Harold's exact age is not explicitly stated in the film Harold and Maude, but various sources indicate he is a young man, generally around twenty years old.
While the movie itself leaves his age ambiguous, supplementary materials and the original novel provide more specific insights into the character's intended age. This helps to understand the generational gap between Harold and Maude, a central theme of the film.
Understanding Harold's Age
The character's age can be inferred from different points of reference:
- Movie Script: The screenplay for Harold and Maude describes the character simply as "HAROLD, a young man of about twenty." This gives a direct indication of the filmmakers' intent regarding his age.
- Original Novel: In the novel Harold and Maude by Colin Higgins, from which the film was adapted, Mrs. Chasen, Harold's mother, makes a direct reference to his age when planning his marriage. She states, "You are nineteen, almost twenty." This confirms the approximate age range established in the script.
- Actor's Age: Bud Cort, the actor who portrayed Harold Chasen, was 23 years old at the time the film was made in 1971. While an actor's age doesn't define the character's age, it often influences the perception of the character's youthfulness.
Summary of Age Indications
To provide a clear overview, here's a breakdown of the different age indicators for Harold:
| Source | Indication of Harold's Age |
|---|---|
| Movie Script | "about twenty" |
| Original Novel | "nineteen, almost twenty" |
| Actor's Age | 23 (during filming) |
These details consistently point to Harold being on the cusp of adulthood, typically understood to be between 19 and 20 years old within the story's context. This portrayal of a young man grappling with societal expectations and finding an unconventional connection with an elder woman is crucial to the film's narrative.
