February 24, 2021
Harold and Maude (1971) ****
Secret Movie Club Drive-In
$31
Wildcard
“The earth is my body, my head is in the stars. Who said that, Harold?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, I suppose I did, then!”
I saw Harold and Maude for the first time in my freshman year at NYU, in a double bill with The King of Hearts at (I think) the late, lamented Bleeker Street Cinema. The King of Hearts was okay, if a little twee, but Harold and Maude was terrific then and terrific now.
Harold is a death-obsessed young man, forever pretending to commit suicide in order to get some kind of reaction from his socialite mother, and Maude is a life-obsessed, nearly 80 year old woman, who finds every way in which to honour living a bold life fully, even if you have to break a few minor laws along the way.
The film is filled with the music of Cat Stevens, which frankly should be enough for anybody, and also has wonderful performances by Vivian Pickles as Harold’s mother, Charles Tyner as Harold’s Army officer uncle, and my dad’s friend Eric Christmas as the priest, who has a monologue for the ages that still makes me howl. But most important of all are the stellar performances by Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon.
Ruth Gordon is the heart of the film, and she is so funny and joyful, without being a manic pixie dream octogenarian. Her quiet, heartfelt moments are done so simply and subtly, and she just has the gentlest touch. I was reminded that now this is a stage play, and I shudder to think of some of the over-the-top renditions that I am sure are being performed over Zoom this very minute.
Bud Cort never had the career he should have, and nobody wants to be remembered exclusively for a 50 year old film that he did when he was 23, but he is so perfect in the role, I cannot imagine the movie working half as well with any other young actor of the era, he and Ruth Gordon are a perfect pair.
It’s funny, it’s dark, it’s oh so early ’70s. Watch it. And if you want to sing out, sing out!
365 Films in 365 Days 