Even supposing romantic-comedy has been probably the most profitable and long-lasting genres in movie historical past, it’s not all people’s cup of tea. This might be because of the style’s varied tropes, that are so ample that complete parody films have been made about them. It is also as a result of they typically include a type of romantic optimism not often as very best or fairytale-like as real-life relationships, although there are many nice romantic comedies which might be keenly conscious of this.
Whereas the romantic comedy is nearly at all times a certain factor on the field workplace, it’s unsurprising {that a} film as odd and offbeat as Harold and Maude was neither a success with audiences or critics when it was launched 50 years in the past in December of 1971. Within the years since its launch, the movie has develop into a cult favourite (it performed at one theater in Minneapolis for 3 years straight), which each displays the period it was launched in and transcends it. Within the course of, Harold and Maude has additionally been the perfect romantic comedy for people who typically keep away from romantic comedies, typically subverting all the style’s logos whereas additionally embracing the type of romantic sweetness that you just couldn’t get in another style.
What Is ‘Harold and Maude’ About?
Let’s begin with the explanation some folks love Harold and Maude whereas others discover it offputting. On paper, a film a couple of younger man in his early 20s falling in love with an older lady pushing 80 does in itself sound… a little bit creepy. Nevertheless, the film proclaims virtually instantly that it inhabits a type of absurdity that by no means begs you to think about that you just’re watching a love story that is imagined to be real looking, even when far stranger romances have occurred in actuality.
The opening scene sees Harold (Bud Cort) establishing certainly one of his elaborately staged pretend suicide makes an attempt, which sees him hanging by a noose earlier than his unfazed mom (Vivian Pickles) tells him to get down from there whereas Harold makes overwrought gagging noises. From there, we get to know that Harold clearly has a demise obsession, as he additionally enjoys going to funerals (of individuals he didn’t know) whereas his pretend suicides get much more over-the-top and ridiculous as his mom tries to set him up with an appropriate lady to marry. Nevertheless, a large wrench is thrown into these plans when Harold meets Maude (Ruth Gordon) after recognizing her equally observing a number of funerals, and the 2 begin hanging out whereas embracing how a lot they take pleasure in one another’s firm.
There isn’t something sexual about their relationship for almost all of the film. There’s the compulsory meet-cute, which fittingly takes place at one of many funerals Harold and Maude have each ended up at, which feels a bit just like the loner model of the meet-cute at a bookstore or artwork gallery that you just’d see in a extra conventional romantic comedy. Then, for a lot of the film, we see the 2 of them driving round (in varied vehicles Maude has stolen) to totally different cemeteries and huge stretches of out of doors greenery the place they’ve these light-hearted conversations about the perfect methods to reside one’s life.
‘Harold and Maude’ Portrays an Age-Hole Relationship Tastefully
The truth that Harold and Maude are so comparable however so gradual to embrace a romantic relationship makes them really feel extra like kindred spirits on totally different ends of their journeys than a pair who are supposed to be collectively eternally. That mentioned, the connection does flip romantic ultimately, although the best way the movie navigates this taboo-breaking subject material at all times feels surprisingly tasteful. Together with the movie’s sly tone that strikes a steadiness between darkish and light-weight, it’s one more reason why Harold and Maude miraculously works for these keen to get on its wavelength.
Maude being the older counterpart on this age-gap relationship can also be important and related, particularly in at this time’s media. Whereas nonetheless creepy, it was once typically accepted for an older man to be in a relationship with a youthful lady. It’s only latest that the “youthful” magnificence expectations of girls and the potential predatory intentions of older males are being drawn below the microscope. So Harold and Maude‘s gender function reversal, coupled with the movie’s delicate contact, their relationship rings with an authenticity and poignancy that really surpasses romance.
Each time we do see the lady embody the older individual within the relationship, it’s typically regarded in an uncomfortably sexual manner. From designations of “MILFs” and “cougars,” we’re positioned to understand them as objectified, vulgar or manipulative, one of many prime examples seen in American Pie. It’s only just lately that we’re seeing a doubtlessly real portrayal of older girls in relationships, with Anne Hathaway in The Idea of You falling right into a whirlwind romance that’s often reserved for youthful feminine leads. As such, the distinct lack of sexuality and abundance of frivolity in Harold and Maude‘s relationship is vital to interrupt down these stereotypes. Additionally it is value noting that their evolving relationship can be a automobile for a dissertation on the right way to method life, making the movie good for individuals who would quite side-step romance.
‘Harold and Maude’ Are Extra Than Character Archetypes
One other factor that inevitably ties Harold and Maude to the romantic comedy style is how a lot each of its titular characters embody and subvert the type of archetypes which have develop into synonymous with the style. It’s been noted that Maude is in some ways a proto-“manic pixie dream” lady, even when she’s sufficiently old to be the grandmother of your typical manic pixie dream lady. She’s the type of idiosyncratic free spirit that has an affinity for daisies, invented her personal odor-emitting machine, and has a imprecise historical past of combating for justice and equality.
Nevertheless, the gorgeous juxtaposition in Maude’s characterization additionally lends to the dialog round older girls within the movie business. She is precariously near demise and wholeheartedly embraces it, but her character is so openly death-defying as she recklessly screeches round in stolen vehicles and approaches her finish with such contagious vitality. It’s such an acutely refreshing option to painting an older female character, particularly when contemplating the unhappy actuality of older feminine actors having fewer alternatives as time goes on. They’re restricted to sure roles that solely seem sporadically and are actually by no means thought of as a feminine lead for a rom-com. The movie even addresses this, as when Harold declares his intentions of marrying Maude, we’re confronted with many abhorrent and disrespectful descriptions that we actually can not reconcile with the ball of life we now have come to know.
In the meantime, Harold looks like a extra excessive model of the everyday man that we follow in a romantic comedy — caught in his anti-social methods, simply ready for some lady to return alongside and provides him a brand new lease on life. Although right here, the brand new lease on life is sort of literal, as this lady who has tried to reside life to the fullest will get Harold to develop into all for issues aside from demise, even when it stays a rewarding passion. However simply as arduous as his character leans into that archetype, he additionally subverts it. In comparison with Maude, who rushes headlong into what life can supply her, Harold slouches in his passivity and permits her to paved the way. This passive-active dynamic is often reversed, particularly as we see the feminine lead bear some type of “makeover.” However right here, Harold slowly good points company, as he regularly discerns how he want to spend the rest of his life.
‘Harold and Maude’ Feels Fashionable For a ’70s Rom-Com
Aside from Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon’s singular performances, an enormous motive Harold and Maude is ready to carry out this high-wire act of being each darkly humorous and sneakily touching is the mixture of Colin Higgins’ sharp script and Hal Ashby’s path. Harold and Maude was a ardour challenge and a calling card for Higgins, as he developed the script whereas going to UCLA movie college, and the movie would result in Higgins changing into an in-demand comedy author/director with later hits like 1976’s Silver Streak and 1980’s 9 To 5.
Higgins initially needed to direct Harold and Maude, however his inexperience led to the hiring of Ashby (Shampoo, Coming House) whose standing as one of many premier administrators of ‘70s counter-culture films makes him an ideal match for this materials. Ashby and cinematographer John Alonzo shoot the elements of Northern California that the movie is ready in like one thing out of a foggy dream, whereas the impressed use of Cat Stevens’ music provides a contact of melancholy and whimsy to the movie with out defanging its acerbic chunk. This heavy use of a pop soundtrack makes every thing really feel surprisingly trendy, particularly when mixed with the movie’s droll visible model and stilted comedian rhythms that don’t really feel all that typical of its period.
Or possibly Harold and Maude feels notably trendy as a result of quite a few trendy comedy administrators have been influenced by it. Harold and Maude has at all times been an essential touchstone in Wes Anderson’s model, which is very straightforward to identify in Rushmore, which not solely makes use of the identical younger man and older lady dynamic, but in addition makes use of Cat Stevens in its soundtrack. Judd Apatow has additionally lengthy hailed Harold and Maude as a private favourite, which is rather less straightforward to identify in his films, although is fairly straightforward to acknowledge from the truth that Apatow named certainly one of his daughters Maude.
Since you might simply argue that these are two of essentially the most distinguished comedy administrators of their technology (not that big-screen comedies are within the biggest place proper now), it simply goes to indicate how low-key influential Harold and Maude has been on the romantic comedy style and past. It looks like a becoming destiny for a movie a couple of lady whose presence might be felt lengthy after she’s gone, since sadly each Ashby and Higgins handed away far too younger within the late ‘80s, however the strange reverberations of Harold and Maude will proceed to be felt for a very long time.
Harold and Maude is obtainable to stream on Paramount+ within the U.S.
