Harold and Maude
Harold and Maude is a 1971 American romantic black comedy–drama film directed by Hal Ashby and released by Paramount Pictures. It incorporates elements of dark humor and existentialist drama. The plot follows the exploits of Harold Chasen (Bud Cort), a young man who is intrigued with death, and who rejects the life his detached mother (Vivian Pickles) prescribes for him. Harold develops a friendship, and eventual romantic relationship, with 79-year-old Maude (Ruth Gordon) who teaches Harold about the importance of living life to its fullest.
| Harold and Maude | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Hal Ashby |
| Written by | Colin Higgins |
| Produced by | Colin Higgins Charles B. Mulvehill |
| Starring | Ruth Gordon Bud Cort Vivian Pickles Cyril Cusack Charles Tyner Ellen Geer Eric Christmas G. Wood Judy Engles Shari Summers |
| Cinematography | John Alonzo |
| Edited by | William A. Sawyer Edward Warschilka |
| Music by | Cat Stevens |
Production companies | Mildred Lewis and Colin Higgins Productions |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,200,000 (estimated) |
The screenplay by Colin Higgins began as his master's thesis for film school. Filming locations in the San Francisco Bay Area included both Holy Cross Cemetery and Golden Gate National Cemetery, the ruins of the Sutro Baths, Mori Point, and Rose Court Mansion in Hillsborough, California.
Critically and commercially unsuccessful when first released, the film eventually developed a cult following, and first made a profit in 1983. The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1997, and was ranked number 45 on the American Film Institute list of 100 funniest movies of all time in 2000. The Criterion Collection released a special edition Blu-ray and DVD in 2012.