Watch unlimited films online for $6.99.
Try MUBI for FREE.
 

Synopsis

With the idiosyncratic American fable Harold and Maude, countercultural director Hal Ashby fashioned what would become the cult classic of its era. Working from a script by Colin Higgins, Ashby tells the story of the emotional and romantic bond between a death-obsessed young man (Bud Cort) from a wealthy family and a devil-may-care, bohemian octogenarian (Ruth Gordon). Equal parts gallows humor and romantic innocence, Harold and Maude dissolves the line between darkness and light along with the ones that separate people by class, gender, and age, and it features indelible performances and a remarkable soundtrack by Cat Stevens. –The Criterion Collection

Director

Original

Hal Ashby

Hal Ashby was born the fourth and youngest child in a Mormon household in Ogden, Utah, on September 2, 1929. His father was a dairy farmer. After a rough childhood that included the divorce of his parents, his father’s suicide, his dropping out of high school, getting married and divorced all before he was 19, he decided to leave Utah for California. A Californian employment office found him a printing press job at Universal Studios. Within a few years, he was an assistant film editor at various other studios. One of his pals while at MGM was a young messenger named Jack Nicholson. He moved up to being a full fledged editor on The Loved One (1965) and started editing the films of director Norman Jewison.

A highlight of his film editing career was winning an Oscar for the landmark In the Heat of the Night (1967). Itching to become a director, Jewison gave him a script he was too busy to work on called The Landlord (1970). It became Ashby’s first film as a director. From there… read more

Wall

Displaying 4 of 53 wall posts.
Picture of HwCath

HwCath

12Feb12

That sly Hal Ashby! I've seen this movie many time and I'm still not completely in love with this movie due to some poor directing choices (underdeveloped mother and son relationship) but god damn, this is a beautiful movie to look at! Real emotional imagery. The soundtrack is cool too.

Picture of Harry Rossi

Harry Rossi

10Feb12

Just saw this movie for the nth billionth time and it still never ceases to amaze me, make me laugh and make me cry.

Picture of Donald R. Monroe

Donald R. Monroe

10Feb12

It's like the Graduate cept more absurd-- ergo I fucking love this film. I can't believe this was my first time watching it. That montage at the end is probably one of the greatest and most powerful of all time.

Phoebe Pua

21Jan12

Sometimes being alive and living are completely different things.

Related Films

Fans

Displaying 5 of 3655 fans.

Lists

Displaying 5 of 300 lists.

Reviews

Displaying 3 of 3

HAROLD AND MAUDE

By Daniel A. DiCenso on September 4, 2011

Despite the prevalence of fake suicides and funerals, Harold and Maude is one of the happiest movies ever made. Its zest for life, its belief in the goodness of people, and its optimism are infectious…  read review

Harold and Maude - A Brief Uplifting

By Eric Sandefu​r on September 7, 2010

To be perfectly frank, I LOVE everything about this movie. The quirky comedy, the unbelievably romantic leads, the perfect soundtrack, and even the unique style of cinematography. Not only does Hal…  read review

Untitled

By Alex Flores on May 5, 2009

Bitter- sweet black comedy and romatic drama about the unlikely relationship between Maude, a 80 year old nutty but brilliant little lady and a kid who takes pleasure in faking his own death and obssessed…  read review

Forum

Displaying 2 discussion topics.

Harold and Maude Sountrack No Where to be Found

8 posts by 5 people about 1 year ago

Harold and Maude is a personal favorite

5 posts by 3 people over 1 year ago