Director...Hal Ashby
Screenplay...Colin Higgins
Music...Cat Stevens
Cinematography...John Alonzo
Budget: $1.2 million
Released 20 December 1971
Dame Marjorie "Maude" Chardin...Ruth Gordon
Harold Parker Chasen...Bud Cort
Mrs. Chasen...Vivian Pickles
This is probably one of those movies that you either love or hate, find profound and affecting or precious and cloying (at the time more moviegoers hated it than loved it) . A lot of critics I respect hated it. We happen to like it a lot, and like it more and more the older we get. Think of all the remakes of old movies being made today (Planet of the Apes included): We'd venture to say that you'll not be seeing a new Harold and Maude anytime soon.
The reason we showed this is because it does represent a type of movie that would never be made today (as arguably the others we have watched wouldn't be either). It represents a movie that at the time it came out was a failure, and, over time, has become a classic. It definitely is a movie tied to its era's zeitgeist, even if it was initially rejected in that zeitgeist. And, most importantly, it stands, we'd argue, as some solution to the problems that Gimme Shelter and Beneath the Planet of the Apes present. AND it stands, arguably, for why those problems couldn't be (and maybe still can't be) solved.
So:
1. What was your reaction to the film? Was it a comfortable experience—or something else? Explain.
2. What do you think is the significance of Maude being a Holocaust survivor?
3. Is the ending happy? Explain.
4. Does the movie offer a solution to the problems we've seen in the moves we've recently watched? If so—what? If not—why not?
And finally...One last look at Harold and Maude, the Oliver and Jenny of their time.
1. What was your reaction to the film? Was it a comfortable experience—or something else? Explain.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to the film was a mixture of laughter and disgust. I was not comfortable with the idea of a romantic and sexual relationship between someone ages 17-19 and a79-80 year old. That was honestly really gross and I was uncomfortable when I saw Maude and Harold after engaging in intercourse because just the idea makes me want to vomit, like another character in the movie said. (But the reaction to their relationship was quite funny.) I understand how their relationship could be grandmother and child, but boyfriend and girlfriend and as Harold later wanted it, husband and wife, goes too far.
2. What do you think is the significance of Maude being a Holocaust survivor?
It shows how Maude learned that life is worth living, even after her harsh trials during the Holocaust. She lives life without regrets and that helps her seem more carefree and happy and less of a deranged maniac. That’s part of how she managed to get herself out of trouble when driving — carpe diem, seize the day.
3. Is the ending happy? Explain.
The ending is not happy because Maude dies, but it does allow Harold to come to a resolution to live life to the fullest instead of constantly faking his own death. It takes away the worry of what will happen if Maude dies a little down the road without preparing Harold. And their marriage would most likely not have worked out, so her death is a means to an end.
4. Does the movie offer a solution to the problems we've seen in the movies we've recently watched? If so—what? If not—why not?
The film sort of offers a solution to the problems seen in other films, but it seems to be more of an “ignore the problem in the hope that it will go away” rather than a true solution. Maude recognizes that war is bad and so is violence, but still breaks laws in her efforts to help the planet (bringing the tree back to the forest from the city in a stolen car). But the solution to live life to the fullest you can is an optimistic outlook from someone who survived the Holocaust and concentration camps.
1. The film was a slightly uncomfortable experience for me at the start. Watching a young boy like that hang himself right off the bat was a disturbing image but as the film went on I became more accustomed to the deaths. I even began laughing at many of the deaths, especially those aimed at disturbing the potential suitors to marry him. However towards the end it became slightly more uncomfortable for me as the relationship between Harold and Maude escalated. But by the end I felt fairly comfortable with the film and if I were to watch it again I would probably enjoy it just as much or more.
ReplyDelete2. I think being a Holocaust survivor explains a lot of Maude’s life outlook. As she likely saw death all around her when she was younger, she probably prefers to keep as many things alive, such as the tree in the city. Seeing so much destruction around her made her want to change what is around her for the rest of time. It also explains her suicide at the end of the movie. She has already come to terms with death, so she is more ready when she believes it is her time to go. It could also explain why she is so comfortable around death and why she too, travels to funerals whenever she has free time.
3. I don’t think the ending is happy because while Harold does do a little jog at the end while playing the banjo, that doesn’t necessarily mean he is happy. Harold appears to want to kill himself yet again but does not which leads me to believe he wants to be with Maude as he is a member of the church. When he realizes he still cannot die he does what still reminds him of Maude and plays the banjo that she wanted him to learn. This does not necessarily mean he is happy to be reminded of her, I think it is closer to a regretful acceptance that Harold has to experience as he realizes he wont be with his wife possibly ever again.
4. I guess that the movie offers a solution in the form of Maude’s outlook on life compared to the hippies in Gimmie Shelter or the apes in Beneath the Planet of the Apes. She is for life generally and breaks the rules similarly to the hippies in Gimmie Shelter, but her attitude is just a little bit more different. Maude, firstly is not tripping on drugs all of the time, and secondly is more solitary than the group of hippies who wanted to all party together. She seems like she wants to focus on the individual help to anything she can get her hands on, while the hippies really just seem to preach peace without doing anything.
1. My reaction to the movie was similar to how most people were when the movie was released, meaning I strongly disliked it. I think that part of the reason is I hate watching cringy things in movies and thats how a lot of the movie was. In the beginning I didn't like that Harold at all. Harold just made me kinda mad, especially faking his own suicides all the time to the extent that the mother just gives up. I feel bad for the mother who has to constantly deal with Harolds bullshit, and doesn't just kick his ass out to the street. Then came the whole relationship with Maude. The whole relationship just makes me feel wrong, because as the therapist said Maude could easily be his grandmother, and that just made me unhappy. Maybe were supposed to be happy that they were falling in love but I really just want to erase the Harold and Maude relationship from my mind.
ReplyDelete2. I think that surviving the holocaust certainly affected her view on life. Watching so many people go away and die would affect everybody else and desensitize them to death. So I would say that a massive portion of Maudes personality is all about enjoying life while you still have it because one day its going to end. Thats all I have to say for that.
3. I would say that the ending of the movie is supposed to be happy, but when I was watching it I didnt think so. When the end of the movie came around I was more thinking about what Harold was going to do now. He just threw his car off a cliff, made everyone around him hate him. First he has to find his way home, (or not) and then he probably hasn't changed at all and eventually his mother will throw him out, then he wont get a job because nobody wants to hire somebody who acts like he does. So in the end I guess I was more thinking it was sad that from then on he was going to lead what I consider a really shitty life. Maybe Harold is happy but Harold was also happy with going to funerals.
4. I would say that the movie dosnt offer any solutions to previous movies, basically because Maude's whole outlook on life is that it will end one day might as well do whatever the hell I want now. I dont think that letting whatever problems you have go with you to your grave would have solved anything in the other movies. In Beneath the Planet of the Apes they kind of followed this mentality ( Im going to die, might as well kill all these monkeys.)
At first, I was very uncomfortable watching the film. I strongly disliked Harold and the entire family. I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking at, and that confusion led me to be unsettled. As the movie progressed, I began to really enjoy it. It truly is unlike any other movie I have ever seen. Harold seemed so alive when he was with Maude, that all of the possible criticisms of their relationship went out the window. These were two people who undoubtedly benefited from each other’s presence.
ReplyDeleteFor me, Maude being a holocause survivor highlights her perseverance. It is shocking that someone who endured something so terrible could have such an incredible outlook on life. She remains positive throughout the entire movie, and encourages Harold to be himself. This is not surprising, because she was persecuted for her religion. She knows how it feels to be forced into changing who you are, and helped Harold realize that he didn’t need to change to meet the expectations of any of his family.
I thought the ending was happy, because we see the culmination of Harold and Maude’s time together. Harold is able to walk away from that cliff, playing the banjo, truly happy. He embraces the time they had together, and has clearly learned from Maude. Initially, he is obviously struck with grief; however, I think he realizes that Maude would want him to celebrate their relationship, rather than mourning her passing.
I think the movie offers a solution to the problems we have seen in the previous films; however, it might not be plausible. Maude conveys an ideology that promotes a heavy focus on the individual. She lives how she wants to live, and thanks to Cat Stevens is who she wants to be. Her outlook on life is incredibly positive and appreciative; however, I’m concerned with the real world application of her thoughts. It is possible that if you remove the illegal acts she commits, you could still live in a similar fashion. I almost think Maude was less focused on changing the world, and only worried about what she could control. I know she speaks about protests, but her acts of defiance are very different than what we saw in Altamont and Woodstock. I think parts of her ideology can be adopted by everyone, and the mindset of people who are trying to effect change.
1. Oddly enough, I actually enjoyed the film very much, and enjoyed the relationship between Harold and Maude. For most of the movie - especially the scenes between the two main characters - I found myself smiling. I say odd because if you were to present to me the idea that a teen boy and an old woman could be in some sort of romantic relationship(although I think their relationship is far more than just that), I would be very skeptical and probably disturbed. But I really found myself believing in their love, and I think that controversial as it may be, it is a very meaningful and pure one. I adored the fim and was very moved by it. It’s probably my favorite we’ve seen so far.
ReplyDelete2. I think it just adds extra meaning to everything she does, validating it in a way. Maude can certainly come across as just being blind to the realities/rules of the world. Like she is just in denial about the cruelty of life, living in a fantasy world. But by revealing that she is a Holocaust survivor, we realize that knows more than many people will ever know about cruelty and suffering. She isn’t naive about the world, she is living life the way she wants to - to the fullest - because she has perspective on how vauleble life is.
3. Yes, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t supposed to feel sad while watching it. The ending is sad, but I think the overall tone is uplifting and inspires renewal and new beginnings. I think it’s very powerful to see Harolds development throughout the movie as he goes from being frustrated and stuck to finding enjoyment in life and in opening yourself up to another person. I think that they came into each others lives when they both needed it, and then they parted ways as is the natural cycle of life. Maude felt that she had fulfilled her purpose in life and died while she was still able to live life to the fullest, and although Harold may mourn her for awhile, he is ready to take the lessons he learned from her and go live the rest of his life.
4. In a way I think it does. In many of the movies we’ve watched the characters actions and not conforming to the “rules of society” often results in a negetive impact on other people. I think that Maude has found a way to sort of embrace the whole counter culture movement of living life your own way and banishing societal norms without hurting anyone else. She breaks many rules, but unlike The Wild Bunch or the people involved in Altamont, she still upholds a moral code and focuses on spreading love/positivity.
1. I did not have a comfortable experience to the film in many aspects. One exception was the fake suicides that Harold committed. The one with the gun was especially funny. Suicide is not an easy topic nor is it one that should be laughed at, however the film somehow made this extremely loaded topic humorous. Something that made me very uncomfortable was Harold’s relationship with Maude. The entire time I kept on thinking of Maude as a predator and that Harold should run away from her. In the movie she was 80 and although she looked very healthy for an eight year old there wasn’t a whole lot of time left for her. Harold had to chose a person with not a lot of time left in their life to be the only person he really loves. Another thing that made me uncomfortable but not as much was Harolds awkwardness at the beginning of the film. This however was minor in comparison to his relationship.
ReplyDelete2. Maude’s personality in the movie is greatly affected by her holocaust background. One example would be her eccentric personality throughout the film. In the holocaust she most likely saw people all around her die everyday which fueled her carefree and impulsive lifestyle of steeling and saving nature.
3. There is absolutely nothing that says this movie has a happy ending. At the end Maude dies and Harold fakes yet another suicide. After the fake suicide we see Harold playing his banjo on top of the mountain overlooking his totaled hearse. So he lost his car and his soon to be fiancé but I wouldn’t say that it is a sad ending either. Harold probably has more experience with death than most dead people so I don’t think he will be emotionally ruined for the rest of his life. If I didn’t see the scene with the banjo I definitely would have thought he would never make a connection with another human being after that, but because of the last scene I have hope for him.
4. This movie does have a solution to problems faced in other movies that we have seen such as the movie Love Story. In both Love Story and Harold and Maude a significant other to the main character dies at the end. However, we do not get to see the full reaction that Oliver has when Jennifer dies, whereas we do with Harold who does not seem devastated when Maude dies. Harold seemed to move on with his life more than Oliver did which would be the solution to their problems, move on with your life (easier said than done).
1. What was your reaction to the film? Was it a comfortable experience—or something else? Explain.
ReplyDeleteI thought that different points in the movie provoked different reactions. The portion of Harold and Maudes relationship where they are romantically involved is very uncomfortable. Also, many of the interactions with Harold’s mother were slightly uncomfortable. I thought the scenes where Harold fakes his death were very funny.
2. What do you think is the significance of Maude being a Holocaust survivor?
Her whole lifeview is probably due to the fact that she lost so many loved ones. She appreciates every day and opportunity to have fun or to go on adventures.
3. Is the ending happy? Explain.
In a way yes because everything that Maude taught him comes into play after she dies. I think that after Maude dies Harold will begin to “live” even though he was living with her, he will become independent.
4. Does the movie offer a solution to the problems we've seen in the moves we've recently watched? If so—what? If not—why not?
It offers a unique lifeview that has been explored in several of the films, but not emphasized in the way it is in our movie. The idea of living to live is present in The Wild Bunch, but in a movie like Underneath the Planet of the Apes, this idea is completely lost by those with power.
(I go out of order)
ReplyDelete1. I really liked this film. I enjoyed Love Story most of the movies we have watched before this one, but Love Story has a very expected plot. This film is something I’ve never seen, so it was surprising--sometimes weird--but still very enjoyable. At first I was uncomfortable with Harold and Maude’s relationship, but it seemed to be okay when they shared a pure friendship. Then, we see that they are in love. I would normally find this uncomfortable, but somehow it felt less so after watching the introduction of the movie. I was surprised by my feelings, so I think the movie did a very good job by changing my mind about something I was sure about.
3. This movie is about Harold’s growth. In the beginning scenes, we see a depressed boy who hardly talks. He goes to funerals and creates realistic suicides for fun. He does not have an interest in living. Maude teaches him to love, and to want to live. Harold and Maude’s relationship was likely better in Harold’s imagination, as they would not have any social acceptance. Maude is also much, much older than Harold, so the longevity of their marriage is unlikely. I think that the last scene reflects this. While Maude’s death is obviously sad, and even devastating for Harold, this is overall a beneficial experience for Harold. He learns to love and has completely altered his worldview. Harold is no longer silent and depressed, as he now does somersaults in fields, and plays the banjo.
2. As I have said, this movie is about Harold’s growth. The significance of Maude being a Holocaust survivor, in my opinion, is to humble Harold, in a way. He is depressed at the beginning, and does not seem to appreciate his life. Maude being a Holocaust survivor gives Harold the opportunity to realize that because she continued to fight for her life, he should too. Also, despite her hardships, she lives her life exactly how she wants to and is truly happy.
4. This movie does not offer a solution to the problems we see in Gimme Shelter. Gimme Shelter shows how harmful the counterculture and the attitude of not caring can be. While Maude’s lifestyle was entertaining and funny in this film, when compared to Gimme Shelter it does seem problematic. Her disobedience to the police is a representation of this.
1. I rather enjoyed watching this film. However, I wouldn’t say that I was comfortable during all of the scenes- the first few scenes of Howard’s “theatrical suicides” were a bit disturbing to me. It was Harold’s intention to elicit some reaction from his mother, though- she may have neglected to respond, but I found Harold’s actions quite upsetting. I believe that the polarizing reaction to this film lies in the relationship between Harold and Maude, though, and not as much in Harold’s view of the world- the words of the priest on this matter were quite explicit. I was a bit uncomfortable with the sexual nature of their relationship, but I actually thought the platonic aspect was comforting. There is such a vivid contrast between Harold’s suffocating relationship with his mother and his exploratory relationship with Maude. His mother entertains her guests with stories of her son as Harold sits there in silence, whereas in Maude’s presence, he is able to yell into the wind, roll down the hill, plant trees in the forest, screw with the very idea of the military, and become a “give me an ‘L… I…. V…. E” cheerleader. And this, personally, was hopeful to watch.
ReplyDelete2. The scene that reveals Maude as a Holocaust survivor is easy to miss, and there is no dialouge between Harold and Maude about this. We only view her arm for a couple of seconds, and then view Harold as he understands what he’s seen. But it is obviously very important. To me, I believe that Maude’s past, when placed next to her present, seems almost unexplainable. This genocide was horrific and torturorous, and could understandably have caused her an inability to proceed with her life. Maude’s eagerness to dance, create art, protest, and love Harold, though, displays her ability to proceed- and embrace- the rest of her life. And though Harold’s life does not present the trauma caused by genocide, he does faces painful emotions of worthlessness and insignificance- which are not solved by his wealth. The description of the film on Amazon, “Harold is young, rich and obsessed with death. Maude is a lovable, fun-loving 80-year old-eccentric” simply notices that Harold is “rich, yet deadly,” and that Maude is “fun and vivacious.” But as the film explains, both characters are not the understood or expected results of their experiences: Maude was forced into torture and unjust pain, but she survived and found beauty and love. And though Harold lives in luxury and is therefore expected to have little concern with life, he instead faces neglect and depression. On another note, after watching the film and discussing these questions with my mother, she mentioned that there is much importance to the fact that Maude was able to control her life after surviving the Holocaust. Though her death at the end of the film is upsetting and emotional, Maude was able to decide how and when her own life ended.
3. The ending of the film is not happy, but it is bittersweet. I was already sad watching the scenes of Maude in the ambulance with a tearful Harold by her side, and when Harold’s car plunges off the cliff, I was only more upset. If this was the end of the movie, I believe it would not have been at all bittersweet. But I believe that the effect of the film is displayed in my reaction to this scene- as Harold’s car lies crushed on the beach, I for a moment wondered what the result would be if Harold was actually still alive at the top of the cliff. And a second later, the screen pans up and there he stands, banjo in hand. The ability of the film to make me pause and envision Harold with the strength to survive Maude’s death, espically after viewing his multiple suicide attempts/ displays at the start of the film, emphasizes the effect of Harold and Maude’s relationship. Though she dies, which causes Harold more pain then he previously had in his life, Maude left him with perseverance; he easily could have joined his car at the bottom of the bluff, but he decided not too.
ReplyDelete4. I believe that the film offers a bit of a solution to the problems of the previous films and of the era. As we’ve discussed previously, some of the concerns of the 60s/ 70s protests was that a large group of people may only cause unrealized dreams or violence. And as this time was one of polarized protests, I found Maude’s comment about her umbrella very interesting. When Harold asks whether she still uses it in protest, Maude responds, “I don’t need the defense anymore- I embrace. Still fighting for the big issues, but now in my small, individual way.” Maude understands that though personal protest can be exhausting and may not amount to a new world, it requires a hope and desire more fervent than just jumping on the peace bandwagon headed to Woodstock.
1. I really enjoyed this film. I loved what Maude said about life - how you just have to live and not think about what haters or judgemental people say or think. I found this film incredibly funny, even though the humor was very dark. At times, watching Harold and Maude was very uncomfortable, not just because of the obvious age gap between the two, but because of Harold’s suicide “attempts”. In the first scene when he pretend hangs himself, I did not realize that he was faking it to get back at his mom. I thought it was real, and for each subsequent fake suicide, I felt the same way I felt with the initial scene: anxious and shocked.
ReplyDelete2. I think that Maude being a Holocaust survivor is significant in part becuase it helps to show the age gap between her and Harold. It shows that Maude had very significant and serious life experiences long before Harold was born. I also think that the director focusing on this concentration camp number adds some sort of explanation as to why Maude was so adamant on living a fulfilled life. After coming so close to death, she may have found a new appreciation for life. Also, in a scene in which Maude cries to Harold, she mentions a man, an old husband or lover, that seemed to have died (maybe in the Holocaust). It is possible that his death sparked a new desire to live for her. Although, it would then be extremely ironic that a woman so obsessed with life would choose to kill herself.
3. Yes, the ending is happy. Although Maude dies and Harold is left lonely, on the top of a cliff in the middle of nowhere, Maude seemed to have made a life altering impact on him; she changed his view on life. In her words, Harold seems to no longer “[back] away from life”. Although he continues to perform elaborate, fake suicides, the film ends with a shot of him playing music, specifically the song he and Maude sang together. Maude commented earlier in the film on the importance of music in life, and in turn, Harold seems to accept and appreciate that sentiment as the movie concludes with him having learned the banjo. Yes, this movie included a tragedy, but Harold seemed to have become a better, happier person because he met Maude. As the saying goes, “‘tis better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all”.
4. I do not think this movie offers a solution to the problems we’ve seen in other movies we have watched. Although this movie does not include the overt violence that was shown in The Wild Bunch or Gimme Shelter, it has very dark humor that makes fun of self harm and therefore includes violence. This film does not offer a solution to the seemingly natural human desire for power and control shown in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, as Harold's mother desperately tries to control Harold - arranging dates for him with girls she approves of and trading in his hearse for the more appropriate jaguar - and still fails to control him despite her outrageous attempts. Finally, this film seems to have an ending that is almost identical to the tragic ending in Love Story where Jenny dies; therefore, this film does not offer a solution to the loss of a loved one or a way to prevent such a tragic ending.