Movie of the Year: 1971

Harold and Maude (feat. Van from the Gaymer Girls pod!)

The Harold and Maude podcast episode is here — and the Taste Buds are diving deep into one of 1971's most subversive and life-affirming films. Hal Ashby's Harold and Maude (1971) has been a cult touchstone for over fifty years. This episode gives it the full PopFilter treatment. Ryan, Mike, and Greg welcome guest panelist Van Baumann from the Gaymer Girls podcast for a conversation about this singular film. It baffled studios, bombed at the box office, and somehow became a defining work of American cinema. Furthermore, this episode features a Rushmore segment on the most iconic May-December romances in movie history, plus a Shopping Spree. Consequently, this is one of the most spirited episodes of the Movie of the Year: 1971 series.

About the Harold and Maude Film

Directed by Hal Ashby, Harold and Maude arrived in December 1971 as one of the most unusual films Paramount Pictures had ever released. The screenplay, written by Colin Higgins, began as his master's thesis at UCLA film school. It follows Harold Chasen (Bud Cort), a wealthy young man obsessed with death. Harold stages elaborate fake suicides to shock his emotionally absent mother. Moreover, he fills his days with funerals, hearses, and junkyards — searching for something authentic in a world of suffocating privilege. At one such funeral, he meets Maude (Ruth Gordon), a 79-year-old woman. Her boundless appetite for life stands in complete contrast to his morbid worldview. Above all, their unlikely friendship — and eventual romance — challenges every social convention the Hal Ashby 1971 film can find.

The Harold and Maude film bombed on initial release. Critics were baffled, and audiences didn't know what to make of it. Nevertheless, it found its audience through midnight screenings and college campuses, eventually becoming one of cinema's defining 1971 cult classics. The Cat Stevens Harold and Maude soundtrack became inseparable from the film's identity. Notably, the Criterion Collection released a full restoration on Blu-ray in 2012. That cemented its status as a genuine classic. You can explore the full credits at its IMDb page.

Guest Panelist: Van Baumann

Van Baumann joins the Taste Buds for this Harold and Maude podcast episode. She co-hosts Gaymer Girls — a weekly podcast covering gaming, queer culture, and pop culture. Van and co-host Sana cover topics ranging from Baldur's Gate 3 to LGBTQ+ representation in gaming. Their wit and expertise extend to the cultural politics of the industry as well. Moreover, the show specializes in IP deep-dives for newcomers. Long-running franchises get broken down in ways that are accessible, funny, and genuinely informative.

Van's perspective on the Harold and Maude film is a particularly fitting one. The 1971 cult classic resonates strongly with queer audiences for its anti-establishment energy and rejection of conventional romance. Additionally, her background in gaming culture and media criticism brings a fresh lens to Ashby's film. It is a perspective the Taste Buds couldn't provide on their own.

Harold and Maude as Characters: An Unlikely Mirror in a Harold and Maude Podcast Discussion

At the heart of the Harold and Maude film are two characters who could not appear more different on paper. Harold is young, wealthy, and surrounded by privilege — yet profoundly miserable. Maude is elderly and owns almost nothing. She has lived through extraordinary hardship. The film subtly implies she is a Holocaust survivor. However, both characters share a fundamental rejection of the life society has scripted for them. Harold's fake suicides are acts of rebellion against his mother's indifference. Meanwhile, Maude steals cars and uproots city trees without malice. She acts from a deep belief that the world belongs to everyone equally.

Ruth Gordon's performance is magnetic. Gordon plays Maude not as a quirky old woman. Rather, she portrays someone who earned every ounce of joy through survival and deliberate choice. Bud Cort embodies Harold's blankness with quiet precision. His deadpan delivery makes every small shift in the character feel earned. Consequently, the chemistry between them feels less like a conventional romance and more like a transmission. Maude passes something essential to Harold before her time runs out. The Taste Buds and Van explore what makes these characters so enduring. Both discuss why the film still resonates more than fifty years later.

Life and Philosophy: What the Harold and Maude 1971 Film Actually Teaches

Harold and Maude is, at its core, a film about choosing to live. Specifically, it argues that joy is not something handed to you — it is something you practice, steal, nurture, and defend. Maude embodies this philosophy in every scene. She makes art and plays music with equal passion. Furthermore, she transplants a struggling tree from a concrete sidewalk to the open forest. She believes living things deserve better conditions than city concrete. Above all, she treats every encounter as an opportunity rather than an obligation.

The Hal Ashby 1971 film engages with existentialism in a remarkably accessible way. It never lectures. Instead, it dramatizes the tension between Harold's death drive and Maude's life force. The audience feels the shift as the film progresses. In addition, Harold and Maude is bracingly anti-authoritarian — Harold's priest, his psychiatrist, and his militaristic uncle are all buffoons. Authority, Ashby and Higgins suggest, is part of what kills the spirit. Therefore, the film's philosophy is ultimately about sovereignty: the right to live, love, and die on your own terms. The Taste Buds unpack all of it across this Harold and Maude podcast episode.

Legacy: How the Harold and Maude 1971 Podcast Goes Deep on a Cult Icon

Few films have had a stranger journey from flop to icon. The Harold and Maude film opened to near-universal bewilderment in 1971. Paramount barely knew how to market it. Nevertheless, word of mouth — particularly among countercultural and college audiences — kept it alive. By the late 1970s, it was a staple of midnight movie circuits. By the 1980s, it had influenced a generation of filmmakers. Notably, Wes Anderson has cited it as a key influence on his film Rushmore. Both films center on unlikely intergenerational bonds.

Moreover, the 1971 cult classic has always commanded a substantial queer following. Its rejection of normative romance, its celebration of chosen family, and Maude's radical individuality have made it a touchstone for LGBTQ+ audiences for decades. Additionally, the Cat Stevens Harold and Maude soundtrack is among cinema's most celebrated. Stevens later converted to Islam and stepped back from this earlier work. Above all, Harold and Maude endures because it offers something rare: a film that insists life is worth living, and actually means it. For a bracket-style podcast covering the greatest films of 1971, this Hal Ashby film demands serious consideration.

Rushmore: The Most Iconic May-December Romances in Movie History

In this week's Rushmore segment, each panelist makes their case for the most iconic May-December romance in movie history. The prompt is inspired by the film itself — cinema's most famous age-gap romance. However, the Taste Buds range far beyond 1971 for their nominations. Furthermore, the debate gets heated fast as the panel navigates decades of Hollywood romance to crown their personal MVPs. Tune in to find out who made the cut — and whose picks got laughed out of the room.

Shopping Spree

The Taste Buds and Van also sit down for a Shopping Spree segment, one of PopFilter's beloved recurring features. Each participant brings a recommendation that pairs well with the episode's themes. Films, media, and cultural artifacts are all fair game. In addition, the segment is a chance for the panel to let their enthusiasms run free outside the main discussion. Notably, the Harold and Maude Shopping Spree delivers some particularly inspired picks. Listen in to find out what made the list.

Why Harold and Maude Still Matters

More than fifty years after its release, the Harold and Maude film remains one of the most emotionally honest ever made. It refuses to sentimentalize death or romanticize youth. Instead, it argues that wisdom, joy, and love have no age limit. Choosing to be fully alive, it suggests, is the most radical act of all. Moreover, in an era of increasing conformity and algorithmic culture, Maude's anarchic embrace of experience feels more urgent than ever.

The 1971 cult classic also matters as a document of its moment. 1971 was a year of profound cultural friction. The counterculture was fading, the Vietnam War continued, and a deep national anxiety had taken hold. Harold and Maude absorbed all of that tension and responded with something unexpected: grace. Consequently, it stands as one of 1971's most essential films and a worthy contender in PopFilter's Movie of the Year bracket. Additionally, Van Baumann's perspective adds a dimension the Taste Buds alone couldn't provide. This Harold and Maude podcast episode is a must-listen for fans of film and philosophy.

Related Episodes from Movie of the Year: 1971

• The Last Picture Show (1971) — another film about youth, longing, and the passage of time
• A Clockwork Orange (1971) — Kubrick's equally transgressive and controversial 1971 release
• The French Connection (1971) — the year's Best Picture winner
• Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) — another enduring 1971 cult classic
• Browse all Movie of the Year episodes

FAQ: Harold and Maude Podcast and Film

What is this Harold and Maude podcast episode about?

This episode of PopFilter's Movie of the Year: 1971 series covers Hal Ashby's cult classic Harold and Maude. Ryan, Mike, and Greg are joined by guest Van Baumann from the Gaymer Girls podcast. Together they discuss the film's characters, its philosophy, and its lasting legacy. The episode also features a Rushmore segment on May-December romances and a Shopping Spree.

What is Harold and Maude about?

Harold and Maude (1971) follows Harold Chasen, a death-obsessed young man from a wealthy family. He befriends and ultimately falls in love with Maude, a free-spirited 79-year-old woman. Together, they challenge social convention, and Maude teaches Harold to embrace life on his own terms.

Who directed Harold and Maude?

Harold and Maude was directed by Hal Ashby. Colin Higgins wrote the screenplay, originally as his master's thesis at UCLA film school. Paramount Pictures released it in December 1971.

Who stars in Harold and Maude?

The Harold and Maude film stars Ruth Gordon as Maude and Bud Cort as Harold. Vivian Pickles plays Harold's mother, and Tom Skerritt appears in a supporting role. Cat Stevens composed and performed the film's celebrated soundtrack.

More Questions About Harold and Maude

Why did Harold and Maude become a cult classic?

Harold and Maude flopped on initial release but found a passionate audience through midnight screenings and college campuses. Over time, its anti-establishment philosophy and Cat Stevens soundtrack made it a beloved 1971 cult classic. It has since influenced countless filmmakers, including Wes Anderson.

Is Harold and Maude considered an LGBTQ+ film?

While not explicitly an LGBTQ+ film, Harold and Maude has long resonated with queer audiences. Its rejection of normative romance and celebration of chosen family have made it a longtime LGBTQ+ touchstone.

Who is the guest on this Harold and Maude podcast episode?

The guest panelist is Van Baumann, co-host of the Gaymer Girls podcast — a weekly show covering gaming news, queer culture, and IP deep-dives. Van brings a fresh critical perspective to the Harold and Maude film alongside the PopFilter Taste Buds.

Why does Harold and Maude still matter today?

Harold and Maude endures because its core argument remains radical and necessary. Life, it insists, is worth living on your own terms. Its themes of autonomy, chosen love, and defiant joy speak across generations and cultures.