Episode 33 : HAROLD & MAUDE / Top 3 “Inescapable Iconic Roles”

Summary: This week in the Q is the (1971) granny gone wild cult classic   HAROLD  MAUDE   from director Hal Ashby. This over the top black comedy tells the tale of Harold, played by the iconic Bud Cort, a wealthy 17 year old who insecurities with death keeps him on the verge of emotional collapse. He spends his time staging elaborate suicide tableaux to get the attention of his mother, but she JUST  keeps planning his inescapable 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, played by the classic Ruth Gordon, an eccentric  to the core 79 year old! 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