Olivia brings us a Valentine’s Day surprise with an early edition of the Revamp where she takes on the Hal Ashby beloved Cult Romance starring Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon.
I will admit dear reader(s) that when I chose Hal Ashby’s 1971 dark comedy Harold and Maude as the revamp for the lovely month of February, I did so with humor and sarcasm in mind given the story line in relation to the time of year. This was not out of spite of being a single individual during Valentine’s Day, or against May-December relationships, but more so towards a holiday that often promotes the material side of ‘love’ instead of the emotional and often neglected, authentic side of the experience. Yes, while I would love to enjoy a chocolate covered strawberry or two, and a homemade valentine always does the heart good, there is more to love and to life than a grown adult showing up dressed as a cherub with an extravagant flower arrangement.
(Yes, I have seen that happen).
When anyone hears the plot of Ashby’s film; a young and rich man obsessed with death (Harold, played by Bud Cort) changes after meeting vibrant, and septuagenarian Maude (Ruth Gordon) at a funeral with whom he falls in love with, it seems like the start of a dated joke.
Older woman + younger man + love = what kind of film is this?
The (surprising) answer: it is the reality call we all need regarding loving others and more importantly loving ourselves and our own unique life journeys for what they are and what they mean to us.
As Rotten Tomatoes put it best (giving the film an 84%, and audiences giving it a 93%), “(Ashby’s) comedy is too dark and twisted for some, and occasionally oversteps its bounds, but there’s no denying the film’s warm humor and big heart.” It must be the warm humor and big heart that caused the film to be nominated and well received by several organizations and committees, such as the Film Preservation Board, the Valladolid International Film Festival, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Looking back the film, much like The Graduate (1967), was beyond its time when it came to the image of (first) true love. Today the variety of true loves is immense, and the world is beautiful because of it. So, in the true spirit of the season, here is a special V-Day edition of The Revamp (it goes well with a merlot and popcorn).
ORIGINAL CAST AND CREW
Director: Hal Ashby (The Las Detail (1973), Shampoo (1975), and Being There (1979) just to name a few)
Writer: Colin Higgins (wrote 9 to 5 (1980) and Silver Streak (1976) amongst others)
Music by: Cat Stevens
Cast: Bud Cort (Harold), Ruth Gordon (Maude), and Vivian Pickles (Mrs. Chasen).
THE REVAMP
THE CREW
Director
Spike Jonze
Jonze already has one of the tabooer love stories of the century under his belt (Her, 2013), so why not add another one to the collection. Jonze also has a strong tie to the counter cultures of the pop culture world, such as his previous work with musicians known for their anti-establishment image (Lady Gaga, Kanye West, and Björk just to name a few). Out of the recent and well-known directors of the romantic/romantic comedy/dark comedy genres, and in a world where the true meaning and image of love is the counterculture, it would be wise to leave this revamp in his hands.
Music
Hozier, The Lumineers, Of Monsters and Men, and Serena Ryder
Much like Ashby’s unique touch to the original, and how Jonez could build upon and from it with his own flavor to romance and comedy, there is little that needs to be changed to the original soundtrack to the film, due to how Yusuf Islam’s, also known as Cat Stevens, list of tracks compliment the plot so well. If anything, in addition to Islam’s return for a reprise of “If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out”, it would be a great platform to showcase covers of his work by emerging stars of the indie/alternative genre. While Hozier, The Lumineers, Of Monsters and Men, and Serena Ryder are not the only names worthy of suggesting, their voices and presence would continue to make the message of Islam’s work known to a new generation. It would also give these artists a chance to collaborate with one of the legends of song in the twentieth century.
THE CAST
Harold
Graham Phillips
While, like many, I am still getting to know Phillips and his on-screen abilities, there is just something about his picture and growing resume of an actor (The Good Wife (2009-2016) and Riverdale (2017-18)) that just clicked. He has experience with the dramatic and the comedic and could possibly blend the two to give a reasonable performance compared to Cort’s, which at times was strong and others lukewarm at best. While other options, such as last month’s column
Timothée Chalamet, seemed like an immediate answer, we can and should always give budding actors and actresses a chance to have the spotlight.
Maude
Julie Walters
Molly Weasley. Mrs. Wilkinson. The witch from Brave (2012).
These are just some of the iconic, prolific, and delightfully sarcastic and humorous roles played by the star that is Julie Walters. Sharp, cunning, and yet maternal, Walters has the pep and spirit of Maude, as well as the emotional range to play the more tender moments of her persona that come towards the climax of the plot. Although there might be another name that will come to mind for the part after this article is published, it is hard to think of anyone today that could match Walter’s range and warmth.
Mrs. Chasen
Frances McDormand
Much like Walters, the personas that McDormand has graced audiences with for decades could all serve her well as Harold’s luxurious yet uncomfortable mother, Mrs. Chasen. Name any Coen brothers film she has been in, and I can guarantee that the dark sarcasm beneath each one’s exterior (yes, even Fargo’s Marge Gunderson) could make an appearance in Chasen if the film were to be remade. If she or Jonez wanted to go another route with the character, one would also trust McDormand to take that alternate path and deliver something that audiences will enjoy just as much.