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Plot

A young man with a death wish and a 79-year-old high on life find love in Hal Ashby's cult black comedy. Deadpan rich boy Harold (Bud Cort) keeps staging elaborate suicide tableaux to get the attention of his mother (Vivian Pickles), but she keeps planning his brilliant future for him instead. Obsessed with the trappings of death, Harold freaks out his blind dates, modifies his new sports car to look like a mini-hearse, and attends funerals, where he meets the spirited Maude (Ruth Gordon). An eccentric to the core, Maude lives exactly as she pleases, with avid collecting and nude modeling among her many pursuits. To the disgust of Harold's relatives and the befuddlement of Harold's shrink, Harold falls in love with her. As lilting Cat Stevens tunes play on the soundtrack, Maude teaches Harold a valuable lesson about making the most of his time on earth.
MPAA Rating:
PG
Genre(s):
Comedy,Romance
Run Time:
90min.
Theatrical Release Date:
12/20/1971
DVD Release Date:
06/27/2000
Status:
In Theaters
Distributor(s):
Paramount
Director(s):
Hal Ashby
Starring:
Ruth Gordon , Bud Cort , Vivian Pickles , Cyril Cusack , Charles Tyner
Themes:
Suicide,Misfits and Outsiders,Eccentric Families,Age Disparity Romance,Opposites Attract
Tone:
Humorous,Quirky,Reflective,Sweet,Irreverent
Keywords:
May-December-romance,attraction,death,elderly,funeral,hearse,late-bloomers,mother,obsession,psychiatrist,suicide-attempt
Language:
English