10/26/2005: "Harold and Maude"

Tonight I watched a movie that a couple of friends and I watched endlessly in college: Harold and Maude. I identify with both Harold's death obsession and Maude's thrill for life. I'm all about extremes...I suppose that's why I love/hate living in Alaska so much.

At the end of the movie (spoiler alert) when Harold drives his hearse over the cliff's edge there's a moment when you think he's finally killed himself, but then the camera pans up to the cliffs edge where he's standing in the wind, shirt loose, his banjo slung across his shoulder and it ends with him playing Cat Steven's If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out as he sort of skips out of frame.

It's such a perfect ending/beginning. I feel like it's time for me to drive my proverbial hearse over the cliff, if ya know what I mean!
;)

Replies: 9 Comments

on Thursday, October 27th, Rod said

Ah, yes. (Do you have cable? they've been playing it lately on HBO) I'm still seeing new things in that great film, but the nostalgia of so many great memories will keep me watching it untill I die. Is there anything better than the memories asociated with a favorite film?

I was going to bed last night and it was on, I couldn't sleep till I saw the end with the Cat Steven's song Trouble.
I should send you photos of my hearse that I drove from D.C. to AZ. The best/worst road trip I ever took! :hehe:

on Thursday, October 27th, Elise said

Yes, I watched it on HBO last night...when Trouble came on I still got all teary eyed. That's so cool that we were both watching it at the same time, now all we need is some magical lentil loaf!
:laugh:
Anyway, I'd love to see your photos from the infamous cross country hearse road trip. Please do send.

on Thursday, October 27th, subi said

i think the character of Maude will always be my life-time hero! wasn't it that lentil-loaf weekend where we watched H&M back for all of our waking hours? hmmm....sigh,....i can still watch it obsessively! how cool to know it isn't just me! :laugh:

on Thursday, October 27th, subi said

oh and by the way, i still feel like i continually find things and meanings that i didn't find or see before EVERY time i watch it! GOGO Bud Court, and Ruth Gordon!!! or is it Court? and oh, i am still w/o a bloggable computer :plain:

on Thursday, October 27th, Elise said

Yes, the lentil-loaf weekend indeed. H&M and also Naked Lunch (i think) or that may have been a different obsessive back to back thing.

I think for me, I strive to be a Maude but feel more like a Harold most days. Anyway, just seeing it again reminded me that I should try everyday to do something I've never done before, to not be afraid of life, to live it with gusto and not be "too moral".
:D

on Thursday, October 27th, Elise said

Hey Subi, we're on at the same time eh! I check your blog daily hoping you'll be back but alas no.
:confused:

on Thursday, October 27th, ann said

Based on what you've learned from the movie, I should watch it again soon. I generally lean more toward being a Maude, but I've been feeling much more Haroldish lately...

on Saturday, October 29th, Elise said

I agree that it's one of those movies that no matter how many times you watch it, you notice new things, or read new meaning into it because you've changed since the last time.

Anyway, hope you feel Maudish again soon!

on Sunday, November 13th, evenu57@yahoo.com">Evelyn Singer said

My favorite movie of all time. I saw it the theatre when I was young. Today I was like Harold, hopefully I will feel more like Maude tommorrow