#CyrilCusack

[doomonfilm]

Thoughts : Harold and Maude (1971)

Once my fascination with the American films of the 1970s begin, it was only a matter of time before Hal Ashby hit my radar.  He is certainly one of the biggest ‘what if’ stories in terms of his career and the possibilities of what he may have done had he not passed away so young.  Out of all his films, as touching and unique as they are, there is one that truly speaks to fans as a ‘definitive’ Hal Ashby picture, and that is the incomparable Harold and Maude. 

Harold Chasen (Bud Cort) is an offbeat young man, much to the dismay of his mother (Vivan Pickles), a woman infatuated with her status in the social scene.  Harold, who is keen on funerals and the macabre, often antagonizes his mother by staging symbolic suicides, yet none of these cries for help seem to break her tough shell.  After purchasing a hearse, Harold attends a random funeral where he first notices Maude (Ruth Gordon), a quirky older woman with an obvious zest for life.  While Harold’s mother focuses on arranging him with a bride that she finds suitable, Harold and Maude grow closer, and their budding friendship soon blossoms into a full-fledged romance.  Due to their age gap, however, the couple must face stark truths, but the optimistic Maude hopes that it becomes an opportunity for Harold to grow as an individual that is more assured of himself.

Harold and Maude is a film rich with symbolism in nearly all of its aspects.  The writing has subtext throughout behind Maude’s approach to life, as her current joy is clearly fueled by past suffering she chooses not to dwell on.  Visually, the symbolism is both bold and subtle, especially in regards to cuts between similarly styled compositions on the opposite ends of the reality spectrum.  Musically, Cat Stevens and his warm voice are weaved into the narrative nearly perfectly.  The film in itself is not only a strange love story, but a criticism of square society... albeit, a soft criticism, but criticism nonetheless.  Maude plays a clear symbol of how to embrace life (as mentioned before), and it makes a rich connection with Harold and the ambiguous nature of his many deaths, onscreen and otherwise.

While Harold does open up to Maude about what sounds like a real death experience to him, we are actually given several instances of symbolic suicide rituals, all of which seem to be hard stances against his mother.  Mrs. Chasen, along with many of the people in her circle, adhere to a social system and a search for identity that lacks substance or culture, and all of this is done at the expense of truly connecting with her son.  Even Harold’s doctor essentially sounds like a medical textbook on tape, and his Uncle Victor is so dedicated to his system of military that he used he lost arm as an opportunity to create a mechanical salute mechanism.  Harold, trapped in all of this, feels like a brick in the wall, but Maude shows him that it is possible to be unique and survive in a society that seems hell-bent on constraint.  This connection fuels Harold’s journey into manhood, and makes the film a truly unique coming of age story.

As far as the production goes, one of my favorite aspects is how well Cat Stevens is integrated into the film... he almost becomes a Greek chorus, or an unseen narrator... or possibly even the thoughts that run through Harold’s mind.  Tonally, the film may be a bit on the schizophrenic side, but it actually works to the benefit of the film, as those extremes create a wonderful balance overall.  As previously mentioned, Hal Ashby has a keen eye for symbolic detail... be it the vaginal statue that suddenly comes into focus during Harold’s first visit to Maude’s, or the cut between the field of flowers to the graveyard, or any other number of sequences, Ashby moves through these visuals like a seasoned pro.  As tender as the film is, the humor is consistent throughout, both on the intellectual and slapstick levels.

Ruth Gordon is a true delight throughout, really providing the heart and soul of what makes this film a modern day classic about embracing life and love.  Bud Cort plays a dark version of the everyman that seems to echo the sentiments of modern manhood, specifically in the social media age, with his depression, malaise, and hopes that a spark of love will wake him from his dark depths.  Vivian Pickles plays perfectly equal parts self-obsessed/unaware and shallow, providing the perfect foil for Cort’s over-the-top portrayal of Harold.  Brief supporting appearances by Cyril Cusack, Charles Tyner, Eric Christmas and George Wood provide plenty of texture, while Judy Engles, Shari Summers and Ellen Greer hit us with good comedic beats via dates for Harold.  Tom Skerritt makes a hilarious and almost unrecognizable cameo... if you don’t recognize his voice you make not know that it’s him.

It’s hard to choose a favorite Hal Ashby film, but when it comes to trying to pick one to share with friends, Harold and Maude is almost always at the top of the list.  If you’re unfamiliar with this film or the director, take the time to seek it out... you will not be sorry that you did.

[spazhouseintuitiveresearch]

History of Caedmon Records (Pronounced Cadmon) Caedmon was a pioneer in the audiobook business, it was the first company to sell spoken word recordings to the public and has been called the "seed" of the audiobook industry.[1] Caedmon was formed in New York in 1952 by college graduates Barbara Holdridge and Marianne Roney.[2] Their first release was a collection of poems by Dylan Thomas as read by the author. The B-side contained A Child's Christmas in Wales which was added as an afterthought - the story was obscure and Thomas himself couldn't remember its title when asked what to use to fill up the LP's B-side - but this recording went on to become one of his most loved works, and launched Caedmon into a successful company.[1] The original 1952 recording was a 2008 selection for the United States National Recording Registry, stating it is "credited with launching the audiobook industry in the United States" I have this wonderful vinyl of Cyril Cusack reading Gerard Manley Hopkins poetry for sale. The Cover is printed with three process colors. Black, magenta and yellow. I can’t find the artist. DM me if you are interested or head over to my Etsy store. https://www.etsy.com/shop/roxofspazhouse?ref=search_shop_redirect #cyrilcusack #poetrycommunity #audible @audible @seventh.gate @coolstuffgang (at Riverside and Avondale) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLeeo6uBM6p/?igshid=1fpixy22cg8t1

[thegreatdivorce]

I’m a big, sappy fan of Powell and Pressburger films. I like almost everything they made (except Gone to Earth, sorry guys), and I’ve watched almost all of em. They’re great. Small Back Room was not on the official list, but I was in a Powell and Pressburger kind of a mood tonight so I picked up this 1949 film. I actually couldn’t get the damn name right, I kept calling it Little Black Room... then Small Black Room... only to realize it was Small Back Room which makes more sense having actually seen the movie. I have to admit, I didn’t really enjoy it as much as other P&P films but it did have some wonderful moments and is not a bad film by any means. David Farrar and Kathleen Byron are wonderful. Farrar in particular shines in this movie, especially the scenes in which he’s blind drunk. But my favorite character was actually Corporal Taylor played by the great Cyril Cusack. I thought he was a bit of a scene-stealer. #smallbackroom #1949 #film #starring #davidfarrar #kathleenbyron #cyrilcusack #andlotsofothers #directedby #writtenby #producedby #thearchers #aka #powellandpressburger https://www.instagram.com/p/Be9rjJ4h-0Q/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1n8rr3zp5k5yb

[intimationsweb]

"If you asked me for my New Year Resolution, it would be to find out who I am"

 (Cyril Cusack)