Harvey
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Movie Reviews of Harvey
Movie Review: Still a Delight After 50 Years
Summary: 5 Stars
Jimmy Stewart's Elwood P. Dowd remains one of the most likeable characters. Why shouldn't he be? He's a "Hello Mr. Wilson" kind of fellow who attracted a Pooka as a friend."Harvey," that innocuous, but rascal rabbit who is Elwood's best friend is a complex figment of Elwood's dreams and lack of clear sobriety. Or is Harvey an invisible rabbit, as genuine as you and I, except large and furry, um... and unseen? You'll need to choose.
In one of the most family friendly, yet delightful movies (with a taste of romance), Stewart is a nice guy. Very friendly and about town, he is in some ways the same core person in "Its A Wonderful Life." In one scene, when his pleasantness is pointed out, he responds something to the affect, "There are two kinds of people in this world: Smart people and pleasant people. For years, I was smart. I prefer pleasant."
The question of insanity comes up quickly, and knowing who is sane and insane is not so simple (I can hear Homer Simpson's famous line in the background). Likewise, what counts as sight is a little fuzzy too.
Stewart's intro is better than the usual throw-away intro. He brings insight as to how he played his role, why he looks up though he is the same height as the rabbit, and so forth.
I fully recommend "Harvey." It is a movie safe enough to watch with your church group, funny enough to watch with your parents and romantic enough to watch on a date.
Anthony Trendl
Movie Review: A Happy Drunk
Summary: 5 Stars
Jimmy Stewart plays Elwood Dowd in this American classic. Elwood is a drunk who hangs around with a giant white rabbit and makes life miserable for his sister and niece. This is not because he is mean or cruel or even because he is a drunk. It's because people just don't understand about the giant and invisible white rabbit.
Most people have the impression that Elwood is crazy or that he is drunk and those are the reasons for the rabbit. Both are accurate and both are wrong. Elwood is a bit off the deep end. In a touching conversation with a shrink halfway through the film, Elwood explains how he came to have an alternate view of reality. He also likes his drink, particularly martinis, but he is not an incapacitated drunk. He is a happy one and quite functional. All of this is beside the point, however. The rabbit is real. He is a Pooka, a mischievous spirit from Celtic mythology. Most people can't see him.
The film is a comedy of errors. His family is trying to have him committed but, at various times, many encounter the rabbit. The results usually make everyone happier but most consider that craziness must be involved. At one time or another, it seems like everyone is about to be committed. After everyone's antics, it seems that Elwood is the only really sane one in the entire show.
It's a happy show. I could wish for the simplicity and the slice of Americana it represents. Too bad I'm not all that fond of drink.
Movie Review: Let me say that again...the evening wore on.
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a huge fan of Jimmy Stewart; I don't think I've seen one of his movies that I haven't liked. It's A Wonderful Life is probably my all-time favorite movie. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is up there in my top 10. Even Shenandoah, which has its ridiculous moments, is a great movie. I saw a staged version of Harvey over the weekend. The play, written by Mary Chase, was written before the movie. There are a lot of similarities, and all of the best moments in the film are also in the stage version. This cast did a good job of walking in Jimmy Stewart's huge shadow, and I was reminded by the end of the play how very much I enjoy this story and the character of Elwood P. Dowd. Elwood, played by Stewart in the film, is the most gentle and friendly person anyone would ever want to meet. Everyone likes him, until they get to know him. Then he introduces his friend Harvey, a 6-foot tall invisible rabbit. Harvey is a pooka, a mythological prankster that has revealed himself to Elwood and nobody else. The plot, which is basically silly, never gets in the way of the characters. The story is sweet and funny and old-fashioned. In some ways, Harvey is a precursor to a movie like Donnie Darko. In other ways, it's unlike anything else. When I watch Harvey, I think about how cynical I can be, and how much happier I might be if I could just shrug off my sarcasm and be more like Elwood P. Dowd. If you've never seen the film, definitely check it out.Movie Review: Classic 1950 Film That May Have You Revaluating Your Everyday Behaviour
Summary: 5 Stars
Ever seen a 6 foot three-and-a-half inch Pooka in the form of a rabbit? No, well neither could most of the other characters in this classic 1950 film about a man and his best friend (the Pooka) named Harvey. Harvey is an invisible large rabbit friend to the very friendly and good mannered Elwood P. Dowd, played by James Stewart.
Elwood always looks out for Harvey and makes sure people who come up to talk with him are introduced to his best friend. Elwood also has a bit of a drinking problem but that's not the thing that embarrasses him to his much, much older sister (played by Josephine Hull who won an Oscar for her performance) who while seeing nothing wrong with living off his money and under his roof, sees Elwood as an embarrassment to her social ambitions and plans to marry her daughter off into it. After Elwood embarrasses her in front of a very important party she decides to have Elwood shipped off to a mental asylum but her plan immediately starts to backfire when she is committed instead. As various people talk to Elwood and mental asylum employees try and track him down everyone starts to question if there is in fact anything wrong with Elwood's (and Harvey's) behaviour and maybe if Elwood's outlook on life from his mother to choose pleasant over smart isn't so bad after all and something they could aspire follow a little to as well!
Movie Review: Pulitzer Prize winning Play adapted to film & now on DVD !!
Summary: 5 Stars
"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.