tracy (PG)
2	Angels Hard as They Come (R)
2	Man Friday/Raise the Titanic (PG)
These movies cover the same subjects as Melvin and Howard...
3	The Carpetbaggers (PG)
?	The Amazing Howard Hughes (NR)
?	Howard Hughes: His Women & His Movies (NR)
These movies are similar to Melvin and Howard...
2	Preston Sturges: The Filmmaker Collection (NR)
16	Down and Out in Beverly Hills (R)
2	Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (NR)
15	Swing Shift (PG)
42	It Could Happen to You [Widescreen/Fullscreen] (PG)
1	Cookie's Fortune (PG-13)
14	The Hoax (R)