That sums up “Harvey”. A 1950 movie starring James Stewart in the lead role of Elwood P. Dowd. Elwood spends his days (and nights!) visiting his friends and the taverns of his community with his best friend, Harvey. Here is where the conflict of the movie arises. As Elwood explains, Harvey is a “pooka”. What is a pooka you might ask? A pooka, is a mythic Celtic spirit that only appears to certain people. It is often friendly with a mischievous side to it’s personality. Harvey in this case is a 6 foot tall white rabbit that is invisible to most everyone.
After the death of his mother Elwood now lives with his sister, Veta played by wonderfully by Josephine Hull. Miss Hull’s nervous and strident portrayal of Veta brings stark contrast to Stewart’s calm demeanor in his portrayal of Elwood. Veta is constantly vexed by Elwood and Harvey’s friendship. Veta desires to be accepted by the local society ladies and wants to help her daughter, Myrtle Mae, find a suitable man to marry but is constantly embarrassed by Elwood and his invisible friend. She eventually conspires with the family legal representative, Judge Gaffney, to have Elwood put in an insane asylum.
When they arrive with Elwood at the asylum she is so distraught and Elwood so pleasant, the doctor assumes there is a mistake and places Veta under care and releases Elwood. When they realize their error, craziness ensues! There is a frantic search for Elwood who is being protected by his spirit friend, Harvey who reveals himself to the doctor in charge of the asylum, Dr. Chumley.
There is one transfixing scene in a bar in which one of the doctors and a nurse have found Elwood and are spending some time just chatting with him in his natural environment. They, for a moment, wander outside in a back alley and Elwood shares with them some of his experiences and insights into people and life. It is really so well written and performed by Stewart that it drives home the point of the movie, that people are really what’s important in life. Not the job, not the things you can buy, or all the places you may see. Yes, those are all nice, but without people they amount to nothing.
Eventually they manage to corral Elwood back at the asylum and a doctor reveals he can make Elwood “normal” with a shot. Veta pleads with Elwood to take it and he agrees because he just wants to make his sister happy. While Elwood retires to the doctor office to get the shot a taxi driver comes in asking for his pay and manages to discuss with Veta the effects of this shot. He tells her how nice and pleasant the people are before the shot and how grumpy and mean they are after the shot. “Just like normal people,” he tells Veta. Veta realizes this is the last thing she wants to happen to her brother and rushes to the doctors office door, pounding on it and screaming loudly to stop the injection. Narrowly saving her brother the fate of being “like normal people”.
The movie, while fanciful and humorous, manages to convey well the idea that with just a little more effort we could all be a little more pleasant to each other. And wouldn’t that make a lot of things just so much better?
This movie is filled with some great lines;
Elwood P. Dowd: Well, I’ve wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I’m happy to state I finally won out over it.
Elwood P. Dowd: I always have a wonderful time, wherever I am, whomever I’m with.
Elwood P. Dowd: That’s envy my dear, there’s a little bit of envy in the best of us.
Elwood P. Dowd: Well, thank you Harvey! I prefer you too.
Veta: Judge Gaffney, is that all those doctors do in places like that – think about sex?
Judge Gaffney: I don’t know
Veta: Because if it is they ought to be ashamed of themselves. It’s all in their heads anyway. Why don’t they get out and take long walks in the fresh air?
Myrtle Mae: Oh, mother, people get run over by trucks every day. Why can’t something like that happen to Uncle Elwood?
Mrs Chauvenet: Does Elwood see anybody these days?
Veta: Oh, yes, Aunt Ethel, Elwood sees *somebody*.
Elwood P. Dowd: ”Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.”
I highly recommend this movie if you haven’t seen it or haven’t seen it in awhile see it again. It is funny, it is heartwarming, it is well written and well acted and directed. If you have kids it is a good family movie. And, yes, it has a good message. I suppose I should remind you at this point that Elwood talks a lot about drinking alcohol and there are, of course scenes in bars and taverns but actually seeing someone drink alcohol is few and far between.
I hope you take time to watch this very fine movie and maybe even add it to your collection. (It’s in mine!)
See ya later,
Russ
P.S.
Here’s a link to the movie at IMDB.com for more information and reviews.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042546/
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