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Mood:
- Feel GoodHumorousSentimentalTouchingBittersweet
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Plot:
- Rich and PoorHopesSocietyRedemptionSocial DifferencesAmericanaWorking ClassLifestyle more...
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Genres:
- DramaIndependentComedy
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Time/Period:
- 20th Century70s
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Place:
- Las VegasNevadaUSA
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Praise:
- Award WinnerCritically AcclaimedEssentialMasterpieceOscar WinnerGolden Globe WinnerPrestigious Awards
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Attitudes:
- Semi SeriousRealistic
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Flag:
- Brief Nudity
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Melvin and Howard, 1980
English
USA
Profile of Melvin and Howard
The mood of Melvin and Howard is sentimental, feel good, and humorous. The plot centers around being rich or poor, hopes, and the working class. It is a drama, independent, and comedy movie. In approach, Melvin and Howard is realistic. The setting is Nevada. It happens in the 20th century. Melvin and Howard is known for being a Golden Globe winner, a masterpiece, and an Oscar winner. Note that it includes brief nudity.
Summary of Melvin and Howard
Director Jonathan Demme (SILENCE OF THE LAMB) made a critical breakthrough with this film. It's based on the true story of Melvin Dummar (Paul Le Mat), an affable all-American loser whose miserable luck changes when he gives a ride to eccentric Howard Hughes (superbly played by Jason Robards) after finding him asleep in the Nevada desert. Following an extended opening scene of their journey to Vegas, the film dives into Melvin's messed-up trailer-park existence, which involves an unhappy wife (Mary Steenburgen), devoted daughter (Elizabeth Cheshire), and a string of thankless blue-collar jobs. Melvin turns out to be a crackpot dreamer, but his dreams seem to come true when he's named recipient of fellow crackpot Hughes' fortune in a mysterious hand-written will. The film flows as a stream of sharp comic moments via Demme's deft direction and affection for his characters. A nicely gritty look is achieved through Tak Fujimoto's photography at actual locations. A letter-perfect cast includes Dummar himself as a bus station attendant and Dabney Coleman as a Mormon judge. Bo Goldman (ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST) wrote the award-winning screenplay.
Details
| Language: | English |
| Country: | USA |
| Release date: | 19 September 1980 |
| Runtime: | 95 min |
| Awards: | Academy Awards |
Awards
Cast and Crew
as Melvin Dummar
as Howard Hughes
as Lynda Dummar
Photos
Clips
