Comments on: Hanging with Harold and Maude (Again)

By: keelsetter

keelsetter — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:04:44 +0000

I seem to recall that Cyril Cusack, during the filming of the scene where he’s making an ice sculpture, stabbed his hand but repressed all signs of pain thinking they were filming the shot. But, as it turns out, the camera wasn’t even rolling. Talk about giving blood for your art!

By: Chris Hodapp

Chris Hodapp — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:59:16 +0000

For many years I wondered about the 10 seconds of screen time Cyril Cusack had as Glaucus, the ice sculptor, especially since he got 4th billing in the picture. In the 80s I came across a novelization by Colin Higgens of his script, and Glaucus gets a slightly larger episode. It seems that he frequently has Maude pose for him (“to remind him of the female form”), but he’s so old and tires easily. Each day he starts sculpting “Venus,” but falls asleep, and the ice melts before he can finish. So, he must start again every day.

In another scene not in the film, her picture frames are empty. In the book, Harold asks why she removed the photos. Maude tells him that they remained sharp and clear, mocking her as her own memories fade. The subtext of who Maude (“Dame Marjorie Chardin”) was “before” always fascinated me. Her name is French, but she misses the kings, was taken to a garden party at the palace in Vienna, married Frederick, a doctor at “the University,” and of course, the concentration camp tattoo.

By: Alena

Alena — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:22:06 +0000

One of my all time favorite movies. I never noticed the rainbow either so thanks for pointing it out.

By: keelsetter

keelsetter — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:39:01 +0000

Ah, yes! Skolimowski’s DEEP END was a great little gem that Jeff introduced me to several years ago. He was even kind enough to donate to me his 16mm print, which is going to have its Boulder Backyard Premiere here at my house this summer. Very much looking forward to revisiting it again!

By: Richard Harland Smith

Richard Harland Smith — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:55:35 +0000

Also interesting to note that Roger Ebert gave both films a similar pan (which is not to say he didn't find some merit in Deep End).

By: Richard Harland Smith

Richard Harland Smith — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:54:36 +0000

I've been thinking of this movie in connection to Jerzy Skolimowski's Deep End, which was released a few months earlier but which Paramount abandoned as not sufficiently box office to be a stand-alone release. (It was later paired with Lewis Gilbert's Friends.) Funny that Harold and Maude, which is a different film, of course, but similar in its edginess, got the release that Deep End was denied. In some ways, it's easy to understand - Harold and Maude is a more theatrical, more plainly satirical film, while Deep End seems almost neorealist in its rawness, until you realize how carefully and minutely directed it is. In the long run, though, I suppose that the ending of Deep End is just too dark and the promise of all sorts of sexual shenanigans with its bath house setting too unrealized. And maybe Paramount was right - maybe it was meant to be a cult film. It's interesting to note that Cat Stevens gave songs to both productions, which otherwise seem worlds apart in execution.

By: Josem

Josem — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:06:18 +0000

I remember my sister telling me about this cool movie playing on HBO. This must have been in 1977. Then I saw it and loved it. I was already a Cat Stevens fan and wondered why “Don’t Be Shy” and “If You Want to Sing out” had never been released.
Two years later I saw this wonderful movie at Macalester College during my first week there. I was feeling homesick and so very alone and somehow this movie raised my spirits. I haven’t seen it since, but this post has made want to do so again.

By: wilbur twinhorse

wilbur twinhorse — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:06:46 +0000

Amen to that Brother!! I’m from the generation that was 17 when “Bonnie and Clyde” came out (which blew me away), and “Harold and Maude” was a revelation too when I first viewed it in San Francisco awhile after its initial release. It just played on TCM of course but it does hold up to repeated viewings. Leonard Maltin gives it ***+1/2 stars! A near seamless melding of soundtrack, editing and characters. Kudos to Hal Ashby, Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, Vivien Pickles, and Cat Stevens. Oh yeah, and Colin Higgins and John Alonzo…AND keelsetter!! Thanks & Happy New Year

By: suzidoll

suzidoll — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:51:13 +0000

We showed HAROLD AND MAUDE at Facets this past year at one of our midnight movie sessions. I agree with you — as did our audience — it holds up remarkably well. I find many classics of the film school generation do.