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Harold and Maude (Hal Ashby, USA, 1971)


  • The Lord Palmerston 33 Dartmouth Park Hill London, England, NW5 1HU United Kingdom (map)
All the fun and gaiety of a burning orphanage...
— Variety (1971)

Valentine’s Day Screening

Bud Cort stars as the eponymous Harold: a death-obsessed teenager whose strictly controlled life is forever changed when he meets (at a funeral, natch) lively septuagenarian Maude (Ruth Gordon - as brilliant as ever). A not-entirely-Platonic relationship soon develops, resulting in what has to be one of the most surprisingly endearing screen couples in Hollywood history. Harold and Maude was a notorious box-office flop when first released (see above!) but its reputation has considerably improved over the years and it is now rightly regarded as an absolute classic of 70s cinema. A genuinely moving cockle-warmer from wayward New Hollywood genius Hal Ashby (with a great soundtrack Cat Stevens soundtrack to boot!)

This is a film we loved screening in our first year and look forward to showing again.