Harvey
Harvey The 1950 movie “Harvey” is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway play written by Mary Chase as a gift for her neighbor to help relieve the sad loss of her son in World War II. Chase also helped write the screenplay. Most of the original Broadway cast were recast for the movie. As a result, “Harvey” is more like watching a play than a movie. The star of the movie is Harvey himself, played by a mischievous spirit from Irish folklore known as a Pooka. Harvey takes the form of a six foot, three and  one-half inch white rabbit. Being a spirit, Harvey is invisible throughout the movie, but evidence of his reality is seen in such things as the opening and closing of doors by themselves and his hat with holes cut out to accommodate his big ears. Harvey likes to take people to a better world, and he even has the capability of stopping time.The main character of the movie is Elwood P. Dowd played by Jimmy Stewart (an Oscar nominee for his performance). Elwood had been raised in wealth, and seems to have been a man of the world with brains and influence. But after his mother died and left him the Dowd estate, Elwood seems to have taken to drinking, and this is probably where he first met Harvey who becomes his constant companion. Harvey revolutionizes Elwood’s outlook on life and as a result he becomes a middle-aged gentle philosopher who likes to frequent the town’s taverns and drink martinis with Harvey. Elwood loves to socialize with whomever he encounters, especially wanting them to meet his best friend Harvey. He offers everyone his card so they can get in touch with him, and he likes inviting people to his house for dinner. Elwood shows genuine concern for the importance of each person he meets. Elwood’s older sister, Veta Louise Simmons (played by Josephine Hull, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress) and her daughter, Myrtle Mae Simmons (Victoria Horne), live in Elwood’s house, and are very social conscious. Myrtle is desperate to get married and sees Elwood and his Harvey as a hindrance to achieving her dream.  The last straw happens at Myrtle’s society debut party when Elwood unexpectedly shows up and begins introducing Harvey to all the high-society women present. She and her mother arrange to have Elwood committed at Chumley’s Rest Sanatorium for psychiatric evaluation. Continued |
|