Harold and Maude (Widescreen): Amazon.ca: Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, Vivian Pickles, Cyril Cusack, Charles Tyner, Ellen Geer, Eric Christmas, G. Wood, Judy Engles, Shari Summers, Tom Skerritt, Susan Madigan, John A. Alonzo, Hal Ashby, Edward Warschilka, William A. Sawyer, Charles Mulvehill, Colin Higgins, Mildred Lewis: DVD

Product Description

Amazon.com Essential Video

Black comedies don't come much blacker than this cult favorite from 1972, and they don't come much funnier, either. It seemed that director Hal Ashby was the perfect choice to mine a mother lode of eccentricity from the original script by Colin Higgins, about the unlikely romance between a death-obsessed 19-year-old named Harold (Bud Cort) and a life-loving 79-year-old widow named Maude (Ruth Gordon). They meet at a funeral, and Maude finds something oddly appealing about Harold, urging him to "reach out" and grab life by the lapels as opposed to dwelling morbidly on mortality. Harold grows fond of the old gal--she's a lot more fun than the girls his mother desperately matches him up with--and together they make Harold & Maude one of the sweetest and most unconventional love stories ever made. Much of the earlier humor arises from Harold's outrageous suicide fantasies, played out as a kind of twisted parlor game to mortify his mother, who's grown immune to her strange son's antics. Gradually, however, the film's clever humor shifts to a brighter outlook and finally arrives at a point where Harold is truly happy to be alive. Featuring soundtrack songs by Cat Stevens, this comedy certainly won't appeal to all tastes (it was a box-office flop when first released), but if you're on its quirky wavelength, it might just strike you as one of the funniest movies you've ever seen. --Jeff Shannon

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Customer Reviews

163 Reviews

5 star:		(137)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (163 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars If I have to choose, this is the best, Oct 29 2002

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Jay Roberts - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Harold and Maude (Widescreen) (DVD)

I know people who have visited Venice and Prague and seen only the graffiti. I know people who have watched Harold and Maude and seen only an affair between a young boy and an old woman. I suspect they're the same people, and I feel for them.

I love movies. I love a lot of movies for a lot of reasons. My "top ten" probably includes about a hundred. But if I have to choose one, I can never think of one more complete, sweet, amazing or satisfying than Harold and Maude.

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5.0 out of 5 stars If ever a movie could change your life.... this one can., Dec 27 1998

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Anne Wright (Holiday, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Harold & Maude (VHS Tape)

I have been raving about this movie for about 15 years now. To see it once is to see it dozens of times. I can recite it and still get something out of it every time. It is by far, my favorite movie of all time. Whenever you lack lust for life, see Maude in action. "I feel that much of the world's sorrow comes from people who are this.... allow themselves to be treated as that." Maude

I think we all have a bit of Harold in us that is waiting for a Maude.

May you find it.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely One of the Best, Mar 9 2004

By

Danielle Bennignus - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harold and Maude (Widescreen) (DVD)

Here is a film that I just cannot get enough of, and, I fear, is grossly misunderstood by far too many people. A love story like no other, an inspired lesson in self-awareness and fearlessness in self-expression - this may fall into the "cult" department, but should be seen by all.

Unfortunately, the extreme May-December romance of Harold and Maude raises eyebrows to the point that many see only this aspect of the film - "Oh my God he slept with an 80-year-old woman oh my God" - but in actuality, this has so little to do with the film's message. It points out that love comes in all shapes and sizes, and most often when we least expect it. Also, that a friend of any age can open us to seeing the world in a new, more truthful light. Harold begins as an introverted, unhappy young man, whose only creative outlet consists of tormenting his image-obsessed, utter snob of a mother (thus forming the most hilarious visuals for the viewer). After meeting with Maude, his world rapidly opens to new discoveries, and a greater understanding of his fellow human beings. If you have any kind of heart, the final sexual union (relax, folks - we don't see the details) between Harold and Maude doesn't offend - rather, it warms the heart and soul.

The DVD offers a few treats - theatrical trailers, and, well, a great print. I feel that this is a definite must-own... it is truly an amazing film.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite films
A delicious, heartbreaking comedy that's not afraid of emotion and sadness, about the
love affair between a death obsessed 19 year old, and a life obsessed 80 year old... Read more

Published 8 months ago by K. Gordon

1.0 out of 5 stars SHEM IS A REAL SHAME
Shem

I bought this expensive film only because in the Product Details given by Amazone it says : Original language : English, French. Read more