Film Review: Harvey, Based on Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize Winning Play, Directed by Henry Koster

The film "Harvey" was released in 1950. The film is based on Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize Winning play, directed by Henry Koster, 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 which happens to be the same height as Jimmy Stewart, but Jimmy always looked up when speaking to the imaginary rabbit. A better estimate of the rabbit's height would be six feet six inches.

Elwood P. Dowd, played by Jimmy Stewart, is a middle age, amiable but eccentric man whose best friend is this invisible rabbit, who is referred to as Harvey. Elwood Dowd described Harvey as a "pooka," a benign yet somewhat mischievous creature from Celtic mythology, fond of outcasts. Elwood lives with his sister, Veta Louis Simmons, played by Josephine Hull and niece, Myrtle Mae Simmons, played by Victoria Horne, by formerly introducing house-callers to Harvey. Elwood's sister and niece are reluctantly unsure as to the cause of this obsession and compulsion regarding the existence of Harvey. They wonder if Harvey is a product of Elwood's propensity to consume alcohol, mental illness, or an effort towards irritation and driving them out of their wits.

Vita, Elwood's sister, tries to have him committed to a mental institution for Harvey is now affecting her. In exasperation, she admits to the psychiatrist, Dr. Lyman Sanderson, played by Charles Drake, that after so many years of his invisible rabbit, she now sees him occasionally too. Dr. Lyman becomes alarmed, and institutionalizes Vita rather than Elwood. Elwood and Harvey obliviously happy take a cab back to town. The cab driver, played by Wallace Ford, politely listens to the purported conversation between Elwood and Harvey. The head of the institution, Dr. Chumley, played by Cecil Kellaway, sorts out the mistake.

After the psychiatrist find Elwood and Harvey propped up by a stool at the local pub, Elwood tells an incredible story of exactly how he came to meet and know Harvey. Elwood explains the unusual manner in which people react upon meeting Harvey, and provides the psychiatrist with valuable 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 of so pleasant." Well for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.

James Stewart, Elwood R. Dowd, Philosophy of Life

This delightful film received two Academy Award nominations. James Stewart received a nomination for Best Actor while Josephine Hull received an Academy Award, Oscar, for Best Supporting Actress. Is Harvey coming to your party?