He initially stays with his eldest son Burt's family in the suburbs, but eventually chooses to travel cross-country with his pet cat Tonto.

Continuing west, Harry accepts a ride with a health-food salesman, makes the acquaintance of an attractive hooker on his way to Las Vegas, and spends a night in jail with a friendly Native American.

He eventually arrives in Los Angeles, where he stays with his youngest son Eddie, a financially strapped real-estate salesman, before finding a place of his own with Tonto.

Nora Sayre of The New York Times wrote that the film had been "directed at far too slow a pace, which means that the comic possibilities and the social comment have been diminished.

"[7] Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune awarded 3.5 out of 4 stars, calling it "an extremely funny movie without a single gag or a Bob Hope punch line.

"[9] Gary Arnold of The Washington Post called it "an unusually mellow and affectionate film comedy, but it might be wise to recommend it with a slight note of caution.

"[11] The film holds a score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 32 reviews, with an average grade of 7.3 out of 10; critics' consensus stating that: "Making his sorely belated debut in a big-screen leading role, Art Carney brings Harry and Tonto brilliantly to life.