Melvin and Howard (1980)

Melvin and Howard
Directed by Jonathan Demme
Written by Bo Goldman
1980/US
IMBd page
Repeat viewing/Amazon Prime rental

Lynda Dummar: It says you can be anything you want to be if you’ll just believe in yourself. And you believe in yourself – it’s just the believing hasn’t been enough to let you become what you believe you can be.
Melvin Dummar: Honey, they didn’t burn down Rome in one day – you got to keep pluggin’.

I love this charming, quirky movie.

The film is based on a true story. As it begins, Melvin Dummar (Paul Le Mat) picks up a disheveled elderly hitchhiker who has injured his arm. The hitchhiker is reserved at first but Melvin finally warms him up and the ride is pleasant. Toward the end the man (Jason Robards) says he is Howard Hughes. Melvin doesn’t believe this and drops the man off at a Las Vegas hotel. He asks Melvin for money and he gives him his last 50 cents.

This prelude lasts maybe ten minutes. The rest of the film focuses on Melvin’s daily life over several years. He is a likable fellow who is satisfied with low-paying jobs. His dreams are small and his luck is bad. His wife Lynda (Mary Steenbergen) loves him but their hand-to-mouth existence does not satisfy her and the couple eventually split up.

Later, Melvin remarries and opens a gas station. One day a stranger comes in and asks a bunch of questions. Shortly thereafter Melvin finds a will in a stack of papers.”…

Despite its intriguing premise, the theme of the movie is the American Dream. Demme gently pokes fun at consumerism throughout. All the acting is excellent.

Steenbergen deservedly won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar and Bo Goldman won Best Original Screenplay. Robards was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.