a finer understanding of lower-middle-class life than any other American director." Dennis Bingham's Whose Lives Are They Anyway? The Biopic as Contemporary Film Genre cites Melvin and Howard as the first film in the subgenre "biopic of someone undeserving," or "BOSUD," which was later popularized by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski with Ed Wood, Man on the Moon, The People vs. Larry Flynt, and Auto Focus. Paul Thomas Anderson has cited the film as one of his favorites. Jason Robards's last feature film appearance was in Anderson's Magnolia. Robert Ridgely, who played the host of the fictional "Easy Street" game show in this movie, would later be cast as Colonel James in Anderson's Boogie Nights. The comedy show SCTV parodied the film in a sketch called "Melvin and Howards". Melvin (Rick Moranis), after picking up Howard Hughes (Joe Flaherty), also picks up Howard Cosell (Eugene Levy), Senator Howard Baker (Dave Thomas), and Curly Howard (John Candy). Awards and nominations See also List of American films of 1980 The Amazing Howard Hughes (1977) References External links The AFI Catalog of Feature Films:..Melvin and Howard 1980 films 1980 comedy-drama films American comedy-drama films Cultural depictions of Howard Hughes American films based on actual events Fictional duos Films directed by Jonathan Demme Films featuring a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award-winning performance Films featuring a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe-winning performance Films produced by Art Linson Films set in the 1970s Films set in California Films set in Nevada Films set in Utah Films shot in California Films shot in Nevada Films shot in Utah Films with screenplays by Bo Goldman Films whose writer won the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award Universal Pictures films 1980 comedy films 1980 drama films National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film winners Films scored by Bruce Langhorne 1980s English-language films 1980s American films