Review of Harold and Maude (1971) by Joshua G — 18 May 2010

Harold and Maude is a film recognized today as a corny, sappy, humorous movie. Listing in 2000 as number forty five on the AFI's (American Films Institute a list of the top 100 films in American comedy, passions and cheers) 100 years...100 laughs. In 2002 it was named number sixty nine on AFI's 100 years...100 passions. In 2006 it was named number eighty nine on AFI's 100 years...100 cheers. Finally the most recent award given was in 2008 where it was named number 9 out of 10 of AFI's Romantic Comedy.

However in the film itself Harold (Bud Cort) and Maude (Ruth Gordon) play magnificent roles as care free and worry less people in the society around the San Francisco bay area. The film is about a nineteen or twenty year old boy (Harold) that while in boarding school set his lab on fire. On his free time Harold enjoys playing suicidal tricks on his mother (Mrs. Chasen played by Vivian Pickles) and attending funerals. While at the funerals he meets a seventy nine year old female (Maude) that he slowly falls in love with. As the two spend time together Maude teaches Harold things to do in life and to be care free and "Make the most of his time on earth." All in all the film was unique and fantastic in many ways including two specifics being: cast, editing and music.

The film plays a series of songs by Cat Stevens these include "Don't Be Shy", "On the Road to Find Out", "I Wish, I Wish", "Miles from Nowhere", "Tea for the Tillerman", "I Think I See the Light", and "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out". As we come into the opening we hear the song "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out" as Harold plays his "Suicide" on his mother the lyrics sing out in a type of sad depressing state but give an up beat tempo. As Harold does more and more of these you hear blurbs of this song. Showing the viewer that Harold is troubled in the sense that he keeps attempting suicide. The music in the movie plays a big role as far as "setting the mood". Meaning that as time goes on you see that Harold is being made happier by Maude which in turn makes the music be happier and more up tune; rather than low and depressing.

The cast in this film comes in and really bites you at the bit making this movie epic. As we open up the movie in the first scene we learn something about Harold and his mother. Thus being that the relationship they share is not very serious or yet at that very good. We know this because the opening scene is Harold committing suicide as a joke to screw with his mother. It isn't long after this that he "slits his throat" and covers his mothers entire bathroom with fake blood. Many times after this he does these tricks. Some of them include: burning himself, stabbing himself with a collapsible knife, floating dead in the pool, hand chopping and a car crash.

As time goes on and Harold grows closer to Maude the relationship that Harold and his mother slowly deteriorates and turns into almost nothing. Harold is seen with Maude almost in every scene from here on out. Showing that they are starting a bond that the mother and son should have had. Maude shows the morals in the movie to Harold telling him to live life to the fullest and make the most of your time on earth.

To conclude I give this movie out of five stars three and a half for the excellence in cast and editing. I recommend anyone that likes a good romantic comedy to join those that have seen it for a laugh and a fun filling adventure.