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IMDbPro

Harvey

  • 19501950
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
55K
YOUR RATING
James Stewart, Peggy Dow, Charles Drake, Josephine Hull, and Cecil Kellaway in Harvey (1950)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:56
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
Due to his insistence that he has an invisible six foot-tall rabbit for a best friend, a whimsical middle-aged man is thought by his family to be insane - but he may be wiser than anyone kno... Read allDue to his insistence that he has an invisible six foot-tall rabbit for a best friend, a whimsical middle-aged man is thought by his family to be insane - but he may be wiser than anyone knows.Due to his insistence that he has an invisible six foot-tall rabbit for a best friend, a whimsical middle-aged man is thought by his family to be insane - but he may be wiser than anyone knows.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
55K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Henry Koster
  • Writers
    • Mary Chase(from the Pulitzer Prize Play by)
    • Oscar Brodney(screenplay)
    • Myles Connolly(contributor to screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Stewart
    • Wallace Ford
    • William H. Lynn
Top credits
  • Director
    • Henry Koster
  • Writers
    • Mary Chase(from the Pulitzer Prize Play by)
    • Oscar Brodney(screenplay)
    • Myles Connolly(contributor to screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Stewart
    • Wallace Ford
    • William H. Lynn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 259User reviews
    • 80Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Harvey
    Trailer 1:56
    Harvey

    Photos131

    James Stewart in Harvey (1950)
    James Stewart in Harvey (1950)
    James Stewart in Harvey (1950)
    James Stewart in Harvey (1950)
    James Stewart, Peggy Dow, and Minerva Urecal in Harvey (1950)
    James Stewart and Josephine Hull in Harvey (1950)
    James Stewart, Peggy Dow, and Charles Drake in Harvey (1950)
    James Stewart and Harvey in Harvey (1950)
    James Stewart and Peggy Dow in Harvey (1950)
    James Stewart in Harvey (1950)
    James Stewart in Harvey (1950)
    James Stewart in Harvey (1950)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Stewart
    James Stewart
    • Elwood P. Dowdas Elwood P. Dowd
    Wallace Ford
    Wallace Ford
    • Ellis Logfren, The Taxi Driveras Ellis Logfren, The Taxi Driver
    William H. Lynn
    William H. Lynn
    • Judge Omar Gaffneyas Judge Omar Gaffney
    • (as William Lynn)
    Victoria Horne
    Victoria Horne
    • Myrtle Mae Simmonsas Myrtle Mae Simmons
    Jesse White
    Jesse White
    • Martin Wilsonas Martin Wilson
    Cecil Kellaway
    Cecil Kellaway
    • Dr. William Chumleyas Dr. William Chumley
    Charles Drake
    Charles Drake
    • Dr. Raymond Sandersonas Dr. Raymond Sanderson
    Peggy Dow
    Peggy Dow
    • Miss Kellyas Miss Kelly
    Josephine Hull
    Josephine Hull
    • Veta Louise Dowd Simmonsas Veta Louise Dowd Simmons
    Nana Bryant
    Nana Bryant
    • Mrs. Hazel Chumleyas Mrs. Hazel Chumley
    Grayce Mills
    Grayce Mills
    • Mrs. Ethel Chauvenetas Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet
    • (as Grace Mills)
    Clem Bevans
    Clem Bevans
    • Mr. Herman Shimelplatzeras Mr. Herman Shimelplatzer
    Harvey
    Harvey
    • Harveyas Harvey
    Gino Corrado
    Gino Corrado
    • Eccentric Manas Eccentric Man
    • (scenes deleted)
    Jack Curtis
    Jack Curtis
    • Undetermined Secondary Roleas Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (scenes deleted)
    Ida Moore
    Ida Moore
    • Mrs. McGiffas Mrs. McGiff
    • (scenes deleted)
    Billy Wayne
    Billy Wayne
    • Man in Caras Man in Car
    • (scenes deleted)
    Gertrude Astor
    Gertrude Astor
    • Party Guestas Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Henry Koster
    • Writers
      • Mary Chase(from the Pulitzer Prize Play by) (screenplay)
      • Oscar Brodney(screenplay)
      • Myles Connolly(contributor to screenplay) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At the suggestion of James Stewart, the director changed many shots to make them wider so that "Harvey" would be in the frame.
    • Goofs
      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

      Elwood P. Dowd: 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.

    • Crazy credits
      At the very end Harvey opens a door and the words at the bottom of the screen say "Harvey as Himself."
    • Connections
      Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to James Stewart (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Waltz No. 1 in D-Flat Major, Op. 64, Minute Waltz
      (uncredited)

      Music by Frédéric Chopin

    User reviews259

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Considered a classic with good reason
    For about the first thirty minutes, I was thinking of some way to politely inform those who recommended this film that it wasn't my cup of tea, but the more I stayed, the more captivated I became. Based on a stage play that opened six years earlier, Harvey, the 1950 film directed by Henry Koster, is a delight. If this Jimmy Stewart classic doesn't make you feel good, you must be related to Mr. Henry F. Potter of Bedford Falls. Harvey is a 6' 3'' Pooka who has befriended a certain Mr. Elwood P. Dowd and this causes all sorts of complications for those around him. In case you didn't know, in Celtic mythology a Pooka is a fearsome spirit that usually takes the form of a sleek dark horse that roams the countryside at night, creating harm and mischief. Well, Harvey is not like that at all.

    In fact, Harvey is a very gentle spirit who is always helping people out and can make everybody around him feel relaxed and in a good mood. Now Dowd needs all the help he can get. He likes to take a nip once in a while and is always talking to that danged rabbit to the chagrin of his sister Veta Louise (Josephine Hull) whose social life takes a nosedive when brother Elwood is around. Elwood's shenanigans also interfere with her plans to marry off her daughter Myrtle Mae (Victoria Home). When Veta decides that she has had enough and tries to commit Elwood to a psychiatric institution, the tables are turned and she ends up being committed in a hilarious case of mistaken identity. When Elwood leaves the hospital after being released, the medical staff in the hospital (a bit eccentric themselves) realize their mistake and all try to find him.

    The madcap beginning soon turns into a gentle and moving drama. Jimmy Stewart is flawless as the decent man who never loses his temper and always has a smile on his face, giving everyone his card and inviting strangers home for dinner. The supporting cast is top notch as well including the unpleasant Dr. Chumley (Cecil Kellaway), the egotistical psychiatrist Dr. Sanderson (Charles Drake), his love struck assistant Miss Kelley (Peggy Dow) and the overwrought orderly (Jesse White, later known as the Maytag repairman).

    Eventually some that ridiculed Elwood and his rabbit privately admit that they could see Harvey themselves and by the end we are gradually convinced that the so-called normal people may be stranger than Mr. Dowd. Harvey is considered a classic and with good reason. It works because of its good-natured humor and its gentle slap at those who automatically condemn ideas that are outside socially acceptable norms without thinking for themselves.
    helpful•138
    17
    • howard.schumann
    • Mar 21, 2005

    FAQ3

    • Is this movie based on a novel?
    • Why does Elwood rip up the envelope without even reading what's inside?
    • Did this film inspire "Donnie Darko"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 21, 1950 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Mein Freund Harvey
    • Filming locations
      • Colonial Mansion, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal International Pictures (UI)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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