Ah, the privilege of cuddling up to while away a winter day enjoying a movie in the comfort of your home…what, your work ethic self thinks it’s a time for you to be working instead of having fun? I say, worry not…you’ve worked plenty of years to be able to spend an afternoon or evening just plain, enjoying fun and laughing!
And, here’s my top suggestion for THE wintery day film to view…Harold and Maude…Laugh out Loud, you will!Even, if you’ve seen it before, I guarantee, you will laugh hysterically once again. How do I know this? Because Harold and Maude was the lead film for our first year’s Silver Screen Series. I was gratified that many OASIS members attended this, our premiere, and laughed and laughed and laughed some more. (Hey, we all need laughter.)
Here are my Top 10 reasons why you should have your candy and popcorn and tissue at the ready as you sit down to watch Harold and Maude:
10) The stars: Ruth Gordon is Maude; Bud Cort is Harold.
9) The plot: Self-destructive and needy, but wealthy teenager Harold is obsessed with death and spends his leisure time attending funerals, watching the demolition of buildings, visiting junkyards, simulating suicides trying to get the attention of his indifferent, snobbish and egocentric mother (Mrs. Chasen, played by Vivian Pickles), and having sessions with his psychologist. When Harold meets the anarchic seventy-nine-year-old Maude at a funeral, they become friends and the old lady discloses other perspectives of the cycle of life for him. Meanwhile, his mother enlists him in a dating service and tries to force him to join the army. On the day of Maude's eightieth birthday, Harold proposes to her. I won’t spoil it by telling you the ending, just that he finds the truth about life at the end of hers.
8) A funny quote from film: Mrs. Chasen: [after spotting Harold hanging from a noose in the living room] “I suppose you think that's very funny, Harold… Oh, dinner at eight, Harold. And do try and be a little more vivacious.”
6) Filming locations in the San Francisco Bay Area included both Holy Cross Cemetery and Golden Gate National Cemetery. (Which should be a clue as to why Harold and Maude is known as a black comedy!)
5) This film shows you that you can be whoever you want to be and don’t ever let anyone talk you out of it.
4) Critically and commercially unsuccessful when originally released, the film developed a cult following and in 1983 began making a profit.The film is ranked number 45 on the American Film Institute's list of 100 Funniest Movies of all Time.
3) Harold and Maude was selected for preservation in the National Film Registryof the Library of Congress in 1997 for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
2a) Maude – believes in living each day to its fullest, and "trying something new every day.” Her view of life is so joyful.
2b) Harold – Through meeting and falling in love with Maude, he discovers there is joy in living for the first time.
1) Ruth Gordon is Maude; Bud Cort is Harold and YOU will laugh hysterically, I promise.
So get ready for a great joyful ride! And mark your calendar for September 2015…the 3rd Annual Silver Screen Series!
