Movie details, where to watch, and movie poster provided by TMDB, with permission.
Harold (Cort) is a young man from a wealthy family living with an overbearing mother who believes he should be married and signs him up for computer dating (in 1970!). Harold retaliates against his mother’s control issues by faking his own suicide repeatedly and purchasing a hearse as his daily driver. He finds enjoyment in crashing funerals to be sombre and appreciate death and soon meets Maude (Gordon) who is nearing 80 and crashes funerals to celebrate life. Maude is quite a handful who “borrows” cars, liberates trees, and greets each day with a breath of fire. The two become good friends and even become romantically involved.
I’ll admit that the first time I watched this movie I was too young and immature to fully appreciate it and was a little weirded out when it became apparent they had become more than friends, but I would implore you to watch this film and appreciate it for the sweet coming-of-age story that it is.
All of the music for this film was done by Cat Stevens and there is a fantastic scene where Maude sings If You Want To Sing Out with Harold.
Another fantastic tidbit from this film is the Jaguar Hearse that Harold Frankensteins from his Hearse and the Jaguar his mother buys for him.