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Harvey (1950)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 36,532

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Movie Info

This whimsical fantasy about a local drunk's 6' 3 1/2" imaginary rabbit pal was a smash hit (and a Pulitzer Prize winner) on Broadway and was then adapted into this likeable farce that's also an allegory about tolerance. James Stewart stars as Elwood P. Dowd, a wealthy tippler whose sunny philosophy and inebriated antics are tolerated by most of the citizenry. That is, until Elwood begins claiming that he sees a "pooka" (a mischievous Irish spirit), which has taken the form of a man-sized bunny

Feb 6, 2001

MCA Universal Home Video

Cast

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (4) | DVD (11)

Unhappily, what the film also borrows from the play, and somehow makes more conspicuous, is a tendency to drag its feet for long stretches, especially during the virtually actionless last third of the story.

March 29, 2011 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | Comment (1)
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Harvey, Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize play, loses little of its whimsical comedy charm in the screen translation.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

If you're for warm and gentle whimsey, for a charmingly fanciful farce and for a little touch of pathos anent the fateful evanescence of man's dreams, then the movie version of Harvey is definitely for you.

March 25, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A modest family film that lays on the sweetness a bit to heavily.

August 15, 2011 Full Review Source: Oscar Guy | Comment
Oscar Guy

This is a happy movie and leaves a long, lingering warm glow.

March 29, 2011 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Great performances lifts this movie above its stilted script and production.

March 29, 2011 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
Empire Magazine

Henry Koster might not have been the right director for this whimsical fantasy, based on the 1944 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, but Jimmy Stewart and especially Josephine Hull (in an Oscar-winning turn) are superb.

August 3, 2009 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

Its one-note shtick wears thin.

May 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comments (2)
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Jimmy Stewart a 6' rabbit = a family delight.

October 24, 2007 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Charming, lightweight stuff (from a play by Mary Chase), so long as you can take Stewart's ingenuousness, but it does wear thin.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

What makes Harvey great is the fact that it's equally enjoyable as a piece of comedic fluff and as slyly intelligent social commentary.

March 16, 2004 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Apollo Guide

Stewart, adorável como sempre (talvez mais), encanta com sua 'insana' simpatia, enquanto Hull arranca boas risadas com o enérgico histerismo de sua personagem.

December 9, 2003 Comment
Cinema em Cena

Despite the breezy nature of the story and the somewhat casual treatment of insanity, the film actually has a lot to say about the nature of loneliness and the importance of tolerance.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Harvey

An infectiously nice/insane main character played brilliantly by James Stewart, a great skeptical reflection of the audience portrayed by Josephine Hull, and a great story make this movie one of a kind. It is funny, nice and has a wonderful moral.

November 15, 2011
Sanjay Rema

Super Reviewer

Amazing performance by Jimmy Stewart. Full review later.

October 3, 2011
TomBowler
Thomas Bowler

Super Reviewer

    1. 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.
    – Submitted by Laura M (3 days ago)
    1. Elwood P. Dowd: In this world Ellwood, you must be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant, well for years I was smart... I recommend pleasant, and you may quote me.
    – Submitted by Denise J (45 days ago)
    1. Elwood P. Dowd: There are two ways to live well, you can be smart or pleasant. I've been smart for years, and I recommend pleasant.
    – Submitted by Andrew O (2 months ago)
    1. Cab Driver: After this, he'll be a perfectly normal human being, and you know what stinkers they are!
    – Submitted by Sanjay R (2 months ago)
    1. Elwood P. Dowd: Well, I've wrestled with reality for thirty- five years, Doctor, and I?m happy to state I finally won out over it.
    – Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)

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Latest News for Harvey

October 26, 2010:
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Mark Wahlberg is in talks for "Ted," Seth MacFarlane's R-rated comedy about a man whose childhood...

December 4, 2009:
Spielberg Hops Away from Harvey
Unable to find the perfect combination of leading man and solid script, Steven Spielberg has walked...

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