Harvey

 

 

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"Harvey" a play written by Mary Chase began its long run on Broadway in 1944 and won the Pultizer Prize for best original American play in the same year. Harvey ran for another 4 years for a total of 1775 appearances. In 1950 Universal Studios acquired the film rights for a whopping $750,000 and signed Jimmy Stewart as the fun loving inebriate Elwood P. Dowd wealthy aire to the Dowd estate.

Summary; Harvey is a whimsical story about a fun loving inebriate millionaire Elwood P. Dowd (Stewart - he is perfectly cast - in an Oscar Nomination Role for Best Actor) & his very large white invisible rabbit (6 foot 8 inches), Harvey. Through his eccentric behavior with his friend Harvey, aggravates & is a constant embarressment to his family, especially his sister Vera Louise (Josephine Hull - she came from the original Broadway cast - in an Oscar Winning performance - Best Supporting Actress). Vera tries everyway to have Elwood addmitted to a mental hospital. A wonderous journey & many funny turn of events occur. And how everyones lives are effected by this unusual pair.

The DVD is a Black & White Full Screen (before WideScreen) presentation. The video transfer is outstanding. The extras/bonus materials include a 1990 Jimmy Stewart "Special introduction with photographic montage", production notes, mini bios & trailer. A great family film. Enjoy.

I owe my introduction to Harvey, and Jimmy Stewart, to my dad who's turning 50 this winter. He wasn't even alive when this movie came out, but it's one of his all time favorites. I'm buying it for him for Christmas and I was so pleased to see that it had come out on DVD. This is such a heartwarming and hilarious film. It's definately one of my favorites.

It tells the story of a man named Elwood P. Dowd who loves to drink, but it doesn't affect his friendly personality. Meanwhile, his sister and niece find him an embarrassing nuicance who is standing in the way of his niece, Myrtle May's, introduction into high-class society. However, Elwood seems oblivious to their behavior towards him and never has anything but a kind word for anyone. Everyone outside his family seems to adore him and his family would love him too if it wasn't for his best friend. A best friend that no one can see. Except Elwood. A 6-foot-tall white rabbit named Harvey. As Elwood goes throughout his day, inviting bums from bars back to their fancy home for dinner, buying people he doesn't even know countless drinks, and giving them his card before introducing them to Harvey, his sister finally decides that that's the last straw and she decides to get rid of him. So she goes to a mental institution to begin the process of having him admitted. And that's where all their problems really begin...

This is a wonderful movie that my entire family makes a ritual of watching at least a couple times a year. My little sister who recently turned 8 right up to my parents adore it and laugh and cry with the characters. I hope you'll love it too.

"Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it." That cheerful comment sets the tone for "Harvey," a movie about a lovable guy whose way of dealing with the harshness of reality is simple: Make his own.

Veta Louise Simmons (Josephine Hull) hopes to arrange a wonderful marriage for daughter Myrtle May (Victoria Horne) in the upper echelons of society. There's one problem: her wealthy brother Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart) has an imaginary pal, a six-foot-three rabbit called Harvey. After Elwood accidently wrecks a party by introducing Harvey to everyone, Veta decides to have him committed.

Unfortunately, when Veta takes Elwood to the sanatorium, the staff come to think that the fluttery socialite is crazy, and is trying to get her sunny brother out of the way. So they lock her up, and let him go. After that mistake is straightened out, the psychiatric staff and Elwood's long-suffering family try to find him.... and Harvey.

If we ever saw Elwood P. Dowd ("Here, let me give you one of my cards") in a car, the bumper sticker would probably say, "Reality is highly overrated." The big theme of the movie is that reality can be harsh, and that it's not necessarily a bad thing to lapse out of it into the fantasies of our own minds. If Elwood isn't dangerous and is otherwise normal, who cares if he has an imaginary friend?

Is Harvey real? The film leaves that up to our imaginations. And in the end, it doesn't matter if Harvey is a figment of Elwood's imagination, or a friendly spirit. It's the effect he has on Elwood that is important. His presence makes Elwood happy and relaxed, and Elwood makes others happy and relaxed -- even the hard-boiled head of the psychiatric ward, who lies down on his own couch and tells his secrets to Elwood.

This actually isn't too screwballish a comedy -- sure, there's the running joke where Elwood politely introduces Harvey to people he meets. And the scene where Veta is committed is hilarious. But it's more of a heartwarmer than a comedy, from Elwood softening the lead shrink to Myrtle May finding love with a lovable blue-collar worker from the sanatorium.

James Stewart gives a wonderfully dreamy performance, slightly smelling of booze and flowers -- his Elwood P. Dowd is mild-mannered, sweet, gallant, courteous, and oh-so-pleasant. And he's learned the value of just enjoying the little things in life, like a flower, a beer or a talk with a friend. And Josephine Hull brings up a brilliant performance as his frazzled sister, with several other good actors rounding off the supporting cast.

Who is crazier -- the happy man with the imaginary rabbit, or the people who want him to be 100% sane and less happy? You make the call. With a sweet, surreal story and a flawless cast "Harvey" is one of those rare movies that does an unspecifiable number on your heartstrings.

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5.0 out of 5 stars One of James Stewart finest...
Elwood P. Dowd's (James Stewart) best friend is an invisible 6-foot rabbit named Harvey with whom he likes to spend his time with in bars drinking. Read more

Published on Dec 28 2003 by Kim Anehall

2.0 out of 5 stars "Harvey and I warm ourselves in these golden moments."
Mostly everyone has had an imaginary friend at one time or another when growing up. Henry Koster's "Harvey" posits the notion that perhaps some imaginary friends are not... Read more

Published on Nov 30 2003 by Steven Y.

4.0 out of 5 stars Say Hello to Harvey
True insight comes from within-and it doesn't hurt to have an oversized friend giving you some guidance. Read more

Published on Nov 24 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars For all of us...rumpots and crackpots alike!
I have been aware of "Harvey" for several years now, but had never actually seen it until I purchased this DVD. Read more

Published on Nov 22 2003 by Anthony Paul

5.0 out of 5 stars DELIGHTFUL COMEDY - DAZZLING TRANSFER!
"Harvey" is the tale of elegant congenial gentleman, Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart) whose best friend just happens to be a six foot, 3 inch white rabbit named Harvey... Read more

Published on Nov 10 2003 by Nix Pix

5.0 out of 5 stars Fond of rumpots, crackpots, and how are you Mr. Wilson?
Elwood P. Dowd has always been one of my very favorite creations of the stage and screen. As James Stewart points out in the introduction to this classic film, he was also one of... Read more

Published on Oct 30 2003 by OAKSHAMAN

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly understated
I cannot think of another movie that shows the breadth of Stewart's acting ability. His portrayal of the gentle, but quietly confident alcoholic was far different than his roles... Read more

Published on Oct 19 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars The Tao of Elwood P. Dowd
Yes, Harvey is one of the great film comedies of the 20th century. Yes, James Stewart is one of the great comic actors of his time. Read more

Published on Sep 24 2003 by casey redmond

5.0 out of 5 stars Elwood Dowd a drunk? I think not!
Even if Mr Dowd was a drunk, I'm sure he'd never come right out and explicitly accuse another of, um, indulging to excess. Read more

Published on Sep 15 2003 by Eric C. Sanders

4.0 out of 5 stars WAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!! it's so beautiful, I can't help crying!
The movie Harvey is about a man (Jimmy Stewart) who imagines a giant bunny named Harvey. What follows is an odd, sometimes humerous plot that will leave you in tears. Read more

Published on Sep 6 2003 by Becca

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