Harvey (1950)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Henry Koster

Writers:

Mary Chase (play)
Mary Chase (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 October 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

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.

Plot Keywords:

Rabbit | Mental Institution | Judge | Telephone | Eccentric

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

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)
Polly Bailey	...	Mrs. Krausmeyer (uncredited)
Don Brodie	...	Mailman (uncredited)
Aileen Carlyle	...	Mrs. Tewksbury (uncredited)
Sally Corner	...	Mrs. Cummings (uncredited)
Pat Flaherty	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Eula Guy	...	Mrs. Johnson, Maid Who Quits (uncredited)
Grayce Hampton	...	Mrs. Strickleberger (uncredited)
Harry Hines	...	Miggles - old derelict at Charlie's (uncredited)
Norman Leavitt	...	Henry Riley, Cab Driver (uncredited)
Edwin Max	...	Skeptic at bar - Doesn't pay (uncredited)
Anne O'Neal	...	Dr. Schwartz's Nurse (uncredited)
Fess Parker	...	Voice of Leslie the Chauffeur (uncredited)
Maudie Prickett	...	Elvira, the Cook (uncredited)
Almira Sessions	...	Mrs. Halsey (uncredited)
Ruthelma Stevens	...	Miss LaFay (uncredited)
Minerva Urecal	...	Nurse Dunphy (uncredited)
William Val	...	Leslie, Chumley's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Dick Wessel	...	Cracker - Charlie's Bartender (uncredited)
Sam Wolfe	...	Mr. Minninger (uncredited)

Directed by
Henry Koster

Writing credits
Mary Chase		(play)
Mary Chase		(screenplay) and
Oscar Brodney		(screenplay)
Myles Connolly		(screenplay) uncredited

Produced by
John Beck	....	producer

Original Music by
Frank Skinner

Cinematography by
William H. Daniels		(as William Daniels)

Film Editing by
Ralph Dawson

Art Direction by
Bernard Herzbrun
Nathan Juran

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Julia Heron

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly		(gowns) (as Orry Kelly)

Makeup Department
Joan St. Oegger	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist
Edith House	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Joe Stinton	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Howard Christie	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Shaw	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Leslie I. Carey	....	sound
Joe Lapis	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Glen Adams	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Rennie Hawkins	....	grip (uncredited)
Lloyd Hill	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Bill Johnson	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Other crew
Brock Pemberton	....	producer: original play
Nagene Searle	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI) (presents) (as Universal - International)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1950) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1966) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Universal Studios Home Video (DVD)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

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:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Though James Stewart's character, Elwood P. Dowd, may certainly be referred to as an alcoholic, only at one time in the entire picture is he seen taking a drink.

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.

Quotes:

Elwood P. Dowd: I always have a wonderful time, wherever I am, whomever I'm with.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Farscape: Won't Get Fooled Again (#2.15)" (2000)

"Oh, so pleasant."

"Years ago, my mother used to say to me, she'd say: 'In this world, Elwood,' she always used to call 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. And you can quote me." - Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart)

And, though you suspect James Stewart was never anything less than thoroughly pleasant, that quote from this completely bewitching movie, sums up perfectly the career of James Stewart and this movie in particular. It is one of those rare, rare movies that, when one has watched it, makes you want to try harder to be a nicer, better person. I recommend 'pleasant,' also. And I recommend this movie.