Melvin and Howard
When billionaire recluse Howard Hughes died intestate in 1976, news soon emerged of a will that had been discovered in Utah. The so-called “Morman Will” became a hotly contested court case. Gas station owner, Melvyn Dummar, was named as one of sixteen alleged beneficiaries. Interestingly, Dummar’s fingerprints were later found on the envelope in which the will had been delivered to the Church Of The Latter Day Saints, in Utah. Dummar eventually claimed that he was instructed by a suited stranger who stopped off at the gas station, to deliver the will to the Church, but that he was unaware of the contents.
Demme’s film, released in 1980, is based on this story, and recounts Dummar’s meeting with Hughes, in the Nevada desert, right up until Hughes’ death.
Jason Robards is, not surprisingly, excellent in his small but significant appearance as Howard Hughes (even if his performance isn’t necessarily an accurate portrayal of Hughes). Le Mat, a forgettable actor (think of 97.5% John Ritter, mixed with 2.5% Jack Nicholson – hungover), is adequate in his role as Dummar. Mary Steenburgen is very young in this film, and succeeds in playing a not overly bright, resltess ex-wife, in a part for which she won the Oscar for Supporting Actress in 1981.
Goldman’s screenplay also won an Oscar, and the film was nominated for a raft of other awards.
Though it hasn’t entirely stood the test of time, there is a certain late-night-movie charm about this film. At the very least, it’s bound to excite an interest in this peculiar story, and, of course, will be a curiosity for fans of Demme’s other films. A point of interest: Dummar has a cameo in the film.
Regarding Howard Hughes’s will, an ex-FBI agent investigated the case. Gary Magesen was initially sceptical, but claimed, in the early 2000’s, to have found evidence to support Dummar’s claim that he had, indeed, met Hughes. Apparently, there’s a mysterious ranch hand with a diamond in her tooth who knows more.
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