Harold and Maude Movie Review 1971

Cult classic pairs Cort as a deadpan disillusioned 20-year-old obsessed with suicide (his staged attempts are a highlight) and a loveable Gordon as a fun-loving 80-year-old eccentric. They meet at a funeral (a mutual hobby), and develop a taboo romantic relationship, in which they explore the tired theme of the meaning of life with a fresh perspective. The script was originally the 20-minute long graduate thesis of UCLA student Higgins, who showed it to his landlady, wife of film producer Lewis. Features music by the pre-Islamic Cat Stevens.

Distribution

Paramount Home Video, 5555 Melrose Ave., 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, Phone: (323)956-5000, URL: http://www.paramount.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 92 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Black Comedy, Late Bloomin' Love, Suicide, Only the Lonely, Funerals, Dates from Hell, Bloody Messages, May-December Romance, 4 Bones

Screenplay

Colin Higgins

Cast

Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, Cyril Cusack, Vivian Pickles, Charles Tyner, Ellen Geer, Eric Christmas, G(eorge) Wood, Gordon Devol

Cinematography

John A. Alonzo

Director

Hal Ashby

Music

Cat Stevens

Producer

Paramount Pictures

Awards

Natl. Film Reg. 1997.