Last night, me and Pips watched Harry And Tonto. →[More:] I had liked it when I'd seen it before, but (along with Art Carney's consummate performance*) I was struck by a number of things, that are probably related to it's production date (1974).

First, a movie about an old man stumbling across the country these days would be chock-a-block with threats and fearsome things like perverts and serial killers. BUt in this movie all the strangers Harry encounters are friendly. This was just pre-The National Malaise, which is sort of hinted at in the early scenes in New York where the city is beginning to decay.

Two, there seemed to be a ploce for older people in films in those days as fully-formed humans rather than simply avuncular father figures or Grumpy Old Men.

Three, two of the more important minor charcters Ginger and Norman, were played by actors (Melanie Mayron (who seems to have grown into her looks nicely) and Josh Mostel) who were not conventionally attractive, which is something you rarely see these days unless they're used a comic relief or as villains.

Just some thoughts. Plus I liked the cat and the old commie.

*you watch the whole movie without once thinking 'Hey, that's Ed Norton.' He deserved his oscar.