Harry and Tonto (1974)

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This is a movie about an older man (maybe early to mid 70s) that looses his tenement apartment (that is never explained how). You could tell he is a jerk and a terrible no-loving father. His cat is his best friend, over his family, which is psycho in of itself. The first son is trying desperately to love and have a loving relationship with his father and his father is again selfish and thinking of himself and not the effort his Son is putting into their relationship. Life is sacrifices and your family comes before yourself, you don't come before the family. He does other things. He can't get on the plane because he won't let them look at the carrier the cat is in, retarded and the writer adds this because it is confrontational and allows the character to "make a road trip." But, most people his age are law abiding citizens and respect the work the police and agent (person looking in the bag) are doing because they are from that same school. He drives with a underage girl and spends a night in a hotel with her, even though he does say he is uncomfortable. That's the writer and the like covering their butts. He meets other people and does other things across the country. He is in Vegas and other places and he drives instead of flying and taking the bus, which he got off because his stupid cat had to go to the bathroom. I thought that was the purpose of a cat, you didn't have to walk him. He was offered, or at least his daughter said she can set him up with a teaching job, but declined. SELFISH AGAIN. If this guy can go and drive across country and have this "road trip" and do the things he does and spend a night in jail, well, he can get a job, almost any job back in New York instead of waiting until he got to California and then be alone out there in California and live on the beach. A older man living on the beach instead of with his loving son, ridiculous. Where I live there are people older than he working more than a few afternoons because that's what keeps you young, not what he is doing. Working and being with family and some old and new friends, that's what keeps you young and happy not what he does. What he does is fleeting and non-committal. The worse part of the whole thing is that this man was a teacher and taught children. His views and ideals of family togetherness is warped and that's one of the reasons why the movie is only three stars for me. It gets three stars because of Art Carney and I love the Mooners. Oh, I know in real life Carney didn't like or have pets, but his constant petting of that cat is SO annoying. So, to conclude there isn't anything real about this movie pertaining to the main character. Sure, I know, some people will come up with a person here or there that they heard of, but 99.999% of the people his age would never do what he did when being ousted from his home. He could have lived in the burbs with a son that loved him dearly and see his friends anytime in the city and even just stayed their till he got back on his feet and we know he has at least a thousand dollars in the bank to help get an apartment, plus Mitchell-Lama's were going up all over the city and I still don't know how or why the movie doesn't tell the particulars of the apartment Harry lives in and why we aren't told why he isn't relocated or bought out or why those two things aren't a option. The cop does say the city will give replacement housing, but he does not know or have the authority to say that. Oh, lastly, all the trouble Harry caused with tonto (the cat) at the airport and on the bus and so forth, well the cat dies and Harry seemingly moves on really easily. Movie where they just want to get quirky characters out there for the public to see and hope for the best down the road. They all know that the majority of people, and by that I mean like 99% of people aren't like these characters and even if I was generous, more than 95% of the people aren't like these characters. But, they make movies about only one to five percent of the people thinking that is the way of the people and it is not. So, in conclusion, if you want to see a movie about a lackluster father, an immature older man who didn't age gracefully and has no style or class or wisdom, but an older man that will put family and humans on hold and, if need be I would wager, would let fall by the waistside, then this movie is for you. Thanks for reading. God Bless. James.

Something about this movie just annoys.I want to like it- but it just tries much too hard to be sentimental,and comes off as phony. I like Art Carney.He did a good job with what he had to work with here. As a few others have pointed out,many of the situations in the movie are illogical,out-of-place,or not believable. With better writing and direction this could have been much better.Don't say you weren't warned.

I'd never even heard of this film until someone mentioned it on TV. It sounded good so the DVD was ordered. This is a little gem of a film, although it has some serious bad points. Harry (Carney) and his dear cat Tonto are thrown out of their New York apartment and reluctantly accept a place at his son & daughter in-law's home. But he doesn't like the strained atmosphere and sets out to visit other friends and relatives. This is a very 70's film, from the look of the film itself to the subjects broached and the language and mores of the time. Carney plays it quiet and knows when to shut up and let the silence speak. It may be a little over-sentimental at times, but I found it very touching and I was blinking a bit by the end. The bad points are that we don't quite see the love between Harry and his cat and (SPOILER!) when Tonto dies it is handled rather quickly and with a lack of warmth. The other problem is that some of Harry's adventures are very brief and come and go without consequence. Despite these irritations, this is a charming film. This release (bought from Amazon) seems to be from or aimed at the Italian market but the original English dialogue is present and correct. There are no extras and the print has not been cleaned up or restored, which is a pity as in some parts it was rather dark and grubby looking.

If you want to positively change your outlook on your life..and your views on death…watch this great film! Art Carney so deserved the Oscar he received for this role. He brings such a real and positive presence to the screen that will ingrain itself in you (hopefully!). Kudos to the filming team for creating such a true and steady pace in the storyline that almost seems like it is occurring in real time. The script couldn't be more original and fascinating, the cinematography captures every location with a unique style and the acting is perfect though out. I happened to catch this film on a streaming service and it turned out to be one of the best movie experiences I have ever had. Many films of this era seem dated, but Harry and Tonto has a theme and a tone that is timeless..