Harry and Tonto

Harry and Tonto is a 1974 film about a retired lifelong New Yorker who goes on a cross-country odyssey with his beloved cat Tonto when his apartment building is torn down. Directed by Paul Mazursky. Written by Paul Mazursky and Josh Greenfeld. Get a Lift Harry Coombes You never really feel somebody's suffering; you only feel their death. I know, life is confusing. We're just trying to get on with it that's all. [Talking to his cat, reminiscing about an earlier New York City] There were trolleys, Tonto. Cobblestones. The aroma of corned beef and cabbage. The tangy zest of... apple strudel. You had to hand-crank the cars in those days, Tonto. Cars like REO's, Franklins, Hudsons. Those were names fit for a car. These days a man doesn't know whether he's driving a car or an animal: "Mustangs," "Jaguars," "Cougars,"... "Pintos." - Silly. Jacob Rivetowski You can't fight capitalism in the courts. You got to go to the streets. Man the barricades, plant the dynamite. Blow up the cesspool. We are in for a depression... that will make the 30's look like paradise. Maybe it's a good thing - the hard-hats and the phony liberals will kill each other. Sam Two Feathers I practice good medicine on good people... bad medicine on bad people. Dialogue Harry: Jacob, they want me to move. Jacob: What? Harry: I got a notice that they're tearing down my building. They're putting up a fancy parking lot. Jacob: Capitalist bastards! Jacob: You want, you can move in with me. Harry: I appreciate that, Jacob, but I think we'd end up hating each other. You know, I can be a real pain in the ass. Jacob: I lived with my wife for 40 years. I can live with you. Harry: When did you last have a woman, Jacob? Jacob: What? Harry: When did you last sleep with a woman? Jacob: Saturday night. [pause] March. [pause] 1951. Yeah, it was about ten o'clock at night. Harry: You know, the strangest thing about being old is... all your friends are dead. Shirley: Well, all your old friends, maybe. You could make new friends, you know? Harry: [in jail for urinating in public] This is the first time in my life I've ever been in jail. Sam Two Feathers: What are you in for? Harry: Peeing. Sam Two Feathers: I got a ticket once for shitting. Harry: Where'd you do it? Sam Two Feathers: No, not me. My horse - in a hotel lobby. Harry: Oh. Leroy: You all right, Harry? Harry: I was mugged. Leroy: White boy or black boy? Harry: What the hell difference does it make? Leroy: I'd just like to know, that's all. Harry: White. Leroy: Hot damn. Harry: If it makes you feel any better, the last one was Puerto Rican. Stephanie: When's the last time you made it, Harry? Harry: Oh, I haven't had sex in a long time. Stephanie: Had? Or enjoyed? Harry: [chuckling] What's the difference? Stephanie: You'll have to pay to find out. Shirley: I like you, Norman. Norman: I like you too, Aunt Shirley, but I think you're a bitch. Nick Lewis: I am 62 years old. [Indicates to Harry the rather obvious hair piece he's wearing] I can't get it up unless I take a dose of strychnine. Harry: Strychnine? I thought strychnine was poisonous. Nick Lewis: Naw, no... It really gives you a lift, you know? But I wanna' tell ya, it isn't worth it. 'Cause I get such terrible headaches. Right through my skull. "Bong! Bong!" Like a sledgehammer. So, a fella' has to decide whether he wants a migraine headache... or a piece of ass, you know? Harry: Well, Nick, you live and learn. Harry: Did you see that? Jacob: No. Harry: Fellow almost ran me over. Jacob: What kind of car? Harry: I don't know... a big gray job. Jacob: Capitalist bastard! Wade Carlton: So I was broke. I rode me down to Galveston. Read an article in the paper... about catchin' sharks. Shark's good for a lot of things. Got a job with a Portuguese feller. Caught sharks till I couldn't move my arms. Made me $300 and come home. Hadn't shaved for three weeks. Come walkin' up to the front door. The wife thought it was a bum. Told me to clear on out. That's when I got into cats. Harry: Your wife still alive? Wade Carlton: Nope. Buried three of 'em. Good women. Bad diets. Harry: Shirley? Shirley: What? Harry: Do you love me? Shirley: Look, I'll tell you something, Harry: I don't always like you, but I do love you. Harry: Then why do we always argue? Shirley: I don't know. I guess that's the way we talk to each other, Harry. Burt Coombes Jr.: I know you think you're really far out. You smoke a couple of joints, and you think you're into something, right? No... hey, I know. I mean, I took 32 trips, you ninny. Pure stuff. Pure rainbow! I had more coke stuffed up this nose than you could breathe air. I was into heavy Tibetan meditation for two years, you jimbo! Harry: You're not very tolerant, Junior. Burt Coombes Jr.: The heaviest thing I can do for him is to-... [shouts] wake him up! Harry: Let me tell you something: times are bad. Don't you believe what they're saying in the papers about a recession. We're in a depression. Taxi Driver: You better believe it. Harry: Your office near your place? Eddie Coombes: I don't need an office anymore, Pop. I'm living off the cream now. I sell a little insurance once in a while... or move a nice piece of real estate whenever I need some fast cash. But mostly I play. Harry: Well, I must say, Eddie, you look like a playboy. Harry: Jesus, eating is the most important thing in the life of a cat. Grocery Clerk: Eating is the most important thing in the life of me, too. Cast Art Carney - Harry Coombes Tonto - Tonto Herbert Berghof - Jacob Rivetowski Ellen Burstyn - Shirley Mallard Geraldine Fitzgerald - Jessie Stone Larry Hagman - Eddie Coombes Chief Dan George - Sam Two Feathers Melanie Mayron - Ginger Joshua Mostel - Norman Coombes Arthur Hunnicutt - Wade Carlton Barbara Rhoades - Stephanie, Hooker Cliff DeYoung - Burt Coombes Jr. Phil Bruns - Burt Coombes Dolly Jonah - Elaine Coombes Avon Long - Leroy Louis Guss - Dominic Santosi Cliff Norton - Nick Lewis, Used Car Dealer Rashel Novikoff - Mrs. Rothman Michael Butler - Hitchhiker René Enríquez - Jesús, Deli Manager Michael McCleery - Mugger Muriel Beerman - Taxi Driver External links 0071598 harry_and_tonto Category:Films about cats Category:Films directed by Paul Mazursky Category:1974 American films Category:1974 English-language films Category:American road comedy-drama films Category:Films about old age