DVD Review: Harvey (1950)

Harvey
(DVD Harvey)

Harvey is the 1950 movie adaptation of the 1944 comedic play by Mary Chase, which went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1945. The film starred Jimmy Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd, the genial and innocent-seeming man whose best friend is an invisible 6 1/2 foot tall white rabbit named “Harvey”. That film was a smashing success, and went on to earn Stewart’s co-star Josephine Hull both the Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award as best supporting actress, as Dowd’s prim-and-proper sister, Veta Louise Down Simmons.

 

The plot, in a nutshell — Veta is stymied in her efforts to debut her young and eligible daughter Myrtle Mae into respectable society, by Elwood’s continual presence and his own efforts to introduce strangers to his large “imaginary friend”. Since the house they share is in Elwood’s name, Veta attempts to have him committed to Chumley’s Rest, a sanitarium, but a comedic mix-up ends up with Veta temporarily committed, and then there’s chase to find Elwood and bring him to the sanitarium. Along the way, various characters’ lives are influenced (positively) by Elwood’s pleasant demeanor and the seemingly supernatural abilities of Harvey, who is a Pooka — an ancient figure from Celtic mythology. The play is a comedy masterpiece, and one that is frequently done in community theaters — I had the pleasure recently to portray the head of the sanitarium, Dr. William Chumley, in a production at the Lofte Community Theatre in Manley, NE.

 

This movie alters a few things from the play to make them fit the movie’s format, but the essentials are still all there. It, too, is a comedic masterpiece, though definitely “of its time period”. Modern audiences need to be patient with it, and allow it to set up its leisurely pace. By 30 minutes in, though most viewers should be hooked on the story. Jimmy Stewart leads a tremendous cast, and the ultimate message of the film remains pertinent even 70+ years after the film’s release, as stated in one of Elwood’s final speeches: “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.”

 

There are two DVD releases out, including a deluxe edition, which has a few additional scenes. Unfortunately, the edition in the libraries’ collection is that standard edition, but it does have a few nice “extra” features, which I recommend viewing after you’ve watched the film.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try any of the many late 1930s to early 1950s film comedies, particularly those starring Jimmy Stewart.)

 

(The original play is also available from the libraries in traditional print format.)

 

( Internet Movie Database entry for this film )

 

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

Have you watched this one, or read the play? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?