The Wonderful Pulitzer Prize Play … becomes one of the Great Motion Pictures of our Time!
The story of Elwood P. Dowd who makes friends with a spirit taking the form of a human-sized rabbit named Harvey that only he sees (and a few privileged others on occasion also.) After his sister tries to commit him to a mental institution, a comedy of errors ensues. Elwood and Harvey become the catalysts for a family mending its wounds and for romance blossoming in unexpected places.
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Comic, classical in form, warm and effortless.
- gravecomic
- classical in formformally daring
- warmbleak
- effortlessdemanding
- sparerichly built
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“Is James Stewart the best thing in Harvey?”
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“Is Harvey too gentle for its own good?”
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“Is Harvey a masterpiece, not merely a very good film?”
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- CinemaSerfon TMDB · Jan 20267/10
“Elwood” (James Stewart) is one of those polite and charming people who believes that a smile can go a long way. His widowed sister “Veta” (Josephine Hull) is concerned though. Not because he is friendly, but because he claims to always be accompanied by an invisible six-foot rabbit (“Harvey”). Indeed, her concern grows to the extent that she considers having him certified. To that end she consults “Dr. Chumley” (Cecil Kellaway) who, ably assisted by “Dr. Sanderson” (Charles Drake), offers to asses her brother. When he arrives for the chat, confusion swiftly ensues and in a case of mistaken identity “Sanderson”, nurse “Kelly” (Peggy Dow) and their factotum “Wilson” (Jesse White) get the wrong end of the stick and detain the wrong sibling! When “Chumley” discovers this error, and fearful of a law suit at the hands of “Judge Gaffney” (William Lynn) he has to try to track down “Elwood” and put things right. Meantime, that hapless gent has noticed that his best pal has gone missing. Where might “Harvey” have gone? Could he have found a new best friend? Much as with his “George” character from “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), Stewart thrives as he brings an innocent decency to his role b
Read the whole review on TMDB - barrymoston TMDB · Dec 20219/10
People like Elwood P. Dowd. He has plenty of friends, and knows almost everyone in town. If he doesn't know you, simply allow him to give you his card. His best friend, however, is a clever pooka who takes the form of a 6'3" tall rabbit. I didn't know it was possible to like James Stewart even more than I already did! Here he gives one of his most endearing performances, in a role he called his personal favorite. Josephine Hull, Victoria Horn, Charles Drake, Peggy Dow, Cecil Kellaway, and others make up a colorful and lively supporting cast. From the Pulitzer prize winning play comes this wonderfully zany comedy celebrating the eccentric in all of us. A delightful and heartwarming film enjoyable for all ages. I think Jimmy Stewart speaks for all of us when he says at the end, "I prefer you, too, Harvey."
Read the whole review on TMDB - DanDareon TMDB · Jun 20178/10
Harvey is a whimsical film, at times a clever film about innocence and making sure it is not lost in a cynical dog eat dog world. James Stewart plays Elwood an amiable pleasant drunk, although we never see him actually drink. He is a sweet man who likes talking to people, so adept he is at listening to people, they tell him all sorts of hopes, desires, wishes and problems like he was the parish priest. Elwood's sister Veta Louise (Josephine Hull) wants to marry off her daughter Myrtle Mae (Victoria Home) but what is holding them back is Elwood and his conversations with Harvey, a 6 feet tall invisible rabbit. Veta decides to have Elwood committed but due to a series of mishaps it is her who ends being institutionalized before the error is discovered and further farce ensues. Eventually she realises that she wants her brother just the way he is.
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Cast
- James StewartElwood P. Dowd
- Josephine HullVeta Louise Simmons
- Peggy DowMiss Kelly
- Charles DrakeDr. Sanderson
- Cecil KellawayDr. Chumley
- Victoria HorneMyrtle Mae Simmons
- Jesse WhiteWilson
- William H. LynnJudge Gaffney (as William Lynn)
- Wallace FordThe Taxi Driver
- Nana BryantMrs. Hazel Chumley
Crew
- Henry KosterDirector
- Myles ConnollyScreenplay
- Oscar BrodneyScreenplay
- William H. DanielsDirector of Photography
- Ralph DawsonEditor
- John BeckProducer
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