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Harold and Maude (1971)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
20 December 1971 (USA) moreTagline:
They will defy everything you've ever seen or heard about screen lovers! [Video] morePlot:
Young, rich, and obsessed with death, Harold finds himself changed forever when he meets lively septuagenarian Maude at a funeral. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination moreNewsDesk:
(10 articles)
What's On Tonight: World Series, Monsters vs. Aliens, Friday Night Lights, Ghost Hunters (From AOL - TVSquad. 28 October 2009, 10:23 AM, PDT)
The Death of Hollywood?
(From t5m.com. 23 October 2009, 2:29 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Interesting love tale more (244 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Ruth Gordon | ... | Maude | |
| Bud Cort | ... | Harold | |
| Vivian Pickles | ... | Mrs. Chasen | |
| Cyril Cusack | ... | Glaucus | |
| Charles Tyner | ... | Uncle Victor | |
| Ellen Geer | ... | Sunshine Doré | |
| Eric Christmas | ... | Priest | |
| G. Wood | ... | Psychiatrist | |
| Judy Engles | ... | Candy Gulf | |
| Shari Summers | ... | Edith Phern | |
| Tom Skerritt | ... | Motorcycle Officer (as M. Borman) | |
| Susan Madigan | ... | Girlfriend | |
| Ray K. Goman | ... | Police Officer (as Ray Goman) | |
| Gordon Devol | ... | Police Officer (as Gordon DeVol) | |
| Harvey Brumfield | ... | Police Officer |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
91 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
West Germany:18 (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 (2005) | USA:Approved (No. 23028) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PGFun Stuff
Goofs:
Continuity: About 50 minutes into the film, when Maude is doing donuts around the officer, the driver-side window of the truck is alternately up/down between shots. moreQuotes:
[first lines]Mrs. Chasen: [after spotting Harold hanging from a noose in the living room] I suppose you think that's very funny, Harold... Oh, dinner at eight, Harold. And do try and be a little more vivacious.
more
Soundtrack:
Don't Be Shy moreFAQ
Where I can download the script and the novel?Is "Harold and Maude" based on a book?
How old are Harold and Maude supposed to be?
more
more (244 total)
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If so irreverent a story were to be told today, how would one react? As was probably the case when the film was released, people would probably find the theme edgy, if not inappropriate.
Such is the case with the cult film `Harold and Maude.' It openly explores themes of suicide, love, death and life with a fresh perspective.
The interesting part is how this film will likely find you. In most societies, an older man will likely fall for a woman years his junior. However, Harold (Bud Cort)-a shy teenager with an affinity for death-meets his 80-year-old true love Maude (Ruth Gordon), not at a dance or social event, but at funerals. The meeting almost seems reminiscent of Edward Norton's character's support group addiction in `Fight Club.'
Harold loves the attention he gets from staging fake suicides to frighten his obtuse and superficial haute-culture mother. In a reaction, she enlists him in a computer dating service in a vain matchmaking attempt to fix him up with Beetle-driving yuppies-to-be. The beauty is he frightens off all his prospective mates with cleverly staged fake suicides. At the same time, he meets Maude, a free-spirited senior who teaches him to appreciate life. After spending more time with her, he finds himself in love with her. However, a barrage of authority-i.e. priests, army-loving uncles and a psychiatrist-urge him not to follow through with his relationship.
`Harold and Maude' plays on '60s-esque themes of anti-establishment and open minds. Harold's militaristic uncle comes across as comical in his war-mongering vices-right down to his armless right sleeve that salutes when he pulls the string. Harold seems unhappy though he's surrounded by extravagance that rivals anything on MTV's `Cribs.' Not only that but his mother's lack of sense and indifference to her son mirrors her addiction to affluence. In addition to the swarm of brides-to-be, she tries to pacify him with material possessions-including a spanking-new Jaguar convertible, which he converts into a hearse.
Cat Stevens' open-air, acoustic-driven rock 'n' roll provides the soundtrack for the film. It gives the film a decent organic sound indicative of its demeanor.
This is a film that chases happiness wherever it can be found with a Woodstock-sense of responsibility. Maude's vices of vehicular larceny and bong smoking match Harold's love of fake hara-kiris and hearses. In a way, this movie comes across as a bit dated in that time has indeed erased the '60s anticipation of The Age of Aquarius and replaced it with `Fight Club' desperation.
However what the film lacks in reality, it makes up for in heart. This movie is not meant to be taken seriously; it's only to break down paradigms of societal thought.