Harry and Tonto

I had never heard of this movie until I saw it in the listings on TCM a couple of weeks ago. Seeing that Art Carney had won the Oscar for Best Actor I was interested, Carney famous to me from The Honeymooners was worth watching.

The movie was, for me, a great film. I love old people. I think that an older person who makes his way in the world with dignity and caring, against the pains and troubles of age is a person to be revered. Putting that in perspective with my own father's illness to early and death when I was still young and I am always enamored of older men who could be father figures.

Carney who I was surprised to see was only on the young side of his sixties when this movie was made, played an older man, a retired widower named Harry Coombs. Harry has a cat named Tonto who lives with him. Harry treats Tonto like a dog. Putting him on a collar and leash Tonto joins Harry on his travels through his neighborhood in New York.

When Harry's building is condemned he refuses to leave. Eventually Harry is removed, sitting in his favorite chair. He moves in with his eldest son, Harry Jr, who desperatly wants his Father to feel comfortable and happy. As Harry says however he is " a pain in the ass" and eventually he feels underfoot.

His son gets him tickets to visit his daughter in Chicago. Troubles with taking his cat get Harry off the plane and onto a bus. Troubles with his cat adapting to bus travel get Harry off the bus and into a car. Harry has a series of adventures on his way to Chicago and then from there on his way to Los Angeles.

Ellyn Burstyn plays his Chicago daughter, a scene with them walking along the shores of Lake Michigan is quite powerful. Scenes with Harry driving in his car by himself talking to his cat held me rapt. Are we all not afraid of the ultmate lonliness of talking to our cat.

Larry Hagman post Jeanie and pre Dallas appears as Harry's high flying L A son who Harry soon finds out has money trouble, a pending divorce and a life in shambles. Harry resolves to help him but tells him he has to live by himself, they both do.

Tonto does not finish the journey with Harry and we are sad. The sad fact of getting old is that we often spend too much time saying good bye. The movie ends with Harry as part of another community of old folks who get together each day, instead of at a park in the city at the beach in California. Harry meets a lady who is feeding many strays and they joke about combining the expenses of living. The movie ends with Harry chasing one of the stray cats that reminds him of Tonto and then watching a little girl build a sand castle.

A movie where not much happens but which is totally effecting. Joshua Mostel who has been in scores of movies since then appears as his grandson Norman who is a very likable character. At first in the movie exploring a vow of silence, then joining Harry in Chicago, and then going with a young girl Harry befriends on the road to a commune in Colorado. His character is soft and sweet and harmless and one that we all would welcome in our lives, if we put down our preconceptions. A loving young man confused by the world.

This is a great movie. Art Carney with his bushy sideburns and huge eyebrows, glasses, hat, and ex salesman's friendly greeting to strangers is a wonderful character. This is a movie to watch and enjoy for the pace. What we all see in our future could be well served by loving people like Harry Coombs.