
Harvey
1950, Comedy, 1h 44m
28 Reviews 25,000+ RatingsYou might also like
See More




Where to watch
Harvey Photos
Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Elwood P. Dowd
Veta Louise Simmons
Dr. Chumley
Miss Kelly
Dr. Sanderson
Myrtle Mae Simmons
News & Interviews for Harvey
Critic Reviews for Harvey
Audience Reviews for Harvey
-
Mar 30, 2022Stewart and Hull give iconic performances and while I do think this movie loses a little bit of the play's whimsy and weirdness it is probably the best adaptation we are ever likely to get.Alec B Super Reviewer
-
Dec 13, 2017"In this world, you must be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant." So says Elwood P. Dowd (Jimmy Stewart), a character who combines the gentle temperament of the Dalai Lama with the martini intake of Frank Sinatra. He also seems a bit crazy, seeing as his pal is an invisible 6'3 1/2" rabbit named Harvey, and happily introduces him to everyone he meets. While he seems harmless, his sister (Josephine Hull) wants to commit him to a sanitarium, and in a comedy of errors, gets locked up herself. From there it's a series of screwball moments, with the hospital staff trying to track down Elwood, and him oblivious to it all. The film is a little bit of indictment of the mental health industry, with one doctor (Lyman Sanderson) jumping to harebrained conclusions and an orderly (Jesse White) aggressively putting his hands on people. He alludes to having had to take the corset off of Hull's character while stripping her, a fact that intrigues her daughter (Victoria Horne), in one creepy and awkward scene. Horne at 39 was far too old for the role (Jimmy Stewart, playing her uncle, was 42), and scenes with her and White are the low points of the film. If it seems like just another goofball comedy in the first half, stay with it and let Elwood Dowd's benevolence sink in. He engages everyone he meets in real conversation, cares about them, and almost always invites them over to his house for dinner or for drinks. He does that not out of politeness, but actually wants and expects them to show up. The character is quite endearing, and Stewart's performance is nuanced and brilliant. In this screwball comedy, there is a real message of the importance of simple kindness, and it's delivered in a subtle way.
-
Oct 27, 2014A pleasant, whimsical, charming, warm-hearted comedy.
-
Oct 16, 2014This sweet movie is adorable like James Stewart's character, who charms us distributing business cards and being nice to everyone that he meets, while Josephine Hull deserved the Oscar she won for her hilarious, on-the-edge-of-hysteria performance.Carlos M Super Reviewer
Movie & TV guides
View AllAbout Tomatometer
Verified