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Harvey (1950)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
13 October 1950 (USA)
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Tagline:
The Wonderful Pulitzer Prize Play... becomes one of the Great Motion Pictures of our Time!
Plot:
Elwood P. Dowd is a mild-mannered, pleasant man, who just happens (he says) to have an invisible friend resembling a 6-foot rabbit. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 1 win
&
4 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(75 articles)
Birthday Suits: Giant Sized Edition
(From FilmExperience. 17 November 2009, 11:05 AM, PST)
Robert Downey Jr. To Star in Spielberg's 'Harvey' Remake?
(From Cinematical. 1 October 2009, 5:45 PM, PDT)
(From FilmExperience. 17 November 2009, 11:05 AM, PST)
Robert Downey Jr. To Star in Spielberg's 'Harvey' Remake?
(From Cinematical. 1 October 2009, 5:45 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
A true classic which will last forever
more (152 total)
Cast
(Complete credited cast) | James Stewart | ... | Elwood P. Dowd |
 | Josephine Hull | ... | Veta Louise Simmons |
| Peggy Dow | ... | Miss Kelly - Nurse |
| Charles Drake | ... | Dr. Sanderson |
| Cecil Kellaway | ... | Dr. Chumley |
| Victoria Horne | ... | Myrtle Mae Simmons |
| Jesse White | ... | Wilson - sanitarium orderly |
| William H. Lynn | ... | Judge Gaffney (as William Lynn) |
| Wallace Ford | ... | Cabbie Lofgren |
| Nana Bryant | ... | Mrs. Hazel Chumley |
| Grayce Mills | ... | Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet (as Grace Mills) |
| Clem Bevans | ... | Herman - Sanitarium gatekeeper |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
 | Gino Corrado | ... | Eccentric Man (scenes deleted) |
| Jack Curtis | ... | (scenes deleted) |
| Ida Moore | ... | Mrs. McGiff (scenes deleted) |
| Billy Wayne | ... | Man in Car (scenes deleted) |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
104 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) |
Canada:G (Ontario) |
Australia:G |
South Korea:All (2003) |
Argentina:13 |
Finland:S |
Sweden:15 |
UK:U |
USA:Approved (certificate #14694) |
Germany:12
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Prior to the release of Harvey (1950), a press release reported that Francis the Talking Mule would have a cameo appearance in the movie. James Stewart, as Elwood P.Dowd, was to walk past Francis, and Francis was to "speak". Elwood would turn, in order to respond, but Francis would rebuke him, stating that he was talking to the big rabbit.
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: At the end of the movie when Harvey is supposed to be in the porch swing, you can see that someone is pulling a string on the arm of the swing to make the swing change its motion.
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Quotes:
Veta Louise Simmons:
Judge Gaffney, is that all those doctors do in places like that - think about sex?
Judge Gaffney: I don't know.
Veta Louise Simmons: Because if it is they ought to be ashamed of themselves. It's all in their heads anyway. Why don't they get out and take long walks in the fresh air?
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Judge Gaffney: I don't know.
Veta Louise Simmons: Because if it is they ought to be ashamed of themselves. It's all in their heads anyway. Why don't they get out and take long walks in the fresh air?
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Donnie Darko (2001)
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FAQ
What is an egg and onion sandwich?Did this film inspire Donnie Darko?
Why does Elwood rip up the envelope without even reading what's inside?
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more (152 total)
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There are too many aspects of Harvey to analyse. This is a typical example of a film being incredibly deceptive. On the outside the film is a light hearted comedy but when looking at it closely it is very clearly a serious social commentary of it's time, and indeed of the present time (for the same prejudices still exist today).
Harvey is a "pooka" ( a mischievous spirit) that manifests itself as a six foot white rabbit. Only Elwood P. Dowd can see Harvey and it is from this that the underlying dark story of an alcoholic's friendship with an invisible spirit blends itself in to comic fantasy.
The comic side to the film opens up the subject of prejudice and peoples fear of what is different from themselves. Elwood P Dowd is seen as insane by his sister, neice and the public and yet he is not a killer, he is not an angry or violent man. What he is, however, is a happy, cheerful and exremely pleasant gentleman who takes great pleasure in trying to make other people happy with the aid of a six foot white rabbit.
The film's success, in my mind, is entirely on the shoulders of James Stewart who's portrayal of the eccentric Elwwod P Dowd is exceptionally moving and fulfilling. He is surrounded by an outstanding supporting cast and one of the best scripts in movie history.
If this does not sound appealing to you, I urge you to watch Dowd's comments regarding Harvey outside the bar. This speech never fails to bring a lump in my throat. Not because it is sad but because it is such an innocent speech (delivered superbly by Stewart).
To me, Harvey has a hidden message to the audience,
"Elwood P. Dowd does not see life as it is, but life as it should be!!
Shoudn't we all see life like this?"