Harold and Maude

This picture, directed by Hal Ashby, with script by Colin Higgins, has achieved some sort of cult status. why? Beats me. I liked Bud Cort, and I liked the premise well enough, and parts of it had me rolling on the floor (notably the parts when Harold plays gruesome practical jokes on the girls his mother selects for him to date) but for once, Dad may be right: I hate Ruth Gordon. I hate her, or I hate her character, or maybe it's the same thing. This woman--Maude--is supposed to make you feel full of life--thrilled with the wonderful possibilities of everything. But the way she comes across is just demented and unpleasant; her supposed vivacity just struck me as incredible eccentricity, much worse than anything Harold himself displays (at least he's got a sense of humor). This being the case, I couldn't understand Harold's (whatever his own problems may be) even liking this woman, let alone falling in love with her. With a really good actress in the role, or a better written part (one that allows some dignity to come through, so you really believe what she's trying to get across) the picture might have worked. But since I don't like Maude, and don't see why Harold likes her either, the thing kind of falls apart. Ruth Gordon just sort of whores herself out in the role, and that's not effective. Rather than feeling invigorated and inspired, I left the picture feeling slightly contaminated and yucky, as though I'd stepped in something unpleasant. The one redeeming feature? Cat Stevens' songs.