Andy Howlett 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.

motionpicturevideo 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..

george_cherucheril When this movie premiered in 1974 I was only five years old. I loved this movie for many reasons. First, the movie encapsulates scenery and the feel of 1974. When Harry walks into the airport in New York I noticed the red carpet. Well, back in 1974 my parents took me to our native India and on the way we went through the New York airport on our way back where I met my Mom's brother for the first time. He was living in New York then and I always remembered the red carpet. Art Carney delivers a wonderful performance as Harry. Carney exudes likability and warmth. No wonder he makes friends so easily and yet at the same time he weathers tragedies like the passing of his wife, friends and ultimately Tonto with grace. This film presents many wonderful character actors. Ellen Burnstyn looks so pretty. Larry Hagman made me empathize with "Eddie's" desperation paying his bills. Burt, the oldest and his wife, along with the bus driver, just encapsulate the New York of 1974. Tonto proves to be a wonderful companion for Harry. Melanie Mayron and Josh Mostel add flavor and have a lot of screen time. Harry connects with the youngsters and in life how many times do we see a senior citizen and a young man or woman relate to one another? The answer, quite often, we see this dynamic. All in all this movie stands the test of time and remains a wonderful little treasure.

classicsoncall Harry Coombes (Art Carney) was talking about his neighborhood when he made the comment in my summary line above, but he could just as easily have been talking about the relationship with his family, old friend Jacob, or even himself. The story is about running down, growing old, and re-evaluating one's life for missed opportunities and what might have been.I was surprised by another reviewer's mention that Carney took the role after it was written for, but turned down by James Cagney. Interestingly, Carney and Cagney appeared together a full decade later in the TV movie, "Terrible Joe Moran", in which Cagney portrays the main character not unlike Harry in a lot of ways. In that film, Carney is Cagney's neighbor and friend, sharing pearls of wisdom with Cagney's estranged granddaughter and the viewer.The story of "Harry and Tonto" is played in a series of vignettes once Harry is forcibly removed from his New York City apartment, making way for an urban parking lot. That in itself is a disquieting commentary on modern life, when a commercial parking structure carries more value than human life. Though Harry has every reason to be cynical over the way the lives of his sons and daughter turned out, that doesn't seem to be his way, as Harry takes it all in stride and appears to rise above the fray. He also has an acceptance of ultimate finality, as one is conditioned by the death of Jacob, setting us up for the eventual demise of traveling companion Tonto. Still, it's hard to keep a dry eye over Harry's loss.My favorite scene was the one with Harry arrested and in jail with cell-mate Chief Dan George. As Sam Two-Feathers, the Chief is dead pan hilarious discussing how he put the death spell on Edgar Red Bear, and how he was once jailed for his horse dumping in a hotel lobby. Quoting his character Old Lodge Skins from the movie "Little Big Man" - Sometimes the magic works, sometimes it doesn't'. Fans of Art Carney will probably agree that in this film, most of the time the magic works.