#charles tyner

[haveyouseenthismovie-poll]

Have you seen Harold and Maude (1971)?

Yes

No

Haven’t even heard of this movie

Voting ended onFeb 19

[Note: This poll is a re-do of an older poll, as the original poll for it received less than 1,500 votes.]

[duranduratulsa]

Up next...my annual Thanksgiving showing of Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) on glorious vintage VHS 📼! #movie #movies #comedy #roadmovie #planestrainsandautomobiles #johnhughes #ripjohnhughes #stevemartin #johncandy #ripjohncandy #LailaRobins #MichaelMcKean #KevinBacon #DylanBaker #ediemcclurg #OliviaBurnette #MartinFerrero #LarryHankin #MatthewLawrence #benstein #charlestyner #lymanward #BillErwin #vintage #VHS #80s #Thanksgiving #HappyThanksgiving

[motionpicturelover]

"Harold and Maude" (1970) - Hal Ashby

Films I've watched in 2024 (28/95)

I love this film so much. ❤

[erstwhile-punk-guerito]

[loveboatinsanity]

[adamwatchesmovies]

Harold and Maude (1971)

I’m not shocked that Harold and Maude was not well received upon release. When this comedy gets dark, it’s really dark. Its subject material still has some edge today so you can imagine what it was like in 1971. Time’s been (mostly) kind to this black romantic comedy. There are plenty of laughs and moments of sweetness to be found here.

18-yeard-old Harold Chasen (Bud Cort) is obsessed with death. His spare time is dedicated to faking elaborate suicides so he can shock those who discover his “body” when he isn't attending funerals. After being recognized at several funerals by Maude (Ruth Gordon), a free-spirited, live-for-the-moment 79-year-old, she approaches him. From there, an odd relationship blossoms.

There are points where Maude turns into what can only be described as a manic pixie dream girl (despite the term being coined in 2005). She’s a woman whose quirks never seem to end, whose enthusiasm knows no bounds. She steals cars on a whim and defies police officers without ever facing consequences. It’s jarring to see her get away with so much but if you find that it’s rubbing you the wrong way, hold on. As the picture develops, we learn more about her. No big speeches, just little things you pick up here and there. By the time we get to the end, you’ll see. She isn’t simply a construct made to give Harold a new outlook on life, she’s a fully-realized person on her own.

The bond that grows between the leads is what makes the picture so effective. Initially, it looks like that old cliché that opposites attract. He’s young, she’s old. He comes from a rich, affluent family and she’s down to earth. He’s obsessed with death, she’s determined to feel alive. Once we see them sit down and talk, we learn that actually, they're not that different. They're both overcompensating for something. Harold’s obsession with death is used to remind him of what it would be like if he wasn’t there, and of what he’d miss. Similarly, Maude frequently comments on her upcoming 80th birthday; that beyond it, she doesn’t foresee anything. Deep down, they're both sad characters but in different ways. It’s not some fetish or desperation that brings them together. Had they both been in their 20s, you’d get excited to see them kiss. As is, you may still hope for that but you'll need a bit to get used to the idea.

There are many big surprises in Harold and Maude. They make for the kind of laughs that will have anyone with a morbid sense of humor in stitches. I won't dare to spoil any. Instead, I want to discuss the soundtrack. Cat Stevens's Don’t Be Shy and If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out (both composed for the film) perfectly condense all of the picture’s emotions within their melody and lyrics. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear many weeping messes leaving the film because of the latter.

Some elements of Harold and Maude are jarring even to those who will be cheering for a septuagenarian to date an 18-year-old. The humor won’t be for everyone. Even so, the picture has a deep emotional impact. The performances are strong and they’re made even better by a believable relationship and the perfect soundtrack. (July 7, 2018)

[80smovies]

Pulse

[michigandrifter]

Lawman 1971