Common Sense Media Review
Dark comedy classic has sexual and suicide references.
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Harold and Maude
What's the Story?
In HAROLD AND MAUDE, Harold (Bud Cort) is a young man still living at home who spends his time obsessing about death and staging elaborate suicides, much to his mother's (Vivian Pickles) chagrin. One day, while attending a stranger's funeral, he meets Maude (Ruth Gordon), a woman approaching 80 who's full of joy, life, and mischief. The two strike up an unlikely relationship, which gradually changes gloomy Harold's worldview forever.
Is It Any Good?
This wonderfully rich black comedy has a way of putting life's problems in perspective. Harold and Maude's stormy themes may strike a special chord with those who are drawn to the darker side of life. It's a disquieting premise for a movie, certainly, but to dwell on the 60-year age difference of the characters, as some do, is to miss the movie's point. More than a friend or lover, Maude infects the troubled Harold with her carpe diem attitude, freeing him from the inner demons of boredom and self-pity. In essence, she's his salvation.
Quiet loner Cort gives us an idea of what frail Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol might look like at age 20, and Gordon's sprightliness lends the perfect counterbalance. Their performances earned them each a well-deserved Golden Globe nomination. The Cat Stevens soundtrack hasn't lost its impact over the years either. The lyrics speak for the characters, reminding viewers that if you want to sing out, sing out, and if you want to be free, be free.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Harold acts out the way he does in Harold and Maude. What is he trying to get from his increasingly violent suicide stagings? Do you think they're for his own amusement or to get a reaction from his mother?
How does Maude use humor to cope with things that Harold may find paralyzingly depressing? How would you describe her outlook on life, and how does it differ from Harold's?
How does the central relationship help each character? Do they change during the movie? In what ways?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 1, 1971
- On DVD or streaming : June 27, 2000
- Cast : Bud Cort , Ruth Gordon , Vivian Pickles
- Director : Hal Ashby
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic elements.
- Awards : BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee
- Last updated : February 11, 2026
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