Harry and Tonto (1974)

When his apartment building is torn down, a retired lifelong New Yorker goes on a cross country odyssey with his beloved cat Tonto.

Director:

Paul Mazursky

Writers:

Paul Mazursky, Josh Greenfeld

Stars:

Art Carney, René Enríquez, Herbert Berghof

Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Art Carney	...	Harry Coombes
René Enríquez	...	Jesús - Deli Manager
Herbert Berghof	...	Jacob Rivetowski
Michael McCleery	...	Mugger
Avon Long	...	Leroy
Rashel Novikoff	...	Mrs. Rothman
Philip Bruns	...	Burt Coombes (as Phil Bruns)
Cliff De Young	...	Burt Coombes Jr.
Josh Mostel	...	Norman Coombes (as Joshua Mostel)
Dolly Jonah	...	Elaine Coombes
Sybil Bowan	...	Old Landlady
Joe Madden	...	Panhandler
Bette Howard	...	Morgue Clerk
Patricia Fay	...	Airport Security Woman
Muriel Beerman	...	Taxi Driver

Storyline

Harry is a retired teacher in his 70s living in the Upper West Side of New York City where his late wife and he raised his children--where he's lived all his life. When the building he lives in is torn down to make way for a parking garage, Harry and his beloved cat Tonto begin a journey across the United States, visiting his children, seeing a world he never seemed to have the time to see before, making new friends, and saying goodbye to old friends.

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Plot Keywords:

cat | friend | new york city | old flame | teacher | 

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Taglines:

Get a Lift

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 January 1975 (France)

Also Known As:

Harry e Tonto

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$980,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paul Mazursky, the director, was taking a cab to meet the casting director and his cab driver talked so much he thought she might be good in the movie. He had her park at the casting directors office and leave the meter running while she came inside and read for the part. She, Muriel Beerman, got the part as the taxi driver.

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Goofs

Leaving Harry's apartment, in the first shot, the trailer carrying his furniture is uncovered, in the second shot it's covered with a tarp.

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Quotes

Shirley: I like you, Norman.
Norman: I like you too, Aunt Shirley, but I think you're a bitch.

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Crazy Credits

Tonto is billed "and TONTO"

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Connections

Referenced in The Omen Legacy (2001)

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Soundtracks

"Long Train Runnin'"
(uncredited)
Written by Tom Johnston

User Reviews

A truly heartwarming movie

I saw the movie for the first time on AMC and enjoyed it a lot. You don't see movies of this type anymore and when you see one like this you can't forget it. I thought Art Carney did a tremendous job acting as Harry. It also tended to remind people that they get old and lose their friends due to death and search for new companions.