Harold and Maude

“Go ahead and live. Otherwise you’ve got nothing to talk about in the locker room.” Maude

In 1971 Harold and Maude on its theatrical release flopped. It was a major disappointment and received horrible reviews.

We liked it the first fifteen times we saw it. Two weeks ago we saw it for the sixteenth time and we enjoyed it more than ever. It seems the more life experience we have the more we appreciate Hal Ashby and Harold and Maude.

Your family experience doesn’t have to be touched by suicide and death to appreciate the movie but it helps.

Harold and Maude is the finest dark comedy ever made by Hollywood.

Hal Ashby has been maligned and never received the credit of my other favorite director – Frank Kapra. Ashby’s films include Being There, The Last Detail, Shampoo, and his masterpiece – Harold and Maude. He also received an Oscar for his editing prowess for In The Heat of the Night.

I like to think he was years ahead of his time. And over time his movies will not only survive but become more appreciated.

I have read that Ashby had a unique start in Hollywood. In 1950 he walked into the California Board of Unemployment and asked for a job at a film studio. His first position – mimeographing scripts at Universal. Eventually he moved up to film editor and assistant director. His life sounds much like Chance the main character in Being There.

I’m not going to give away the plot of Harold and Maude. You need to see it - over and over.

Colin Higgins, the insightful author of Harold and Maude, was just a UCLA film student when he came up with the idea. He wrote other successful comedy scripts but unfortunately he died by the age of 47. And, no, he did not commit suicide.

It took the greatness of Ruth Gordon to bring a remarkable depth of feeling to the unlikely plot.

Bud Cort was the perfect young actor for the male protagonist and turned in a fine performance. I cannot imagine any other actor in the Harold role. I believe the reason he has not been utilized more by Hollywood is that for years it was hard to see a picture of him without thinking of the Harold character. Some sort karmic type casting.

Three exceptional supporting actors gave life to the plot and provided some of the most charming and comedic moments. Vivian Pickles, as Harold’s domineering mother, provides all the motivation Harold needs. The scene where she “helps” Harold fill in his dating service survey is one of the best in the movie.

Charles Tyner as Uncle Victor and Eric Christmas as the priest are wonderful and steal a number of scenes.

The sound track, by Cat Stevens (Yusuf), ties it all together. It’s hard to believe his sound track was never released.

Tom skerrit has a cameo as a motorcycle cop and makes one of the more outlandish series of scenes comic genius.

I’m hoping that Harold and Maude II will be made and if there’s any justice, Bud Cort will have a starring role.

In the next several weeks at our house we’re going to have a Hal Ashby movie marathon and if the day ever comes I’m feeling suicidal, I’m going to take the time to watch something life affirming. Harold and Maude would be my choice.