Classic Review: Harold and Maude (1971)

The original theatrical poster for Hal Ashby's "Harold and Maude," Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

Maude: "Harold, *everyone* has the right to make an ass of of themselves. You just can't let the world judge you too much."

Sometimes life is complicated and not worth living for, but this film shows that life is worth living for, even though death seems more suitable. I never thought of touching and even watching this film ever since hearing about the huge age gap in the main characters relationship. The idea was too bold for myself, I thought it was a little far fetched, and if handled incorrectly, it could have been disgusting. Thankfully, much like films from today's generation, there is much respect when it comes to the initiate relationship these two characters share. It may seem dramatic, but the film is built on the premise of just letting loose and having fun every once and a while.

Harold and Maude (Hal Ashby, 1971), is about, well, Harold (Bud Cort) and Maude (Ruth Gordon), but the story begins with Harold. A young, rich, depressed man who clearly has a obsession with death and wanting to kill himself in front of his mother, who he also evidently hates with a passion. Along with his obsession with death, he goes to funerals to cope with his suicidal thoughts and ways. After going to a few funerals, he meets and befriends Maude, an older lady who is about to 80 years old. Both of them bond over the ideas of death and love, sharing innermost desire to live life at its fullest. Expressing that life is not to die for, even in older age.

Bud Cort (left) and Ruth Gordon (right) in "Harold and Maude," Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

After finding hearing the soundtrack from Cat Stevens (who makes one of the best soundtracks ever for a film for Harold and Maude) I finally gathered the courage and see the film out. While my problems are minimal, there is a definite respect to the precise filmmaking at hand, including the editing, which is for a later discussion. However, its Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort who steal the show with their chemistry. Between the both of them, they create characters that are relatable. They feel like real people who just want to have fun with their given situations, instead of being hard-nose all the time, that even includes being disrespectful at a funeral.

There are many conversations the film explores that could easily make this review into an essay. There is a lengthy conversation on the controversial relationship between the Harold and Maude, and how with either one its a major no-no or how it could make for an eye-opening storytelling objective to get a point across for an audience. Which to be fair, this film nearly had an R rating since Hal Ashby wanted to show a love making scene, but Paramount Pictures said no to it, and luckily the film stands with a PG rating, able to reach a wide range of audience members.

Two strange people find a connection and share their feelings and views on the world in "Harold and Maude," Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

As I stated above, the editing and camerawork in the film is transcendent. I became lost in the films story that I forgot there were moments of having any sort of camerawork involved. And the editing is perfect in my opinion. There is not a single stretch where I can think of a cut being out of place. It guides the viewer along the many conversations that Maude and Harold have, along with the conversations with other characters as well. I found myself laughing sharply at the scenes where Harold's mother would invite a girl who she assign to have a date with Harold. Harold would then proceed to scare them away by his fake suicide attempts. And those moments contained such great editing between the cuts that made me laugh at how the images were placed together.

It may seem far feteched, "Harold and Maude" show the true purpose of wanting to either be alive or dead, and to not let the world judge you so harshly. Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

Although the directing from Ashby is sublime, the writing from Colin Higgins is the real key to making this film standout. He wrote this screenplay based on his thesis in college, which rightfully so, the film is thoughtful and thorough. It feels like a piece that is meant to be rewatched time and time again, grasping and reassuring our views on life. Harold and Maude can be one thing to myself but could be something to someone else. It hits many cylinders and is meant to have viewers think about life through the eyes of a elderly woman who lived completely and through a miserable young man who feels to have no purpose in living anymore.

Overall, Harold and Maude is a quirky and special film that still carries even decades later. It's an easy recommendation from myself, but its up to you to decide whether you are willing to see the age gap in the relationship. As stated, there is a question about the age gap and the Maude's age mixed with dementia. While not confirmed, one can noticed based in Ruth Gordon's performance that Maude does a slight edge to her and does not discuss much about her past and lives in the moment. But there is more hints about Maude's history with a number tattooed on her forearm, suggesting her time during the Holocaust.

At the end of day, an age difference may seem strange and weird, but caring for one another and allowing yourself to be free is the true purpose "Harold and Maude" shows. Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

There isn't much that the film provides in context of those elements other than hints here and there. But that is the whole point of the film. Live now. Don't settle or die over the world judging you. Live life and enjoy it along the way. Its one of the few films that celebrates the idea of living than any other I have seen. And it does it extremely bluntly and honestly. It shows how you have to have fun no matter what is happening, that life and death go hand and hand. Much like Harold and Maude's relationship. It is inevitable, but enjoy the little time you have together, because before you know it, its done and gone.

Rating: A

Run Time: 1 Hour 31 Minutes

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