Art Carney, Ellen Burstyn & Larry Hagman in Harry and Tonto (1974)

Paul Mazursky has had an interesting career. His work was so relevant to cultural trends in the 60's and 70's. That period of his filmmaking is a remarkable time capsule of the era. This film is part of that, but like his best work, also has something to say about people and relationships. Harry (Art Carney) feels out of place as a septuagenerian in a society increasingly focused on the young. Aside from a few old friends, the only real companion he has left is Tonto, his cat. The brutality of the city has dented and tarnished his life, and when his apartment building is slated for demolition, he has a crisis that is temporarily placated by moving in with his son and his family. The discomfort of the living arrangements  drive Harry to a cross country odyssey where he visits friends and family, meets strangers who have gifts for him and learns to shed the identity of a victim and own his power.

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This film, for which Carney won a best actor Oscar, made quite an impression on the American public at the time, though it has since fallen into relative obscurity. The "road picture" nature of the film allows for a great series of memorable small parts and cameos. Look for Ellen Burstyn as Harry's daughter, Larry Hagman as his younger son, Geraldine Fitzgerald as an old flame, Chief Dan George as a Native American medicine man, Barbara Rhodes as a hooker and a delightful turn by Melanie Mayron as a runaway.

Harry and Tonto is available on DVD. Above is the trailer for the film, uploaded to YouTube by Mazurskyfilm.

Obscurity factor: 7 (somewhat known for it's Oscar winning performance by Carney, otherwise largely forgotten, on DVD)

Donald Sutherland & Ellen Burstyn in Alex In Wonderland 1970

"Now what?" That is essentially the dilemma Alex finds himself in after his first film is heralded as a winner by Hollywood insiders in this film about film directed by Paul Mazursky. He sets about trying to answer that question by taking meetings with producers, reading scripts, brainstorming with friends... His aimless approach leads him to question everything and settle on nothing. It's 8 1/2 for the hippie generation and it wades into both of those iconic entities up to its hips. Alex dabbles in acid and considers social unrest and class warfare as subjects for his sophomore effort, all the while, the film references Fellini's masterpiece directly with scenes parodying it and even features a cameo with the famed director. These self-indulgent, solipsistic scenes are juxtaposed with beautifully rendered moments with Alex and his family, scenes that are so simple and honest that they make the characters and even the more outrageous circumstances seem believable. Ellen Burstyn plays his patient wife and Viola Spolin, the improvisational acting teacher plays his mother. In addition to Fellini, look for a cameo by Jeanne Moreau and one by Mazursky himself, playing a mucho mod producer. There's an autobiographical element to this movie. Mazursky and his writing partner Larry Tucker had just come off the phenomenal success of Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969).



While not part of the cultural zeitgeist, this film is on the radar over at TCM. That's where I saw it. It isn't available on DVD, but there are VHS copies of it floating around. There are also a few scenes of it uploaded to YouTube. Above is the fantasy musical sequence featuring Jeanne Moreau uploaded by Filmboblog.

Obscurity factor: 8 (not on DVD, no online video readily available, occasionally on TV)