When his apartment building is torn down, a retired lifelong New Yorker (Art Carney) goes on a cross country odyssey with his beloved cat Tonto.
Carney beat Albert Finney, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson and Al Pacino, for their performances in Murder on the Orient Express, Lenny, Chinatown and The Godfather Part II respectively, for the 1974 Academy Award for Best Actor. This is quite an achievement considering that of the five, "Harry and Tonto" is probably the least known. Now, that is not to say he did not deserve the award, but wow. In retrospect, it seems like the odd one out.
There is something about the "road movie", a person going from one place to another and meeting interesting characters. if done right, it is always a simple but effective formula. This is a great one, worthy of being alongside the best.
Carney beat Albert Finney, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson and Al Pacino, for their performances in Murder on the Orient Express, Lenny, Chinatown and The Godfather Part II respectively, for the 1974 Academy Award for Best Actor. This is quite an achievement considering that of the five, "Harry and Tonto" is probably the least known. Now, that is not to say he did not deserve the award, but wow. In retrospect, it seems like the odd one out.
There is something about the "road movie", a person going from one place to another and meeting interesting characters. if done right, it is always a simple but effective formula. This is a great one, worthy of being alongside the best.