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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com essential video
It's always a small surprise to revisit this movie and realize what a subtly dark performance James Stewart gives as an alcoholic who claims he keeps company with a six-foot-tall, invisible rabbit. As Elwood P. Dowd, the actor emits a faint whiff of decay and spirits, yet Stewart also embraces Dowd's romanticism and grace with splendid ease. Based on a hit play and directed by Henry Koster, the film is terribly funny at times, especially whenever Elwood decides it's only polite to introduce Harvey to complete strangers. The supporting cast can't be beat. --Tom Keogh

Description
James Stewart stars as Elwood P. Dowd, a wealthy alcoholic whose sunny disposition and drunken antics are tolerated by most of the citizens of his community. That is, until Elwood begins to claim that he has a friend named Harvey who is an invisisble six foot rabbit. Elwood's snooty socialite sister, Veta, determined to marry off her daughter Myrtle to a respectable man, begins to plot to keep Elwood's lunacy from interfering.

Customer Reviews: Read 136 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

May I introduce you to Harvey? November 3, 2004
35 out of 37 found this review helpful

"Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it." That cheerful comment sets the tone for "Harvey," a movie about a lovable guy whose way of dealing with the harshness of reality is simple: Make his own.

Veta Louise Simmons (Josephine Hull) hopes to arrange a wonderful marriage for daughter Myrtle May (Victoria Horne) in the upper echelons of society. There's one problem: her wealthy brother Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart) has an imaginary pal, a six-foot-three rabbit called Harvey. After Elwood accidently wrecks a party by introducing Harvey to everyone, Veta decides to have him committed.

Unfortunately, when Veta takes Elwood to the sanatorium, the staff come to think that the fluttery socialite is crazy, and is trying to get her sunny brother out of the way. So they lock her up, and let him go. After that mistake is straightened out, the psychiatric staff and Elwood's long-suffering family try to find him.... and Harvey.

If we ever saw Elwood P. Dowd ("Here, let me give you one of my cards") in a car, the bumper sticker would probably say, "Reality is highly overrated." The big theme of the movie is that reality can be harsh, and that it's not necessarily a bad thing to lapse out of it into the fantasies of our own minds. If Elwood isn't dangerous and is otherwise normal, who cares if he has an imaginary friend?

Is Harvey real? The film leaves that up to our imaginations. And in the end, it doesn't matter if Harvey is a figment of Elwood's imagination, or a friendly spirit. It's the effect he has on Elwood that is important. His presence makes Elwood happy and relaxed, and Elwood makes others happy and relaxed -- even the hard-boiled head of the psychiatric ward, who lies down on his own couch and tells his secrets to Elwood.

This actually isn't too screwballish a comedy -- sure, there's the running joke where Elwood politely introduces Harvey to people he meets. And the scene where Veta is committed is hilarious. But it's more of a heartwarmer than a comedy, from Elwood softening the lead shrink to Myrtle May finding love with a lovable blue-collar worker from the sanatorium.

James Stewart gives a wonderfully dreamy performance, slightly smelling of booze and flowers -- his Elwood P. Dowd is mild-mannered, sweet, gallant, courteous, and oh-so-pleasant. And he's learned the value of just enjoying the little things in life, like a flower, a beer or a talk with a friend. And Josephine Hull brings up a brilliant performance as his frazzled sister, with several other good actors rounding off the supporting cast.

Who is crazier -- the happy man with the imaginary rabbit, or the people who want him to be 100% sane and less happy? You make the call. With a sweet, surreal story and a flawless cast "Harvey" is one of those rare movies that does an unspecifiable number on your heartstrings.

5 out of 5 stars

A Real Gem October 21, 2000
30 out of 31 found this review helpful

Elwood P. Dowd is happy to share a drink with anybody he meets, and he likes to give them his card and invite them to have dinner at his home. His charm is disarming. People will tell their troubles over a drink, he says. Then he introduces them to his friend, Harvey, and Harvey is sooo much bigger than anything they've got... Harvey is an invisible (usually), six-foot tall white rabbit. Harvey is also too big for Elwood's society-conscious sister, Veta, and her unattached daughter, Myrtle Mae, to cope with. Veta makes a mistake, however, when she tries to get Elwood committed to a sanatorium.

Jimmy Stewart is superb as Elwood P. Dowd, but Josephine Hull steals the show as his totally flustered sister. She is, quite simply, at her wits' end. This is one of only two movies that I know of that feature Hull (the other is "Arsenic and Old Lace"). Both are personal favorites, and Hull is excellent in both. The rest of the cast is also outstanding in this adaptation from a classic Broadway play. Many moments are hilarious, some are touching, and it all adds up to a terrific movie. This witty romp will be welcome in almost anyone's video library.

5 out of 5 stars Do you live with a dysfunctional family member?   March 4, 2000
19 out of 21 found this review helpful

Finally, I found THE "Harvey" film on amazon.com! I've waited DECADES for the chance to buy this movie for my own home. Can any of you remember sitting in your childhood homes as little kids, watching the great Jimmy Stewart talk to a large (invisible) rabbit on your parents' old black & white TV? I remember seeing this movie but a few times, yet, each time, it always served as instant therapy for dissipating any anger toward the crazier people in my life. When I was a child, I thought it was funny that the movie showed a man who was being told to lose his imaginary friend. As an adolescent, I empathized with knowing what it is like to live with someone who, I thought, lived and worried in a world of their own making. And as an adult, I now realize that one can acknowledge the world of another, without having to remain there permanently. If you have ever suffered through the day-to-day trials of dealing with someone who lives by a grand set of rules different from your own (generational or cultural gap?), and if you have ever found yourself stressed from the craziness of it all, then maybe this wonderful and comical film will ease your frustration for a while each time you view it. As I remember this movie, it is a story that begins with the simple pleasures of courteous greetings, kindness to others and imaginary friends, then moves to one family's struggles with sanity, possible family separation, love and protection. It has a happy ending and, like the movie "It's a Wonderful Life", is a MUST for every family home library!

5 out of 5 stars Sublime Comedy with Priceless Performances!   June 29, 2000
19 out of 22 found this review helpful

Jimmy Stewart gives one of his best performances as Elwood P. Dowd, just about the nicest guy you could meet, but he drinks a little more than he should and has an invisible companion; a 6-foot tall rabbit named 'Harvey'. Stewart gives a priceless performance of timeless grace. The story and screenplay are high-class, and a supporting cast that's hard to beat, of which Josephine Hull stands out as Elwood's neurotic but well meaning sister. An enchanting film that has aged well, and that continues to delight families and children of all ages with its undeniable charm, and it's charismatic performances. The reason the film is so beloved is mainly because of the story, a man who is 'happy' and loved by everyone he knows, even though some people think he is crazy just because his best friend is a 'pooka'. The movie shows us that being 'friendly' and 'nice' to people is a great accomplishment in life, and that few people really treasure that. A great family film. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 9!

5 out of 5 stars Pulitzer Prize winning Play adapted to film & now on DVD !!   March 28, 2002
15 out of 16 found this review helpful

"Harvey" a play written by Mary Chase began its long run on Broadway in 1944 and won the Pultizer Prize for best original American play in the same year. Harvey ran for another 4 years for a total of 1775 appearances. In 1950 Universal Studios acquired the film rights for a whopping $750,000 and signed Jimmy Stewart as the fun loving inebriate Elwood P. Dowd wealthy aire to the Dowd estate.

Summary; Harvey is a whimsical story about a fun loving inebriate millionaire Elwood P. Dowd (Stewart - he is perfectly cast - in an Oscar Nomination Role for Best Actor) & his very large white invisible rabbit (6 foot 8 inches), Harvey. Through his eccentric behavior with his friend Harvey, aggravates & is a constant embarressment to his family, especially his sister Vera Louise (Josephine Hull - she came from the original Broadway cast - in an Oscar Winning performance - Best Supporting Actress). Vera tries everyway to have Elwood addmitted to a mental hospital. A wonderous journey & many funny turn of events occur. And how everyones lives are effected by this unusual pair.

The DVD is a Black & White Full Screen (before WideScreen) presentation. The video transfer is outstanding. The extras/bonus materials include a 1990 Jimmy Stewart "Special introduction with photographic montage", production notes, mini bios & trailer. A great family film. Enjoy.

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