Directed by: Hal Ashby
Staring: Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort and Vivian Pickles
This black comedy has been recommended by two of our members. After an initial lack of success it has become a cult classic. Harold is a wealthy but bored twenty year old obsessed with death. His unloving mother is only interested in finding him a wife and a career. In a series of darkly comic scenes Harold manages to put off the potential brides selected by his mother by various bizarre acts of simulated suicide. He meets eccentric 79 year old Maude (Ruth Gordon) at a funeral. She helps him avoid his mother’s plans for a military career and they embark together on a series of escapades in the lead up to her eightieth birthday. Gradually Harold learns from Maude about how about life and love and why her family history make her so determined to have fun whilst she can. Filmed in San Francisco with music by Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) the film captures the essence of the era just after the 1960’s flower power period but has remained popular for its lessons for all times.