Harvey (film)

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Harvey
Directed by Henry Koster
Produced by John Beck
Written by Mary Chase
Oscar Brodney
Myles Connolly (Uncredited)
Starring James Stewart
Josephine Hull
Peggy Dow
Charles Drake
Music by Frank Skinner
Cinematography William H. Daniels
Distributed by Universal International Pictures
Release date(s) October 13, 1950
Running time 104 min
Language English

Harvey is a 1950 film based on Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name, directed by Henry Koster, and starring James Stewart and Josephine Hull. The story is about a man whose best friend is a "pooka" named Harvey—in the form of a six-foot, three-and-one-half-inch tall rabbit.

Contents

[edit] Cast

[edit] Plot

Elwood P. Dowd (Stewart) is a middle-aged, amiable (and somewhat eccentric) individual whose best friend is an invisible six-foot, three-and-one-half-inch tall rabbit named Harvey. As described by Dowd, Harvey is a pooka, a benign but mischievous creature from Celtic mythology who is especially fond of social outcasts (like Elwood). Elwood has driven his sister and niece (who live with him and crave normality and a place in 'society') to distraction by introducing everyone he meets to his friend, Harvey. His family seems to be unsure whether Dowd's obsession with Harvey is an attempt to embarrass them, or a product of his (admitted) propensity to drink or mental illness.

Veta (Josephine Hull) and Myrtle Mae (Victoria Horne).

His sister, Veta Louise Simmons (Hull), tries to have Elwood committed to a sanatorium. In exasperation, she admits to the attending psychiatrist (Dr. Lyman Sanderson played by Charles Drake) that, after so many years of putting up with it, she sees Harvey every once in a while. This causes Dr. Sanderson to let Elwood out and lock Veta up. After sorting out the mistake, Dr. Chumley, head of the sanatorium (Cecil Kellaway) decides that to save the reputation of the sanatorium he must bring Elwood back. Faced by many trials she does not understand Veta says to her daughter "Myrtle Mae, you have a lot to learn and I hope you never learn it".

When tracked down, Elwood goes through several ordeals, although he remains oblivious to the plans put in place for him by Dr. Chumley, Judge Gaffney (William Lynn) and Veta Louise. In a poignant scene where Dr. Sanderson and his nurse Miss Kelly (Peggy Dow) follow Elwood into an alley at the back of his and Harvey's favourite haunt - Charlie's Bar, Elwood tells the incredible story of how he came to meet Harvey, and explains the way in which people react when they meet them. In a later scene, he gives Dr. Chumley an insight into his 'philosophy' of life - "Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, 'In this world, Elwood, you must be' - she always called me Elwood - 'In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.' Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me."

Miss Kelly (Peggy Dow) and Dowd (James Stewart). Judge Gaffney (William H. Lynn) is in the background.

In the final scene of the film, Elwood (along with everybody else) arrives back at the hospital, having convinced Dr. Chumley of Harvey's existence. However, Dr. Sanderson convinces Elwood to come into his office where he'll receive a serum that will "stop (him - Elwood) seeing the rabbit". As they are preparing for the injection, Elwood's sister is told by their cab driver about all the other people he has driven to the sanatorium to receive the self-same medicine, warning her that Elwood will become "just a normal human being. And you know what stinkers they are". Upset by the very thought of this, Veta halts the procedure.

At the tale's end Harvey is given the choice of remaining with Dr. Chumley (and potentially spending a lot of time in Akron, Ohio) or continuing his life with Elwood, catches up to Elwood at the exit to the sanatorium and is seen (indirectly) opening the gate to the hospital to follow the others out.

[edit] Honors

Hull's performance earned her an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress; Stewart's portrayal earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

This film was ranked #35 on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs.

In June 2008, AFI revealed its "Ten top Ten"—the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres—after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community. Harvey was acknowledged as the seventh best film in the fantasy genre.[1][2]

American Film Institute recognition

[edit] Remakes and other uses

The play/film was made for television several times:

  • 1958, in a version starring Art Carney as Elwood.
  • 1970, in a version for West German television, with Heinz Rühmann as Elwood.
  • 1972, in a version also starring Stewart and featuring Helen Hayes as his sister Veta.
  • 1985, in a version for West German television, with Harald Juhnke as Elwood and Elisabeth Wiedemann as his sister.
  • 1998, starring Harry Anderson and Swoosie Kurtz in the Elwood and Veta roles.
  • 2009, starring Matt Ditizio as Elwood and Annette Devitt as Veta.

In addition, the Jimmy Stewart Museum, based in Stewart's hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania, presents the Harvey Award to a distinguished celebrity tied to Jimmy Stewart's spirit of humanitarianism. Past recipients include Robert Wagner, Shirley Jones, Janet Leigh, and Rich Little.

[edit] References

  1. ^ American Film Institute (2008-06-17). "AFI Crowns Top 10 Films in 10 Classic Genres". ComingSoon.net. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=46072. Retrieved on 2008-06-18. 
  2. ^ "Top 10 Fantasy". American Film Institute. http://www.afi.com/10top10/fantasy.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-18. 

[edit] External links

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