What’s the Story?

HARVEY, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Mary Chase, is a classic tale of relentlessly pleasant Elwood P. Dowd (Jimmy Stewart) and his best friend Harvey, a white rabbit that only Elwood can see. His eccentric insistence on the real existence of his friend have driven his sister Veta (Josephine Hull, who won an Academy Award for this performance) and niece Myrtle Mae (Peggy Dow) to distraction. They fear that Myrtle Mae will never be accepted into polite society and find a husband with her crazy uncle in the background, and decide to have him committed to a sanitarium called Chumley Rest. They don't bank on other characters having the same reaction to Elwood that the audience might; namely, that they are the ones needing psychiatric confinement and that Elwood is perfectly sane, if a bit unusual.

Is It Any Good?

Throughout the long day depicted in the movie, slapstick humor, sophisticated dialogue, and perfect timing combine to create a rare blend of humor and thoughtful commentary about the nature of happiness and mental health.

According to an interview with Stewart from the 1990s included on the DVD, the role of Elwood P. Dowd was one of his very favorites. Mr. Dowd has the magical ability to make those he meets feel better about themselves, and to elevate those special qualities in those around them. Stewart also brings something of his own magical abilities to this film. Watching his Oscar-nominated performance, acting against thin air in his one-sided conversations with Harvey, the viewer can't shake the notion that the rabbit is as real as Elwood believes.

Have you seen it?

Movie Details

Studio

Universal Pictures

Director

Henry Koster

Cast

James Stewart
Josephine Hull
Peggy Dow

Genre

Classic

Run time

105 minutes

DVD release

2/6/2001

MPAA Rating

NR

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