In honor of Bud Cort’s birthday, Kim Morgan has a beautiful piece up celebrating Harold and Maude.
I came to Harold and Maude late (compared to other fans): I was in my mid-20s, although I do remember hearing my parents talking and laughing about it once. My father loved the opening sequence of attempted suicides, and would start to laugh every time he even started talking about it. I think he felt the movie went downhill after that point, but boy did he love that first scene, with the dangling legs, etc. But it was one of those movies I just never got around to seeing in my teens. I just missed it, somehow.
I arrived in Chicago, and right around that time Harold and Maude was playing in a double feature at the Music Box with Play It Again, Sam. Ted was a new acquaintance, a theatre director, and he heard I had never seen it, so we made plans to go. He was so excited to “show me” Harold and Maude (you will find that to be true about fans of this film – they ACHE that you haven’t seen it). I have told the story of that night many times, in many different contexts. We went to go see the two films with a guy I was dating (full story here – with Harold and Maude section included). It was the three of us. What ended up happening, over the course of the night, was that Ted and I became friends (I actually date the night we went to see Harold and Maude together as the birth of our friendship), and somewhere inside of me, that same night, I made the realization I would have to break up with the dude I was with.
It all happened because of my response to Harold and Maude, which was enormous, and LOUD. Everyone at the theatre was a fanatic of the film. There was cult-like atmosphere, and I was clearly the only newbie. I started laughing so hard at one point (the soldier with the one arm) and it got so out of hand that I had to get up and leave the theatre. I could not breathe. At the same time, I remember tears streaming down my face through most of the film, pain, love, grief, regret, gratitude…. Unforgettable night. Unforgettable movie.
Yes, a romance ended that night (sorry, sir – you should never “shush” a grown adult when she is laughing spontaneously at something that gives her joy. Especially not if you want to be kissing her later.) – but a friendship was born (Ted and I are still great friends today) – and Harold and Maude wove itself into the fabric of my life, for good.
And happy (belated) birthday, Mr. Cort.
Love that movie. The music, the everything about it. It’s also a nostalgia trip for me because I was stomping on those same Bay Area peninsula grounds at the time it was being made.
It really is an emotional movie. It’s one of those rare litmus tests for me, too (as one of the commenters said over at Kim’s site). I kind of feel the same way.
The Colonel, or General-whatever, with the one arm stills gets me howling today. I find some of the movie a little naive today, but still love it. I guess that makes me a romantic. The music by Cat Stevens is particularly perfect. Kim always posts the video of “Trouble” when she writes about Harold and Maude, and I usually struggle not to tear up when watching/listening to it. I actually read her post last night, and was listening to the video. My son walked by my office, and said, “Oh, it’s that song you like.” We started to talk about the movie, and we are going to rent it next week–passing on my affection for the eccentric.
BTW, did you get my email reply to the email you sent me at work the other day. I noticed today that I got a “Delivery Failure” notice that didn’t reference the particular email. I thought it was kind of strange you didn’t reply to my email, and was just thinking that might be the email that didn’t get delivered. They have some kind of filter here at work, and maybe I triggered “the man.”
DBW – I’d love to hear your son’s take. It is such a weird movie. “Starshine!” Beautiful stuff.
and my apologies – I am a week behind in emails. I have two deadlines right now – one I finished up, the other one I am working on today – so I will catch up, I promise – Like I said: it was awesome talking politics with you again!!
Me and my Fiesta Melons, signing off …
I just saw it for the first time this year! After a 30 year buildup I was not disappointed. Although I think I sort of agree with Dad, the movie is kind of a sketch. A great sketch, but a sketch nonetheless. She’s unreal.
I also noticed that Wes Anderson is literally ripping of Hal Ashby. With spectacular results.
I’m 31 and I saw it for the first time last week.
Never too late!!
A grand, howling at the moon kind of night. I treasure it!
Ted – we totally howled at the moon that night. That laughter just would not stop.
Thank you, Harold and Maude!