Filmmaker reacts to Harold and Maude (1971) for the FIRST TIME!

[@harryholmes8624]

i’m soooooooo happy and surprised you’re watching this - a 16 year old named harry who relates to harold a lot.

[@JamesVSCinema]

ayyy my man Harry, I’m happy you had a great watch brotha.

[@jimralston7562]

I first watched this movie at 16, now I'm 61! 😮

[@harryholmes8624]

@@jimralston7562 Well I’m willing to bet you good money that when I’m 61 I’ll still be loving and watching this film.

[@iainherridge6253]

​@@harryholmes8624you sure will & have you seen "Being There" yet?

[@John_Locke_108]

Once you realize that Maude was a Nazi camp survivor, re-watches of the movie become mandatory. You see her in a completely new light and her entire life view makes total sense.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Had a feeling but didn’t want to guess wrong on something like that.

[@John_Locke_108]

@@JamesVSCinema When you rewatch the movie you pick up on a bunch of subtle hints that are easy to miss.

[@nehemiahmarcus308]

It is also in her story about the umbrella and the man in the uniform and her love for him. And also in the argument she has with the police officer seems to be a flashback to the soldier.

[@dereknolin5986]

@@JamesVSCinema There's a brief close-up shot of a number tattooed on her arm, like the Nazis gave to prisoners in their camps.

[@SteveA25414]

Exactly. The sound track supports too

[@Alvy42]

Love this movie, great reaction! Maude basically tells Harold her plans at their first meeting- "I'll be 80 next week. A good time to move on, don't you think?... I mean 75 is too early but at 85 you're just marking time."

[@JamesVSCinema]

Beautiful right there.

[@lenoreandreas4000]

Exactly! So many miss that!

[@iamfirstandlast]

"That's wonderful, Harold. Now, go and love some more."

[@JamesVSCinema]

Incredible line.

[@iamfirstandlast]

@@JamesVSCinema Love your passion for cinema. I suggest a French Canadian film called "Leolo". I think you might really enjoy it. Keep up the good work, James.

[@jamesonrosen1773]

I watched this as a suicidal 14yo. Seeing this movie, as someone who connected to 50yo's over my own classmates, raised just as many questions for me as it answered. In the end id like to think im a better person because of this movie.

[@perchancetodream1]

This movie turned me onto Cat Stevens. I like when artists can do a whole movie soundtrack like with Queen/Flash Gordon, Eddie Vedder/Into The Wild and Prince/Batman.

[@mariselaorta1981]

Same. I love the soundtrack.

[@muffinamy83]

Aimee Mann/Magnolia

[@spindletopcenter]

Brother Yusuf!

[@matthewhearn9910]

One of my all-time favorite movies. "Harold, that's wonderful! Go love some more."

[@EyeLean5280]

Did you notice that she's a holocaust survivor? In the scene where he gives her the medallion, he looks down and sees a number tattooed on her arm. And I agree with you about the things that Harold had to learn: how to live, how to love, and what death really means. For so long, he hadn't been living and he'd been treating death like a game. But it's not a game, it's always the permanent removal of a unique person from the world.

[@ChucksCherubs3]

I kept waiting for his reaction to that scene!

[@MoxieMcMurder]

I'm thrilled Harold and Maude finally won the poll! Looking forward to watching this later tonight. I hope you enjoy, it's a wonderful film that's too often overlooked.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Happy to hear!!

[@GrainneMhaol]

I adore this weird little movie. "Go and love some more" is a line that always hits me hard. Also, Harold screaming "WHAT" is an amazing bit of acting. 'Coming Home' is another Hal Ashby movie that I implore you to check out. It's quietly revolutionary

[@attorneyrobert]

Weird is the apt description for this film.

[@MontagZoso]

Coming Home is outstanding! I would love to see James react to that!

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

I remember the first time I saw this. It was 1983, I was 15 & had come home around 3am, still tripping fairly hard on the mushrooms me & my friends had taken earlier that night. My folks & my brother were all asleep, so the house was quiet. My parents had rented this movie & since I couldn’t sleep, I decided to go ahead & watch it. After it was over, I just sat on the couch & stared at a black screen for probably an hour, thinking about what I’d just seen. RIP Ruth Gordon

[@susanheard4843]

1984 for me.

[@robertpearson8798]

Finally, someone is reacting to one of my all time favourite films! It seems to be getting overlooked by other reactors, hopefully this will start a trend.

[@JamesVSCinema]

[@saliv88]

One of the best films about life ever made.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Definitely a goodie!

[@gabrieleghut1344]

Wow, a great reaction to an underrated film in 1970's and now a classic. Here in Germany we have a small movie theater (city Essen Galerie Cinema with only 45 seats) that shows this great gem every Sunday since 1975, even on this Sunday.

[@tornoutlaw]

Haha, habe ich auch erwähnt. Dachte, sogar seit 71, aber 75 klingt realistischer.

[@MontagZoso]

That is so cool! Now I just need a plane ticket to Germany. ❤️👍

[@kathleensmith3555]

OMG I love that! -- it makes me smile to know this movie is playing there

[@robindebacker]

Wow! That's amazing!

[@magicbrownie1357]

This was the very first Avante Garde or out-of-the-mainstream film I ever saw. Brings back many good memories of friends with whom I experienced it and nostalgic for my introduction into "cinema" as opposed to just "movies." Nice choice.

[@vapormissile]

Same here. My mom dragged me to see it in a strange little theater in Montana.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Cheers!! Gotta thank the Patreon!

[@owlivdejong5086]

Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann named their daughter Maude after Mann's lifelong love of this movie. Makes me smile.

[@jadefart]

Hal Ashby was truly one of the most original filmmakers of all time. A great deal of his work is worth watching.

[@georginawest3927]

It's always a joy to see someone discover Harold & Maude!!

[@MagusMirificus]

Probably one of my five favorite films; certainly top ten. Just an absolutely perfect distillation of the emergent counter-culture down to its spiritual essence; it's not about clothes, or drugs, or sex, or music, or even rebellion (Even if all of those are important too), it's about being ALIVE, about taking your only opportunity to live in this world and LIVING. It doesn't get bogged down in resentment for the old guard, it finds them hilariously ineffectual against the overwhelming tide of life. Only Harold's own fear can keeps him from that; once Maude teaches him courage, the world is his.

[@MontagZoso]

Well said!

[@moonygirl76]

I LOVE this movie. Absolutely love this movie. It makes me feel so much. Harold HIMSELF learns to feel so much, from someone who starts out feeling so apathetic and dead inside. And the soundtrack bangs.

[@fmellish71]

Seriously one of the most heartfelt films out there. I always saw the director Hal Ashby as a sort of yin to Robert Altman's yang. They both were sort of countercultural with a sly sense of humor that went after sacred cows of the time, but while Altman was a bit more austere and sociological, Ashby was more personal and psychological. Bud Cort, who played Harold, was previously in Altman's film Brewster McCloud a year before which works very well as a companion piece to Harold and Maude with Cort playing a similar sort of emotionally shut-in character who's coaxed out by a trickster archetype, who was played by Shelley Duvall (The Shining...you vibed with her) in Brewster McCloud. Bit more in the lesser known cult film pocket of Altman's ouevre; your patrons may actually get you to watch something like MASH or Nashville first, which ain't nothing wrong with that because those both are classics (especially Nashville!!!).

[@fmellish71]

The next Hal Ashby film you should probably see is Being There (1979) with Peter Sellers, who played all them damn funny characters in Dr. Strangelove. I personally get a childish glee connecting all these trivia dots I can't help it lol

[@sonnysumo8172]

Never thought I’d see Harold and Maude on this channel let along in a movie reaction. It’s one of those classics that’s on the edge of obscurity. I saw this when I was in high school going through my film buff phase and enjoyed it enough. The love story is unique and gets you invested. I should watch it again sometime.

[@yvonnesanders4308]

So many emotions with this. It's great they found each other and Harold is shown another way of living instead of death. Maude has seen so much and chooses her end on her own terms. The music is wonderful. You just wish they had a Hollywood ending 😎

[@CommadoreGothnogDragonheart]

If you re-watch it, Maude hinted that she was going to kill herself from the beginning. Brilliant movie. One of my favorites. I was so excited to see that you were reacting to this one!

[@JamesVSCinema]

Caught during my edit!

[@lesliesylvan]

I'm 72 and have had Harold and Maud in my top TEN for decades. Bravo and Brava . . .

[@jameskirschling7887]

Finally someone reacted to Harold and Maude. I have been asking several reaction channels to watch this movie. I was around fourteen years old when my older brother took me to see this at the cinema and I loved it right away. I too would love to hang out with Harold. Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort were so fabulous in this movie. I have shown this movie to several people and most of them thought it was a boring movie because they didn't get the message of the movie like you did James. If you want to see Ruth Gordon in another fantastic movie watch Rosemary's Baby and in the Any Which Way movies with Clint Eastwood. Sorry this was so long but I could have written a lot more about this movie.

[@TomCat777]

So glad you got to experience this incredible movie. Gems like this don't come around that often

[@captainsplifford]

This is one of my favorite love stories. Thank you for reacting.

[@spacejack400]

So glad you reacted to this. This has some of the best cinematography of any film in my opinion. The whole end sequence is shot like a music video (before music videos.)

[@DinoNardelli]

Imagine the joy when I found a reactor FINALLY taking on my favorite film of all time, Harold and Maude. Its a film that speaks volumes on life and death and has many layers. On the surface, its a hilarious dark comedy but upon repeat viewings, one begins to see and learn much more about the characters...Maude's zest for life stemming from the horrors of the concentration camp and her betrayal by Frederick the man she loved. Harold's obsession with death as a means to get his mothers love and attention. So many great parts...it has humor, joy, sadness, everything. It has a classic Hollywood car ( hearse Jag), a fabulous soundtrack by Cat Stevens. Mostly it has a lesson in life and living and how all of us should strive to live our best. What more could one ask for in a filming? I hope this video is viewed greatly and also by other reactors to bring H&M more attention especially to younger viewers. Thank u again and peace....

[@marciahuehn2365]

When I feel lonely, I rewatch this film and then turn to your reaction again. Your understanding of the dark humor, empathy with the characters, appreciation of the movie’s themes messages, and instinctive connection to the beauty of life serves as a balm to my spirit. In my 20’s, I watched Harold and Maude in a Minneapolis theatre that exclusively showed the film for over a year. How wonderful to revisit the subtle invitation to truly live life. One of my favorite memories is Maude on the hospital stretcher with a daisy near her heart at the end of her life. Peace, love, blessings.💜

[@notsopunk]

I’m sure somewhere in the bowels of KZbin there is a reaction video for Harold & Maude that I’m not aware of, but I’ve been *WAITING* for somebody to do this. My main film-viewing genre is horror, and yet this is my favorite movie. That’s how powerful this film is and I’m incredibly happy you were the first one I saw react to it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this film and I still get choked up every time I watch it.

[@Sharkman42]

Brother, I just wanted to say that I love your reactions to brilliant films. You deserve more subscribers. Also I think you should react to One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. It's an absolutely phenomenal movie, it's a bit depressing but it's wonderful.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Ah that means a lot to me homie, cheers. And I’ll have to add that!

[@LCCWPresents]

My mom redid the lighting for the church in this film. I remember going with her as a kid taking pictures of the churches my mother would redesign the lighting for.

[@LCCWPresents]

Bridget Williams lighting design is her business. She focuses mostly on churches but designs all spaces.

[@mikedbigame3398]

It's amazing storytelling to just show a 2 second shot of Maude's Auschwitz prisoner tattoo. It totally changes your whole perspective of the character and the film

[@cynthianavarro4316]

So many great performances by Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, Vivien Pickles and even the smaller parts. Ruth had an extensive career on Broadway and Hollywood. With her second husband, Garson Kanin, they both wrote screenplays that were nominated for Academy Awards. She also won a best actress Tony Award for The Matchmaker, and an Oscar for best supporting actress for Rosemary's Baby (1969), which you should see!. Always youthful, brimming with life, charm and goodwill, she was also a playwright. Vivien Pickles doesn't get enough credit. Many of the suicide scenes were funny because of her reactions. I loved the scene where she fills out the form for Harold without his input. Both of these actresses had great, distinctive voices and energy. It's too bad that Bud Cort never had a huge career. He worked pretty steadily after H&M, but this is the role he will always be associated with. First dead inside, then coming to life through Maude's love, then discovering the pain of living and caring so much when he loses her, then deciding to continue living and caring, carrying on Maude's legacy. Lastly, this movie had Cat Steven's great music throughout. My favorite song (during the opening hanging scene) is Don't Be Shy. It just lays out what the movie's all about. To this day, it's still one of my favorite Cat Steven's song. I'm just so glad you loved this little flick with a big message!

[@WilliamTheMovieFan]

She taught him how to live. That’s a great message.

[@littleghostfilms3012]

Maude is a BEAST at living her life at maximum joy, freedom, and style! What a treasure of a film! Ruth Gordon just owns the screen every second she's on it. Love Love Love this film and I love your enthusiasm and embrace of it!!!!

[@danfreeman5301]

Yes, my friend. Discover the genius of Ruth Gordon!!!!

[@robertpearson8798]

The hippie looking dude looking through the window at the model train was the director, Hal Ashby.

[@stevemorvant7626]

I was so caught by surprise when I saw that you were reacting to this film! I have seen it probably 5 times over the years! It’s relatively obscure and very few people in my scope of life had even heard of it! You did a great job understanding and imparting it’s context to your audience!

[@xylok_dnb2444]

very pleased you checked out this movie, and big shouts to the patrons who pushed for it -- this is one of those movies/stories that gently teaches that life is what you make it, not what is made for you.

[@dafonk1973]

Hey! I appreciate your reaction very much! I always thought that there are two types of people: The ones who understand the meaning of the movie (hence life). And the others who'll never be able to understand it. Another beautiful fact about the movie is that you can watch it over an over and you'll always discover new details and new layers of meaning. To me this movie was life-changing and it is my favorite ever since I watched it for the very first time. Bravo!

[@RustinChole]

Absolutely love that you were able to take this film in and love it as much as you did, not everyone can wrap their heads around it. “Trouble” by Cat Stevens is still one of my favorite songs. For your own enjoyment, I doubt it will ever win a poll, but “Withnail and I” is kinda a similar experience, (tho a bit more hilarity than heartbreak, very similar look and feel).

[@michaelatteberry6462]

I cannot believe you are reactiong to this! This film had a big impact on me when it came out. Thank you thank you thank you

[@tazarati5934]

This is the most surprisingly beautiful movie, one of my all time favourites. A high school teacher put this on for us when I was 16 and it resonated with me to such an extent that I have never forgot the feeling of first experiencing it, and felt it again with you sharing your watching experience, thank you so much! Life in its entirety is...awe inspiring...enjoy!!!!

[@DanJackson1977]

Classic. Hal Ashby was brilliant. When I first saw this I hated the Cat Stevens songs.. now I love it and cant see how the movie would work without em

[@edwardrenefette7119]

It's probably been pointed out already somewhere in these comments, but Maude tells Harold the time he's in her home and she offers him refreshments she makes a comment about how her body is giving out and her life is well into autumn and that it's all going to be over with by Saturday. She says it so quickly and Harold doesn't catch that and a lot of people who see this film the first time miss it. I took a friend in college so she could see it for the first time at a revival theater in Santa Monica, CA. She had no idea what the film was about. While everyone was laughing during the suicide scenes she was being horrified and kept asking me why everyone was laughing. At the end, she cried like a baby. She didn't understand why Ruth Gordan's character, Maude, had to to die. A lot of people who see this film can't understand the intent of the film. They gripe that Maude was all about living and getting the most out of life and for her to commit suicide went against all of this. She had to die in order for Harold to take that last step and enter real life and let his old life go.

[@UncagedSavage]

Yeah..I cried..inside if not outside for sure..in the theater..1979 ?..I was nine or ten..no other actress is quite like Ruth..she's so loving and lovable

[@kait.5437]

Yeah I get not understanding why Maude ended up killing herself (though I think it’s better to view it as less suicidal and more wanting to end your life on your terms when the time is right)… I also could understand why someone might really sympathize with Harold’s methods as ones of coping with depression rather than childish pranks. So I get why your friend felt that way. But I see the other side too where it’s a little funny/amusing, and Maude’s death was important to the story and Harold’s future/character

[@cocomarch8019]

! Oh freaking brilliant! Thank you sooö much! I'm 53, watching clips cause I can't afford to see this whole movie today. I was 15, first saw it, face almost too close to screen! To the end! Almost lost it, then Harold with his banjo showed us what to do!!!! Saved my life. You know, you that know. you are flipping spot on, cheeky hilarious! How did you get hip to Harold &Maude! In this day!!!!!! You just said epic, you so right! Just thank you! "I'm so in fluently happy, I don't care" is the most precious thing I've ever heard! You ever want to visit st. Thomas vi, I'd luv to invite you over! DEEP. Subscribed!

[@christopherlundgren1700]

This movie always reminds me of that part in Arrested Development where Judge Reinhold has a People's Court style show called Judge Reinhold, and then later there's a competing show called Bud Court, starring Bud Cort. It's silly, but it always makes me laugh to think about.

[@melaniepage2302]

“Anybody that looks at you like that about something that you want to talk about…you should probably keep them around because that’s rare.” I love that observation, and it was so nice to see someone watching something I love so much enjoy what I love this much.

[@CrisaMV]

Oh my James! 🥰 Having seen this film feeling my own feelings and having my own thoughts on it, to now hear yours so much I've never considered. Its just beautiful! When you explained knowing how to talk about what you love is a skill! 🤯☺ That made me tear up really. And I gotta say your comment about someday being that older man who speaks wisdom, well, I've seen those glimpses so much with this reaction! 🌻✌🏽Much love to you!

[@John_Locke_108]

Greatest soundtrack ever. I can practically recite this movie from memory.

[@misternobody3481]

I encountered this film completely at random when I was 17. I had no idea what it was about. I fell in love with it immediately.

[@lenoreandreas4000]

So happy you understand the humor in this film, and the sweetness, SO MANY KZbinrs reacting to this just don’t!

[@artdeco64]

Cat Stevens, for thirty plus years, though people keep asking over and over, would not release a soundtrack for this movie because he said that if you want to hear the music, watch the movie. The music with this movie makes it that much more. You can get it now on his greatest hits, Footprints in the Dark.

[@BaileeWalsh]

I have not been getting notifications for any channel I'm subscribed to for months, so if I'm not regularly checking channels and my subscription feed I miss things. So, I'm SO GLAD you mentioned this video in your reaction to The Goonies (though I'm sure I would have realized sooner or later) because Harold & Maude is one of my favorite films! I cannot accurately express my love for this film! I love the characters even more with each rewatch, even the mom who I hated the first time but now think is hilarious! I once showed this movie to my best friend because I thought she would like it. After we watched it she said she didn't know how she felt but she didn't like Harold. I was spending the night at her house that night so after the movie we were getting ready for bed and I was brushing my teeth and suddenly she was like, "I really liked it! I want to watch it again! I like Harold!" A couple minutes later she got her own copy of the movie. Absolute gem of a film!

[@robertadams8094]

One of my all-time underrated favorites !

[@ooiiooiiooii]

Been following for a couple months and never realized you’ve watched one of my favs! Love your vids, happy this game in my recommends

[@hbron112]

There are a lot of good movies for you to see. There are fewer important movies. I'm so happy you reacted to this important one.

[@Staceysprobablycrying]

died at your reaction to the beginning, “uhhh… you might want to get down from there.” 😂

[@BigMike246]

Hal Ashby has always been one of my favorite directors. He started as an editor. One of the best and he edited all of his films. But, sadly, the studio took his last film away from him.

[@b.a.j5168]

This makes me so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!! My mom showed me this as one of her favorites... RIP Mama❤❤❤ nice to see this!

[@jilliank6379]

It’s interesting you wondered if Maude was always a car thief because Colin Higgins (the film's screenwriter) did want to write a prequel about Maude and a sequel about Harold with Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort reprising their roles. The Maude prequel was going to be called “Grover and Maude”, and it was set some years before Harold and Maude. The “Grover” in question is Grover Muldoon, Richard Pryor's car thief character in Silver Streak (another movie written by Higgins). It was going to be established that Grover and Maude were friends, and he taught her how to steal cars. The Harold sequel was going to be called “Harold's Story” and while there was no actual story confirmed, I could totally see him in a relationship with Sunshine the actress.

[@kait.5437]

While a cool idea I feel like the timeline wouldn’t make sense since Silver Streak came after Harold and Maude- but I could see Higgins being inspired that way. But really that prequel would make no sense timewise.

[@laudanum669]

Another great film from the 70's is "Harry and Tonto".It's about a elderly man traveling across country with his cat Tonto. Harry is played by Art Carney (He played Norton in the Honeymooners TV show). Carney won an Oscar for best actor for his role as Harry.

[@dennisdale6404]

Love this film. So happy to see a reaction to it by somebody who gets it.

[@rosanajaquez3274]

James, I just want to say thank you.I’m a newbie to your channel and am so happy that you’ve reacted to one of my favorite movies of all time.❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@JamesVSCinema]

Ah that makes me happy to hear! Hope you enjoyed! 🙏🏽🥰

[@rosanajaquez3274]

@@JamesVSCinema I loved it!

[@EShelby2127]

Harold and Maude" was released 12-20-1971 "UCLA student Colin Higgins wrote Harold and Maude as his master's thesis. While working as producer Edward Lewis's pool boy, Higgins showed the script to Lewis's wife, Mildred. Mildred was so impressed that she got Edward to give it to Stanley Jaffe at Paramount. Higgins sold the script with the understanding that he would direct the film but he was told he wasn't ready, after tests he shot proved unsatisfactory to the studio heads. Ashby would only commit to directing the film after getting Higgins' blessing and then, so Higgins could watch and learn from him on the set, Ashby made Higgins a co-producer. Higgins says he originally thought of the story as a play. It then became a 20-minute thesis while at film school. After the film came out, the script was turned into a novel and then a play, which ran for several years in Paris. Ashby felt that Maude should ideally be European and his list of possible actresses included dames Peggy Ashcroft, Edith Evans, Gladys Cooper and Celia Johnson as well as Lotte Lenya, Luise Rainer, Pola Negri, Minta Durfee, and Agatha Christie. Ruth Gordon indicated that in addition she heard that Edwige Feuillère, Elisabeth Bergner, Mildred Natwick, Mildred Dunnock, and Dorothy Stickney had been considered. For Harold, in addition to Bud Cort, Ashby considered all promising unknowns, Richard Dreyfuss, Bob Balaban, and John Savage. Also on his list were John Rubinstein, for whom Higgins had written the part, and then-up-and-coming British pop star Elton John, whom Ashby had seen live and hoped would also do the music. Ultimately, the music was composed and performed by Cat Stevens. He had been suggested by Elton to do the music after he had dropped out of the project."

[@nitaweitzel822]

Great back story. tks

[@mustdestroyman]

Thank you for reacting to this movie! It's so uplifting when all is said and done. I worked at a video store in the 90s when I first watched it and this movie legitimately changed my perspective on life 😊

[@19stalkern]

I grew up watching this movie. Easily one of the best of all time, one of the funniest dark comedies ever, and one of the greatest love stories ever. An absolute classic.

[@rostand5264]

Glad you watched this one. Small things like how he dressed identitically as the therapist and a woman who would be called a hoarder these days, was a fascinating woman to me as a young girl seeing this film. I'd already watched the great Ruth Gordon in Lord Love A Duck.

[@rostand5264]

So many good films from the 70's! Tommy and Boxcar Bertha come to mind immediately. Hair, of course. Jesus Christ Superstar! I mean, the 70's rocked musicals and deep themes.

[@kathleensmith3555]

Haaa Lord Love a Duck is another weird odd little movie -- I am a huge fan of Roddy McDowall -- and Ruth Gordon of course

[@celinhabr1]

Finally someone reacting to this wonderful film. I love this one so much, i remember catching on TV at 2am, i was 15, not knowing what it was about and it touched me so much, it's unforgettable.

[@joshuayeager3686]

It’s taken so long to see someone finally react to this precious film. So happy it’s finally happened.

[@josephpoole4697]

Thank you for highlighting this one, James 👏 This film has one of the best screenplays not only of the 1970s but of all time.

[@MM-hc1cq]

Love Harold & Maude - but my favorite Hal Ashby film is Being There starring Peter Sellers in one of his best performances. Hope you do that soon.

[@floretion]

This was my favorite uncle's favorite film and is also one of my favorites. Also awesome that you see a connection between this movie and A Clockwork Orange- I felt that too. In particular, the way it's portrayed that Alex DeLarge loses a part of his "true" personality (or "freedom") following aversion therapy is similar in my eyes to the threat of Harold never being able to find his true self had he only listened to his family. Side note: the police officer from 14:45 is none other than Tom Skerrit from Alien, Top Gun and Steal Magnolias.

[@barblessable]

You always choose interesting films always have good insightful comments ,thanks James.

[@johnmavroudis2054]

This film blew me away when I first saw it... and it still holds a special place in my heart. THANK YOU for your reaction and wonderful thoughts.

[@dmsp904]

one of my alltime favorites ! the number tatooed on her arm show that she survived a concentration camp of the Nazis !

[@richardrobbins8067]

Probably watched this movie twice before I caught that. I saw the tattoo of course but didn't know its significance. Innocence of youth.

[@SkwithOv]

this is such a good movie she said it at the start, about being 75 and 80 it was her birthday, so she wanted to go and i think it was her plan long before she even met harold

[@jefferyshute6641]

Ahhh, yes! One of my " coming of age movies". Thanks!

[@kinoguy7503]

so, so good! thank you for mixing in these older, lesser-known classics even if they might not do the numbers that newer stuff might. i promise you there is an audience for these that sincerely appreciate it. i really hope that you get around to watching Being There at some point, incredible film also directed by Hal Ashby starring Peter Sellers who you saw in Dr Strangelove. on par with this movie imo, and a Peter Sellers performance up there with his in Dr Strangelove. i know the patreon is for recommendations, but i can't recommend this one enough!

[@seamusburke639]

20:35 I love that she pauses for a second just to make sure it's a prop knife.

[@fahooga]

I love that her reminiscing about her younger days and the subtle reveal of her concentration camp tattoo says everything about her back story. Also Patton's right hand man with no right arm.

[@SLDsquad577]

Glad you reacted to this gem! Saw this when I was younger, but appreciate it a lot more now.

[@tedcole9936]

Dude, great reaction !! I think this film is a test, of sorts... (test of WHAT I can't exactly define...) but you passed, with flying colors. You really appreciated the intent and meaning of the film, and your reaction to the ending was very well spoken. Love your GTA references. Of course, GTA did not exist when this film came out, so I saw this film first in the 70's, then played GTA decades later. You had the reverse sequence, so I got a kick out of that astute connection. You're right, she was playing GTA before GTA existed. Hilarious. Also, I loved the Cat Stevens soundtrack, loved it in the 70s, and still love that music. It stands up. Bravo, man! Thanks for that great reaction.

[@marciahuehn2365]

Watched thus so many times in a theatre which played it exclusively for years! Acting is incredible.

[@marciahuehn2365]

Had to come back after finishing your reaction. I now am that 75 year old and it is too easy to prepare for death while rejecting life. What a wonderful reminder to love to cherish to experience to give. Thank you for choosing this film allowing me to see it through your eyes, with insight and love. I appreciate you!😊❤

[@Therap1ssed]

Loved this film as a kid in the 80s. My mom introduced it to me, I have her dark sense of humor.

[@SlackerSuperstar]

Bruh.. I have been trying to find out the name of this movie for over 25 YEARS! I saw it when I was a kid and have been describing it since then and nobody knew what I was talkin about. THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@aharon59]

I haven`t seen this since I accidentally came across it in the 70`s I totally remembered the scene in the huge graveyard , tossing the ring, th and saying that it`s so she`ll always know where it is, the chat with the priest and the sports-hearse , the Cat Stevens song, it was one of the best movies I ever saw and left a huge impression on me as a young teen.

[@mandyb0725]

This made me so happy.. this will forever be my favorite film. And the entire soundtrack is cat steven’s. Literally perfection

[@henryleon4827]

Another fantastic reaction! Another film that left me with a heartwarming feeling is Bill Forsyth's Local Hero (1983) I hope you get a chance to react to it someday.

[@TwiggyKeely]

OMG this is my favorite movie of all time!!!!! I'm so excited people recommended it! Your followers have great taste!!! My mom said when this movie came out, she was 17 and her and her friends snuck a bottle of boones farm into the drive in movie and saw this movie back in I think it was 1971! 😂 And the Cat Stevens soundtrack is so beautiful of course

[@xSpectorxfylx]

Love this movie it’s so special, glad you’re reacting to it.

[@JamesVSCinema]

🙏🏽

[@tr0tsky]

Absolutely one of my all-time favorite movies since I was in High School, SO SO SO excited to see one of my favorite reactors watch it!

[@JamesVSCinema]

🙏🏽♥️

[@djalice]

Most beautiful movie ever made!!! Saw this soon after it came out. Changed my World View forever 😇

[@diegomom57]

I actually saw this in a movie theater. The soundtrack is amazing Cat Stevens

[@UncagedSavage]

Me too

[@krisdavis1050]

Classic life lesson movie with great acting, great camera work and great soundtrack, it doesn't get any better than that.

[@kingfield99]

Great great film, I'd highly recommend the book 'Easy riders and raging bulls' by Peter Biskind, it's a brilliant insight into the new Hollywood of the 1970's.

[@kokaroka69]

One of my all time favorite movie! There are no words to describe the beauty and life lessons to learn. Appreciate everything in life: life, Death, heartbreak, healing, and not let it all define you as a person.