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"...Everyone Knows Your Name": Harvey (1950)
Review Copyright Roger Zotti, 2002
In one of his best performances, James Stewart portrays Elwood P. Dowd, a gentle, good natured soul who sees the good in everyone.
His sister, Veta Louise (Josephine Hull, who received an Oscar® for her performance), believes alcohol and Elwood's best friend Harvey are her brother's biggest problems.
Harvey is a rabbit. He's 6 feet 8 inches tall and invisible.
And he's a Pooka - that is, "...a fairy spirit in animal form ... The Pooka appears here and there, now and then, to this one and that one. A benign but mischievous creature. Very fond of rum pots, crackpots..."
Together, their antics drive Veta Louise and her daughter Myrtle Mae (Veronica Horne), to distraction.
Though the socially conscious Veta Louise wants her niece to find a nice gentleman and eventually get married, Myrtle Mae, the realist, knows what she's up against: "A fine chance I got! What's the use? Myrtle Mae Simmons. Her uncle is the biggest screwball in town. Who'd want me?"
So Veta Louise swings into action and tries to commit him to Chumley's Rest, a sanatorium.
But despite Dr. Chumley's words - that "...we don't permit errors in this institution" - a mix up of monumental proportions occurs.
In a hilarious scene, Veta Louise, not Elwood, is committed. Of course, once the mistake is discovered, everyone is after Elwood - and Harvey.
Another key scene occurs one evening, in back of Charlie's bar, Elwood's favorite hangout: We're told the circumstances in which Harvey first appeared to Elwood. Also, we learn the answer to Dr. Sanderson's question, "How'd you happen to call him Harvey?"
Dowd: ...I was walking down along the street and I heard this voice. "Good evening Mr. Dowd. "Well, I turned around and here was this big six foot rabbit leaning up against the lamp[post. I thought nothing of that because when you've lived in a town as long as I've lived in this one you get used to the fact that everyone knows your name. Naturally I went over to chat with him...Well, we talked like that for a while and then I said to him, "You have the advantage on me. You know my name and I don't know yours." And right back at me he said, "What name do you like?" Well, I didn't even have to think twice about that. Harvey has always been my favorite name. So, I said to him, "Harvey." And - this is the interesting thing about the whole thing - he said, "What a coincidence. My name happens to be Harvey."
Directed with quiet precision by Henry Koster, every scene in Harvey is a gem, whether it involves Elwood, Veta Louise, Dr. Chumley (Cecil Kellaway), Nurse Kelly (Peggy Dow), Judge Gaffney (William Lynn), Wilson (Jesse White), Dr. Sanderson (Charles Drake), Myrtle Mae, and other assorted odd ball characters, including of course Harvey.
Final points. First, as the film progresses, it's clear that all the characters are loopy. (The exception might be the second cab driver, P.J. Lofgren, played dead-on by Wallace Ford, who appears near the end of the film.)
Second, before the end I wager you'll be hit with this realization: Elwood isn't as nuts as everyone thinks he is.
Third, in Brian Webster's words, "What makes Harvey great is the fact that it's equally enjoyable as a piece of comedic fluff and as slyly intelligent social commentary aimed squarely at people who try to enforce conformity, judge those who are different, and define what's sane behavior and what isn't."
Cast:
James Stewart...Elwood P. Dowd
Josephine Hull...Veta Louise
Charles Drake....Dr. Sanderson
Peggy Dow...Nurse Kelly
Cecil Kellaway...Willie Chumley
Myrtle Mae...Veronica Horne
P.J. Lofgren...Wallace Ford
Wilson...Jesse White
Screenplay by Mary Chase and Oscar Brodney
Produced by John Beck
Directed by Henry Koster
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