Melvin and Howard, written by Bo Goldman
This little
known film – only very few critics have taken the trouble to review it – has won
the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
for Mary Steenburgen, the Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly
for the Screen and a series of other important prizes.
As the
poster of the film advertises, this comedy has won in the aforementioned
categories and most importantly, Best Film, given by the National Society of
film Critics at their awards.
In the
opening scenes, we see a motorcyclist travelling rather fast in the wild, where
he has an accident, falling off his speeding bike.
Melvin
Dummar aka Paul Le Mat, one of the heroes in the title of the motion picture, drives
a shabby pickup truck when he meets the fallen motorcyclist.
He gives
him a ride, but at the same time, he offers an unwanted, in fact rejected,
singing concert with one of his creations. A song he had composed.
After a
while, the stranger says he is…Howard Hughes.
He does not
comment on the fact that he claims to be the famous, eccentric, extremely rich
man.
Indeed,
Howard Hughes ads nothing to his claim.
This seems
reasonable, somehow making an apparently preposterous statement, a disheveled
man in the middle of nowhere pretending to be one of the most famous, rich, powerful
men, appear believable.
If he went
on to boast, talk too much on the issue, it might have sounded crazy.
The phenomenal
Jason Robards portrays Howard Hughes and his mimic, the various faces he makes
when the driver sings, says various amusing or annoying things, is enchanting
and at times hilarious.
Nevertheless,
Howard Hughes has a limited presence on the big screen, in this comedy – drama.
Even if the
fact that he made a will giving a fortune – part of his wealth – to Melvin
becomes a huge story, making headlines, causing a trial.
Melvin and
Howard is included on the New York Times’ List of Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made
list:
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