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, Ellen Burstyn, René Enríquez

Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Art Carney	...	Harry
René Enríquez	...	Grocery Clerk
Herbert Berghof	...	Rivetowski
Michael McCleery	...	Mugger
Avon Long	...	Leroy
Rashel Novikoff	...	Mrs. Rothman
Philip Bruns	...	Burt (as Phil Bruns)
Cliff De Young	...	Burt Jr.
Josh Mostel	...	Norman (as Joshua Mostel)
Dolly Jonah	...	Elaine
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 of his life. When the building, in which he lives, is torn down to make way for a parking garage, Harry and his beloved cat Tonto begin a journey across the U.S., 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 movie | road trip | character names as title | tonto the cat character | forename in title | 

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Taglines:

Get a Lift

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paul Mazursky: Uncredited, as a prostitute.

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Goofs

Soon after Harry buys the old used car, we see him driving it while telling Tonto a story. First shot (exterior) shows Harry in the outside lane. The camera switches to inside the car and we see Harry in the inside lane.

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Quotes

Harry: Did you ever have Annushka again?
Jacob Rivetowski: No, no... My father started slipping it to her regularly.
Harry: [chuckling] Polish logic!
Jacob Rivetowski: He was a capitalist bastard!

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Crazy Credits

Tonto is billed "and TONTO"

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Alternate Versions

When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'A' rating.

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #26.115 (2010)

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Soundtracks

Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day)
(uncredited)
Music by Fred E. Ahlert
Lyrics by Roy Turk
Sung by Art Carney

User Reviews

Art Carney Proves that Old is Great in "Harry & Tonto"

Art Carney gives us all a top caliber performance is this highly acclaimed movie drama.Here he plays a put upon retired school teacher.Who is forced to move from his West Side Apartment with his pet cat:"Tonto"and move in with his patronizing and complaining son and daughter in law.Unable to tolerate their difficult attitudes."Harry Coombes"(Carney)takes a trek accross country.Where he meets up with a teenage runaway:"Ginger"(Melenie Mayron),A Connving Vitamin Salesman(Athur Hunnicut),A Native American Medicine Man:"Sam Two Feathers"(Chief Dan George),A prositute(Rhonda Flemming)and his former girlfriend:"Jessie"(Geraldine Fitzgerald).He also spends some time with his oppionated daughter:"Shirley"(Ellen Burstyn)and His irresponsible son:"Eddie"(Larry Hagman).The film is filled with pogient moments and with some laughs.As well as some tradgety:"Harry's"old Friend:"Jacob"(Played here with some acerbic insight by the late Herbert Burghoff).Who dies and Poor "Harry"(Carney)has to indentify his friend's body at the morgue and the death of "Tonto".Art Carney won an Oscar for his portrayal of "Harry Coombes" in this picture.But most of all.He has won our admiration for his talents as an actor.Thanks Art!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 August 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Harry & 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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1