What a great old movie. The relationship between Harold and Maude is surprisingly not creepy (until the end) despite the shocking age difference. Bud Court plays Harold, a very strange young man, enjoys faking his death and attending funerals. After seeing her at several funerals, Maude (played by Ruth Gordon) introduces herself. An odd, misfit relationship develops between the two.
Maude is fantastic and has some great advice for the hurt and confused Harold. She is a wild, old lady who willing steals cars and runs from the law.
Thankfully not directed by Robert Altman (one of my least favorite directors), Bud Court played a similar character to his one in Brewster McCloud (which came out the year before), but thankfully with a very interesting and stimulating plot line. The soundtrack done mostly by Cat Stevens was a nice touch. A must see!
When Scenes
WHEN Harold's uncle who has lost his arm in the war has a string to pul that makes that arm salute.
WHEN Harold pretends to light himself on fire when his mother tries to set him up on a blind date.
WHEN Harold and Maude sing the Cat Stevens' song "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out."
WHEN Harold's mother gets rid of his hearse and buys him a new car and he sets a blow torch to it.
WHEN the police man pulls Harold and Maude over tries to get their papers and they steal his motorcycle.
WHEN Harold tells Maude he enjoyed being dead each time he pretended to commit suicide.
WHEN Harold and Maude dance.
WHEN Harold pretends to chop off his hand with another blind date in the room.
WHEN Harold accidentally kills his last blind date.
WHEN Maude comes up with a plan to get Harold out of going into the army.
QUICKIES
"Harold, do you dance?"- Ruth Gordon (Maude)
"Pardon me?"- Bud Court (Harold)
"Do you sing and dance?"- Ruth Gordon (Maude)
"Uh, no."- Bud Court (Harold)
"I thought not."- Ruth Gordon (Maude)
"One time I used to break in to pet shops to liberate the canaries, but I decided that was an idea way before it's time. Zoos are full, prisons are overflowing, oh my how the world still dearly loves a cage."- Ruth Gordon (Maude)
"Try something new each day after all we're given a life to find it out and it doesn't last forever."- Ruth Gordon (Maude)
"Greet the dawn with a breath of fire."- Ruth Gordon (Maude)
"Still fighting for the big issues but now in my small, individual way."- Ruth Gordon (Maude)
"Dear me, everybody should be able to make some music, that's the cosmic dance."- Ruth Gordon (Maude)
"The earth is in my body, my head is in the stars."- Ruth Gordon (Maude)
"It's best not to be too moral, you cheat yourself out of life." Ruth Gordon (Maude)
"I haven't lived, I've died a few times."- Bud Court (Harold)
"Everyone has the right to make an ass out of themselves, you can't let the world judge you too much."- Ruth Gordon (Maude)
"You sure have a way with people."- Bud Court (Harold)
"Well they are my species."- Ruth Gordon (Maude)
Fun Facts
When working on the role of Harold, Bud Court questioned his mentor, director Robert Altman. Altman told him that if he took the role he might type cast. Court had starred in Altman's Brewster McCloud the previous year.
In all shots of Ruth Gordon driving, the cars are being towed because she never learned how to drive.
When Harold and Maude steal the police car, Bud Court hit his head with the shovel but kept going for the sake of the shot.
Bud Court wanted Greta Garbo to play the part of Maude.
In the scenes with Harold and psychiatrist the two wear the exact same outfit including ties and handkerchiefs.
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