Harold and Maude (1971)

Director:

Hal Ashby

Writer:

Colin Higgins (written by)

Release Date:

20 December 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

They will defy everything you've ever seen or heard about screen lovers! [Video]

Plot:

Young, rich, and obsessed with death, Harold finds himself changed forever when he meets lively septuagenarian Maude at a funeral.

Plot Keywords:

Cat Stevens | San Francisco Bay Area, California | Free Spirit | Lost Love | Severed Hand

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

US Showtimes:

(register to personalize)

Cast

Ruth Gordon	...	Maude
Bud Cort	...	Harold Parker Chasen
Vivian Pickles	...	Mrs. Chasen
Cyril Cusack	...	Glaucus
Charles Tyner	...	Brig. Gen. Victor Ball
Ellen Geer	...	Sunshine Doré, Third Date
Eric Christmas	...	Priest
G. Wood	...	Psychiatrist
Judy Engles	...	Candy Gulf, First Date
Shari Summers	...	Edith Phern, Second Date
Tom Skerritt	...	Motorcycle Officer (as M. Borman)
Susan Madigan	...	Girlfriend
Ray K. Goman	...	Police Officer (as Ray Goman)
Gordon Devol	...	Police Officer (as Gordon DeVol)
Harvey Brumfield	...	Police Officer

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

South Korea:18 (2005) | West Germany:18 (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Berkeley, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

In all shots of Ruth Gordon (Maude) driving the hearse it is being towed because she never learned how to drive a car.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Maude pulls the banjo out of a cabinet, you see the reflection of crew and lights.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mrs. Chasen: [after spotting Harold hanging from a noose in the living room] I suppose you think that's very funny, Harold... Oh, dinner at eight, Harold. And do try and be a little more vivacious.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Charlie Bartlett (2007)

Soundtrack:

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1

Ashby The Great

Ashby was Ashby from the word go. Pristine without being precious, intelligently beautiful without being french, funny, funny, funny, bitter, provoking and sad. You can mix all of that and quite simply call it Ashby. What a delight! Elizabeth Bergner was suppose to play the part, marvelously written by Colin Higgins. Hal Ashby flew to London for a meeting with her, she didn't quite get it, she said aloud she couldn't work with a director who looked like Jesus Christ. Well sorry for her, but lucky for Ruth Gordon and lucky for us. As I saw the film after Rosemary's Baby I was kind of worried for Bud Cort for a little while. Ruth Gordon made her name as Dolly Levy in Thornton Wilder's "The Matchmaker" got an Oscar for Rosemary's Baby, wrote Adam's Rib with husband Garson Kanin. She was a woman for the ages and "Harold and Maude" is her present, her own tribute to an extraordinary life. I've shown the film to kids, 10, 12 years old and they fall in love with her. Bud Cort is the perfect foil for her designs. Cat Stevens and a scrumptious performance by Vivian Pickles, the unforgettable Isadora of Ken Russell's film of Duncan's life, wrap up this exquisite Hal Ashby masterpiece.