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Harold and Maude Customer Reviews (52 - 54 of 68 Reviews)

You should be dying to see "Harold and Maude"
I have taken it upon myself to see many of the movies that I enjoyed as a young adult in the 60's and 70's. Some of them I remember as being great, but when I see them again, they're not so great. One of the truly great ones is "Harold and Maude" (1972). The movie has lost nothing for me, and if anything, is actually better now.

It is the story of a young man (Harold - Played by Bud Cort) obsessed with death, and his relationship with an older woman, (Maude- Played by Ruth Gordon)who is a complete free spirit. Maude is fond of funerals, but is more fascinated with the circle of life, not just death. Their relationship takes Harold on a journey to maturity that is full of humor and heartache. I was quite pleasantly surprised recently while I was watching "Something about Mary" that "Harold and Maude" was mentioned a few times as Mary's favorite all time love story.

This film is the ultimate black comedy. The music is one of the highlights of this great work. All of the music is by Cat Stevens. The music of Cat Stevens also plays through a larger portion of this film that most of today's soundtracks which may be made more to sell CDs than to provide mood for the story. Cat Stevens is also an artist that we can forget how much we enjoyed.

I showed this video to my sons (12 and 14), they even appreciated it. If you want to see a video that gives you a glimpse of a how we felt about life and death in the 1970's (and how many of us feel today) see Harold and Maude. You won't be disappointed.

18 to 80 - There are many beautiful years of life inbetween!
We all know the expression "like Harold & Maude", even if we haven't seen this great film. The expression, coined by this movie, refers to a friendship or love-affair between a very young man and a much older woman. The two main characters are not only very different in age, but also in their personalities. Young Harold, excentric, spoiled, suicidal, is almost the exact opposite of old Maude (brilliantly played by the ever-feisty Ruth Gordon), who is vibrant and full of life's spirit.

Following the pair on their "outings" is both hilarious and provocative. To see the fearless Maude playfully "deal with" irritating police officers, or responding to a suspicious priest whose car she had recently "borrowed", or to pose nude for an elderly ice sculptor, to ensure he retains the memory of the female body, or to simply rejoice in the beauties of nature, is an inspiration to viewers at any stage of life.

Harold's countless fake suicides are hilarious, but he eventually meets his match in a young prospective "date" sent by a matrimony agency. The young woman was a devout fan of "Shakespearean" Theatre, responding to Harold's "Harikari" suicide by doing one of her own favorite death-scenes from Romeo & Juliet. - The character playing Harold's idle-rich, not much less excentric mother, had a brilliant line here: "Harold, that was your last date!"

Assosiating with this "odd friend" teaches Harold many lessons about life. For the first time he realizes that his life had only just begun, while Maude is nearing the end of her days. The ending is heartbreaking. -- "Harold & Maude" has been an instant classic immediately after its release in 1971. Since then it has gained cult status. This is a must-see film!*****

bittersweetness of life
Harold and Maude is an insightful, comedic and touching view of two individuals who are seemingly polar opposites. Ashby, the director, reminds the viewer that in death there is life and in life there is death and having a sense of humor is the best, if not the only antidote to both phenomena.

As many have mentioned, with a few dissenters, this is truly a wonderful film, full of irony and paradoxes. One falls in love with the characters and thus the film. Cat Stephens' haunting music provides a perfect soundscape to a film that will haunt
your memory for all time.

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