On Episode 5 of the Cult Film Club, hosts Jaime, Paxton and Shawn are changing things up a bit by talking about the 1971 bleak romantic comedy Harold and Maude

Directed by Hal Ashby (The Last Detail, Coming Home, Being There) and starring Ruth Gordon (Adam’s Rib, Rosemary’s Baby) and Bud Cort (Brewster McCloud, M*A*S*H), the film centers on the spring/autumn relationship between the titular characters.  Harold is an ennui laden nineteen year-old obsessed with death, funerals and staging his own fake suicides, though he’s yearning to find a reason to live.  Maude is in the twilight of her life, bursting with energy and enthusiasm, though can relate to Harold’s obsessions in an all too real way.  Set to the music of Cat Stevens, Harold and Maude is as touching and uplifting as it is disturbing and downright depressing!

In the episode we discuss the themes of death and juxtaposition, as well as Ashby’s storybook film-making style. We take a closer look at some of the actors in our regular segment, Hey Do I Know That Guy, as well as playing Hollywood moguls in a segment we like to call It’s Time For a Recast!

Listen now!


(Or right-click and save this file to download -> Cult Film Club, Episode #5: Harold and Maude)

If you like what you hear you can subscribe to the Cult Film Club on iTunes.

You can also join our not-so-exclusive but totally rad club so you can know which movie(s) we’ll be discussing next and watch along with us.

We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments and questions on the topic of Cult Films, and how you came to be a fan, so send us an e-mail!

Films and TV Shows discussed in this episode include: Fight Club, Le Samourai, Romeo & Juliet, Thelma and Louise, The Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom, The Graduate, My Girl, Footloose, Arrested Development, Rosemary’s Baby, 9 to 5, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Foul Play, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Bate’s Motel, Adam’s Rib, Every Which Way But Loose, Every Which Way You Can, Eagleheart, Brewster McCloud. M*A*S*H, Being There, Coming Home, Shampoo, Coyote Ugly, The Last Detail, G.I. Joe A Real American Hero, The Slugger’s Wife, Mad Men, Angel, American Beauty, Reds, Ender’s Game, Hugo, Freaks and Geeks, The Incredible Shrinking Woman, Parks and Rec, and Safety Not Guaranteed.