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Rating:
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MV Ratings:
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Director:
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Hal Ashby
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Writer:
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Colin Higgins
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Release Date:
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20 December 1971 (United States) more
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Language:
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English |
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Genre:
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Comedy | Drama
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Tagline:
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They will defy everything you've ever seen or heard about screen lovers! [Video]
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Storyline
The young Harold lives in his own world of suicide-attempts and funeral visits to avoid the misery of his current family and home environment. Harold meets an 80-year-old woman named Maude who also lives in her own world yet one in which she is having the time of her life. When the two opposites meet they realize that their differences don't matter and they become best friends and love each other. |
Backdrops
User Reviews
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Viewing Harold and Maude for the AFI Project
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From January 10, 2010:
What's the AFI Project, you ask? For more information, or if you just enjoy my bemused ramblings, read here:http://www.spout.com/blogs/pippin06/archive/2008/3/1/25756.aspx
Harold and Maude is on the following AFI lists:
100 Funniest Films (#45)
100 Years...100 Passions (#69)
100 Most Inspiring Movies (#89)
10 Top 10's (#9 Romantic Comedy)
This film also represents the second of two films directed by Hal Ashby topping my Netflix queue, just in case you were keeping track. This film further represents the second of six comedies that top the queue as well.
I first heard of the film Harold and Maude on two VH-1 shows: 100 Greatest Child Stars (Bud Cort was covered somewhere) and, the better kitschy show, I Love the 70s. I was a bit put off by the premise; I've never really wanted to watch an almost 80-year-old romance a (hopefully legal) rich boy, or the possible side effects of such an affair, but two elements changed my mind. First, most reviews of the film characterized it as largely touching and sweet, giving me cause to pause my harsh and socially-programmed initial response. Second, it's a film on four AFI lists, and loyal readers know what kind of effect such an illustrious status has on me. Thus, the film appeared on my large and never-ending queue, and the rest is cult comedy history.
Harold (Cort) is a death-obsessed rich boy who gets his jollies attending funerals and staging his suicide for his put-upon yet domineering mother (Vivian Pickles). Maude (Ruth Gordon) is a 79-year-old eccentric high on life who does, collects, acts, says, and is what she pleases (including modeling in the nude), though she also has a s...
View full review
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reviewed by Pippin2010 (Filmaster.com) on the 19th of March 2010
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Lovely in its own way and rather amusing, and the soundtrack is perfect. It's one of the most unusual love stories around, and there are interesting nuances to the characters, particularly Maude. But her life-affirming platitudes are trite and simplistic. Some are beautiful despite this but others make my stomach clench. The anti-authoritarian angle comes on too strong. Such a hopeless product of hippie romanticism... you've got to stick it to The Man, and love is all you need.