FILM FORUM: August 23, 2017

Wednesday, August 23, at 3:00 PM in classroom B, the Film Forum will be viewing the 1971 film Harold and Maude. To say that this dark comedy romance is filled with light for our summer theme, is putting it mildly. If you’ve never met Harold and Maude, you can now check this one off your bucket list! Read this article for more information.

This dark comedy landed in theaters and quickly became a cult-favorite of a certain kind of movie-goer. A friendship between an 80-something old gal played with supreme brio by Ruth Gordon, and a very young man that keeps trying to commit suicide to gain the attention of his rich but uncaring mother, played by Bud Cort.

Ruth Gordon was, of course the female half of the great writing team that included her long-time husband, Garson Kanin. Together they would write screenplays for Adam’s Rib, Pat and Mike, and The Marrying Kind. Ruth also appeared, most famously, in Rosemary’s Baby, for which she won the Oscar.

Hal Ashby wrote and directed this lovely film that emphasizes life and how to live it to the fullest, no matter your trials and tribulations or what you think of as the tragedies of your poor existence. Bringing an old lady and a very young man into a romantic relationship seemed to resonate with audiences of its day. Perhaps it reminded people of the treasures they have right at hand in their living grandparents and their treasure box of wisdom, faith and optimism.