Harvey (1950)

Director:

Henry Koster

Writers:

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

Release Date:

13 October 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

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 | Sanity Hearing | Bartender | Psychiatrist

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

James Stewart	...	Elwood P. Dowd
Josephine Hull	...	Veta Louise Simmons
Peggy Dow	...	Miss Kelly
Charles Drake	...	Dr. Sanderson
Cecil Kellaway	...	Dr. Chumley
Victoria Horne	...	Myrtle Mae Simmons
Jesse White	...	Wilson
William H. Lynn	...	Judge Gaffney (as William Lynn)
Wallace Ford	...	The Taxi Driver
Nana Bryant	...	Mrs. Hazel Chumley
Grayce Mills	...	Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet (as Grace Mills)
Clem Bevans	...	Mr. Herman Shimelplatzer
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	...	Mr. Meegles (uncredited)
Norman Leavitt	...	Henry Riley - Cab Driver (uncredited)
Edwin Max	...	First Bar Patron (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)
Leo Sulky	...	(uncredited)
Minerva Urecal	...	Nurse Dunphy (uncredited)
William Val	...	Leslie, Chumley's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Dick Wessel	...	Mr. Cracker (uncredited)
Sam Wolfe	...	Mr. Minninger (uncredited)

Directed by
Henry Koster

Writing credits
Mary Chase		(play)
Mary Chase		(screenplay) &
Oscar Brodney		(screenplay)
Myles Connolly		contributor to screenplay (uncredited)

Produced by
John Beck	....	producer

Original Music by
Frank Skinner

Cinematography by
William H. Daniels		(director of photography) (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)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (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 Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (3 film set)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2002) (Canada) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2012) (Canada) (DVD) (3 film set)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:U | USA:Approved (certificate #14694) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:G (Ontario) | Australia:G | South Korea:All | Argentina:13 | West Germany:12 | France:U | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Although James Stewart is 6'4'', he refers to Harvey as being 6'3 1/2'' tall in the film and looks up at him during the entire film. That's because this is Harvey's height in the original play by Mary Chase. In a 1990 interview, Stewart said that he had decided that for the film, Harvey was going to be 6'8'', so that he could indeed look up at him.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the daytime scenes at Chumley's Rest, shadows are seen of the actors and props that clearly go against the dominant natural light.

Quotes:

Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet:Does Elwood see anybody these days?
Veta Louise Simmons:Oh, yes, Aunt Ethel, Elwood sees *somebody*.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ruby Sparks (2012)

One of the best movies ever made!

When I first saw this movie I didn't think I would like it. I didn't think it was my "type" of movie. I was wrong. HARVEY will make you laugh and at the same time show you the power of kindness. JAMES STEWART makes you believe someone is there even know his friend is an invisible 6-foot tall rabbit. It is easily one of the best movies ever made! If you don't know what this movie is or haven't seen it for any reason all I have to say is "GO SEE IT!" Even if you don't like black and white movies, there is something in this movie for everyone. If you like drama, comedy, or just films that make you feel good inside this movie is for you.

"If ELWOOD P. DOWD is crazy I don't want to be sane."