Harold and Maude (1971) - OUT OF PRINT

[Leonidas King]

Harold and Maude Blu-ray Pre-order

Special Features:

-New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition
-Optional remastered stereo soundtrack
-Audio commentary by Hal Ashby biographer Nick Dawson and producer Charles B. Mulvehill
-Illustrated audio excerpts of seminars by Ashby and writer-producer Colin Higgins
-New interview with songwriter Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens)
-PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Michael Wood; a 1971 New York Times profile of star Ruth Gordon; and excerpted transcripts of two interviews, one from 1997 with star Bud Cort and director of photography John Alonzo and one from 2001 with executive producer Mildred Lewis

[timbersbimbers]

Wow. So cool.

[Omen2002]

Great news on a great movie. Thanks for the info!

[James Luckard]

Unfortunately it doesn't seem to include the two trailers on the OOP Paramount DVD.

They're among the most brilliant and unconventional trailers I've ever seen - gorgeously edited rhythmic montages of imagery and moments from the film set to the Cat Stevens songs.

They also feature a number of deleted scenes and shots, including my favorite in the whole film, a lovely moment in which Harold & Maude sit at the water's edge, at sunset, silhouetted, while standing on the beach next to them ar ehuge wooden letters saying "F#$K WAR". (Obviously spelled correctly). It's a gorgeous, romantic, hopeful image that shows why swearing isn't always a bad thing, and it was my desktop on my computer for ages.

mildly NSFW pic here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftyl...n/322675948/#/

Guess I have to hang onto my old DVD for the trailers.

Still, excited to see it's making its way to Blu. It's so gorgeously photographed, I can't wait to see it after the wretched DVD. (Even the trailers on the DVD have better image quality than the feature.)

[ravenus]

Read some film reviews of this. Seems from the outset like this guy could have been an influence on a certain Wes Anderson.

[Gremal]

This movie is a downer in every sense. Great soundtrack, though!

[James Luckard]

I couldn't disagree more strongly. I think it's one of the most beautiful, life-affirming films I've ever seen.

This is possibly my favorite trailer ever, one of the two on the Paramount DVD that sadly won't be on the Criterion BR:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mz3TkxJhPc

[James Luckard]

I also think it's

[Show spoiler]possibly the best film about the Holocaust ever made. While we never see a bit of those horrors, we see one brief cutaway to the tattoo on Ruth Gordon's arm, and have one brief monologue from her about her idyllic childhood in Vienna. Those moments inform the entire rest of the film. Her character, who could come off as quirky and kooky, instead becomes a hero greater than Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone combined, because she is living every day seizing the beauty in life, in direct response to what was done to her thirty years before. It's an exceptionally subtle approach to the Holocaust, but it's a huge element of the film in many ways.

[willbfree]

Yay, CC - so it'll be $10 more expensive than other movies, for no apparent reason. Yay!

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by willbfree

Yay, CC - so it'll be $10 more expensive than other movies, for no apparent reason. Yay!

You could always wait for a sale, since B&N usually does a 50% off one in July.

There are reasons why Criterion prices their films higher than others, but most people tend to forget they're not a major film studio, have to pay for licensing fees, as well as pay for the restoration for many of the films they release. Oh no, all that matters is buying a movie for under 20 dollars, and as cheap as possible. Who gives a damn about the actual film, as long as one can get it cheap, and the PQ is mindblowing.

[Seymour]

When does Barnes & Noble usually have their first 50% off sale? I don't know if I can hold off on all the Criterions I wanna pick up (Rushmore, Traffic, and now Harold and Maude).

Edit: Whoops, I just read the previous post. Looks like I'm making a run this summer.

[newginafets]

Love the movie

Barnes n Noble sales always come in handy

[Sir Platypus]

Originally Posted by willbfree

Yay, CC - so it'll be $10 more expensive than other movies, for no apparent reason. Yay!

I gladly pay extra for any Criterion release. Amazing quality releases, with great supplemental features, and unique and beautiful packaging.

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I also think it's

[Show spoiler]possibly the best film about the Holocaust ever made. While we never see a bit of those horrors, we see one brief cutaway to the tattoo on Ruth Gordon's arm, and have one brief monologue from her about her idyllic childhood in Vienna. Those moments inform the entire rest of the film. Her character, who could come off as quirky and kooky, instead becomes a hero greater than Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone combined, because she is living every day seizing the beauty in life, in direct response to what was done to her thirty years before. It's an exceptionally subtle approach to the Holocaust, but it's a huge element of the film in many ways.

So let me get this straight.

[Show spoiler]One brief cutaway showing a survivor's number makes the entire film about the Holocaust??? When the other 99.9999% of the film shows a kid on a death trip and a woman acting insane? Nothing in the film is remotely "about the Holocaust" and if you think any survivors actually acted like Ruth Gordon's character, or the film in any way provides an allegory, you're seriously deluded. I frankly find it offensive that a survivor would be depicted this way.

[bboisvert]

Originally Posted by willbfree

Yay, CC - so it'll be $10 more expensive than other movies, for no apparent reason. Yay!

Some choose to see the glass half-full and be excited that a semi-obscure title, which has been OOP on DVD for years and ignored by Paramount, is arriving in a great HD edition, with supplements.

Others will pick any opportunity to complain that the glass is half-empty...

[KrugStillo]

People are getting heated. I love this film, it's an all time favorite and a beautiful and hilarious movie. It's overall theme of acceptance and perseverance are timeless. So glad Criterion is doing this. Maybe we'll get LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR from Criterion as well. Seems they have a deal with Paramount.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by KrugStillo

People are getting heated. I love this film, it's an all time favorite and a beautiful and hilarious movie. It's overall theme of acceptance and perseverance are timeless. So glad Criterion is doing this. Maybe we'll get LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR from Criterion as well. Seems they have a deal with Paramount.

Been waiting forever for Looking for Mr. Goodbar! that would be a good one.

[Crimson King]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Read some film reviews of this. Seems from the outset like this guy could have been an influence on a certain Wes Anderson.

Well, Harold and Maude's But Cort did appear in the film The Life Aquatic w/ Steve Zissou a Was Anderson film.

Why did'nt they ask Bud Cort join in on the audio commentary, that would have been cool?

pretty cool they got the reclusive Cat Stevens to do an interview though!

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by bboisvert

Some choose to see the glass half-full and be excited that a semi-obscure title, which has been OOP on DVD for years and ignored by Paramount, is arriving in a great HD edition, with supplements.

Others will pick any opportunity to complain that the glass is half-empty...

No kidding. I'm glad this is coming out, and have it pre-ordered already.

Originally Posted by Gremal

So let me get this straight.

[Show spoiler]One brief cutaway showing a survivor's number makes the entire film about the Holocaust??? When the other 99.9999% of the film shows a kid on a death trip and a woman acting insane? Nothing in the film is remotely "about the Holocaust" and if you think any survivors actually acted like Ruth Gordon's character, or the film in any way provides an allegory, you're seriously deluded. I frankly find it offensive that a survivor would be depicted this way.

The comments regarding Ruth Gordon's character are rather insulting, and I feel that you have indeed missed the point of the film.

[Show spoiler] It is about living life to the fullest, and overcoming hardships. How do you think Holocaust survivors acted? Were they constantly depressed the rest of their lives? Did they not go on and aspire to better things? Thanks for making an upbeat, black comedy depressing.

Originally Posted by KrugStillo

People are getting heated. I love this film, it's an all time favorite and a beautiful and hilarious movie. It's overall theme of acceptance and perseverance are timeless. So glad Criterion is doing this. Maybe we'll get LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR from Criterion as well. Seems they have a deal with Paramount.

Agreed! Seven Days in May, Love with the Proper Stranger, This Property is Condemned, The Odd Couple, The Italian Job, Oh! What a Lovely War, Catch-22, Paper Moon, Nashville, and Come Back Little Sheba would be good additions to the titles they so desperately need to upgrade like Ace in th Hole, and the Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by KrugStillo

People are getting heated.

I think one person was heated from the moment they got here I wish this forum had an ignore function, like some others do...

Also, there are many different things that can be read into the film, what I suggested is just one of them. I think that's why it's a great work of art, it has so much depth and complexity.