Harold and Maude (1971)

Young, rich, and obsessed with death, Harold finds himself changed forever when he meets lively septuagenarian Maude at a funeral.

Director:

Hal Ashby

Writer:

Colin Higgins

Stars:

Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, Vivian Pickles

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

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 De Vol	...	Police Officer (as Gordon DeVol)
Harvey Brumfield	...	Police Officer

Storyline

Young adult Harold Chasen, solitary and friendless by choice, is obsessed with death, this fascination manifesting itself in he staging his own fake suicides, driving a hearse and attending funerals, even of people he doesn't know, all to the chagrin of his exasperated wealthy mother with whom he lives. Mrs. Chasen is determined for Harold to be "normal", including her sending him into therapy to deal with his issues and finding him a girlfriend through a computer dating service. It is at a series of funerals that Harold meets Maude, on the cusp of her eightieth birthday, she who too attends funerals of strangers. Unlike Harold, Maude is obsessed with life - her own life to be more precise - she does whatever she wants to please herself, damned what others may think or how they may be affected. Since she can't take material possessions with her, she is more interested in experiences, with whatever material possessions she has - often "borrowed" without asking - only to further those ...

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Plot Keywords:

death | existentialism | older woman younger man relationship | funeral | coming of age | 

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Taglines:

They were meant to be. But exactly what they were meant to be is not quite clear.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actors originally considered for the role of Harold Chasen include John Rubinstein, Bob Balaban, Daniel Fortus, Todd Susman, Elton John and John Neilson.

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Goofs

When Harold tells his mother he's getting married, he pulls out a picture with two sides to it (either two pictures taped together, or two photos in a plastic holder) of a sunflower on it; before he tells her to turn it over, a photograph of a man with a beard, upside down (with some text under it) is clearly shown, not Maude! So she then looks at the photo of the man and says "You can't be serious!"

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Quotes

[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.

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Connections

Referenced in Pirates of the Great Salt Lake (2006)

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Soundtracks

An der schönen, blauen Donau (On the Beautiful Blue Danube), Op. 314
(1866) (uncredited)
Written by Johann Strauss
Danced by Harold and Maude

User Reviews

Brilliantly executed quirky comedy that could be the most romantic film ever

HAROLD AND MAUDE is one of the quirkiest comedies ever made, both heartwarming and hilarious. Just recently, it made the AFI's Top 100 Funniest Movies of All Time (#45). Not that the list means anything, it didn't include DUMB & DUMBER the funniest damn movie ever made, but I agreed with this choice.

Bud Cort is Harold, a morbid teenage boy neglected by his rich mother (Vivian Pickles), who spends her time trying to match him up with blind dates. Harold delights in pretending to kill himself to get attention from his mother and pulls some gruesome tricks out of his sleeve to scare away his blind dates. He goes to funerals as a hobby and while there, he meets Maude (Ruth Gordon), a carefree elderly woman. Maude helps to teach Harold the beauty of life and the two slowly fall in love.

HAROLD AND MAUDE was ever nominated for any Oscars, but it should have been. Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon are both brilliant in their roles; unfortunately, this would be the last good film either of them made. Cort was recently reduced to a bit part in THEODORE REX and Gordon died in 1985. But both here are at shining moments in their careers. Vivian Pickles is right on-target as Harold's rich, prissy mother who tries to run Harold's life for him until he breaks free. Maude is certainly one of the most heartwarming characters in cinema history; her philosophies are so very true that I couldn't help but apply them to my life after the movie was over. Some viewers may be disgusted at the thought of a teenage boy and an elderly woman being a hot item, but the idea and execution of it is more an act of respect and love for one another as people than an act of lust and romance, making this in my opinion the most romantic film of all time. HAROLD AND MAUDE is also told very realistically, making the story unfold gracefully and the twist ending is both poignant and reassuring.

HAROLD AND MAUDE is certainly one of the funniest movies of all time, but is also one of the most important human stories as well.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 December 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Harold and Maude

Filming Locations:

San Francisco Trains State Belt #4 Restoration Site, Bayshore Blvd, Brisbane, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mildred Lewis and Colin Higgins Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1