Review of Harold and Maude (1971) by Josh B — 27 Feb 2012
A flop on its initial realease Hal Ashbys second film confirmed him as one of the best directors of the 1970s and the time is now right to adress the fact that he has become somewhat neglected .
Harold is a young man who loves commiting suicicde to annoy his well to do mother who wants him to grow up and marry.
Harold also likes to attend funerals and its thier where he meets Maude a 79 year old car thief who lives in a railway carriage and has a very positive outlook on the thing called life.
What follows is a glorious black comedy with Harold and Maude at its centre.
Bud Cort is very very funny as the baby faced Harold and his faked suicide attempts are brilllantly done as is his obsession with driving around in a Hearse which leads to him converting his Jaguar E Type into the most bizzare hearse this viewer has ever seen.
Ruth Gordon is equally good as Maude with her sunny outlook and wonderful eccentric homespun wisdom she is the heart at the centre of the film .
Ashby keeps everything pitch black of course but thats not to say the film doesnt have heart thanks to Gordon and Cat Stevens on the soundtrack you get a film which lingers long in the mind long after you have seen it.
The story might be a little wacked out for some tastes but I loved every minute of this cult classic.
This review of Harold and Maude (1971) was written by Josh B on 27 Feb 2012.
Harold and Maude has generally received very positive reviews.
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