Harold and Maude (1971)
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A young man obsessed with death finds an unexpected connection with a 79-year-old woman who teaches him the importance of living life to the fullest.
The story
Harold Chasen is a young man obsessed with death who engages in various morbid activities, much to the chagrin of his wealthy, controlling mother. His mother attempts to force him into a conventional life through various schemes. However, Harold's perspective begins to shift when he meets 79-year-old Maude at a funeral. Maude is a free spirit who lives in a decommissioned railroad car and encourages Harold to embrace the joy of the present. As the two form an unlikely bond and a romantic relationship, they navigate the contrast between Harold's morbid preoccupation and Maude's vibrant, unconventional outlook on existence.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Harold Chasen, a man obsessed with death, lives a life of morbid rituals that frustrate his wealthy mother, who tries to force him into a conventional life. His world changes when he meets Maude, a 79-year-old woman who lives in a railroad car and embraces life's pleasures. As they fall in love, Maude reveals her past as a radical suffragette and a survivor of the Nazi death camps. While Maude's mother tries to force Harold into the military, he thwarts her plans with a staged stunt involving Maude. On her 80th birthday, Maude reveals she has taken an overdose of sleeping pills. Although Harold rushes her to the hospital, she passes away. Devastated, Harold drives his hearse off a cliff, only to be seen standing calmly on the cliffside, playing his banjo and dancing to 'If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out' as he walks away.
- First release year
- 1971
- Runtime (minutes)
- 91
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Hal Ashby
- Writers
- Colin Higgins · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ruth Gordon · Maude; Bud Cort · Harold; Vivian Pickles · Mrs. Chasen; Cyril Cusack · Glaucus; Charles Tyner · General Victor Ball; Ellen Geer · Sunshine Doré
- Genres
- romantic; black comedy-drama
- Themes
- mortality; non-conformity; ageism; mother-son relationships
- Tone and mood
- dark humor; existentialist
- Source material / true-story basis
- Original screenplay by Colin Higgins, which was also adapted into a novel and a stage play.
- Content notes
- death
- Reception
- Initially met with mixed reviews and commercial failure, the film gained a significant cult following and was eventually recognized for its unique humor and heart.
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe · Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The screenplay was originally a master's thesis for film school.; The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1997.; The music was composed and performed by Cat Stevens.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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