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Rating: 4.25 out of 5
I have not seen the stage play of Harvey, but when I was in middle school, I watched Harvey for the first time. As a little kid, I thought it was strange because it was like watching an adult with an imaginary friend. My little brain back then had no idea what a pooka was. Years later, when Hulu came out with this film called Pooka, I thought about Harvey because I remembered James Stewart saying Harvey was a Pooka. I felt like that pooka was a lot nicer. I checked Harvey out from the library and wanted to watch this simple but classic film. Really quick as I had to look up the definition, a púca is a creature of Celtic, English, and Channel Islands folklore. They are considered to be bringers of both good and bad fortune; they could help or hinder rural and marine communities. Thank you, Wikipedia.
Harvey is a film based on Mary Chase’s 1944 play of the same name, directed by Henry Koster and starring James Stewart and Josephine Hull. Harvey centers around Elwood P. Dowd (Stewart) and his best friend, a pooka named Harvey. Harvey is a 6 ft 3+1⁄2 tall white invisible rabbit who is a mischievous creature from Celtic mythology. Elwood is a wealthy individual who lives with his sister, Veta, and niece Myrtle Mae. He spends most of his time taking Harvey around town, drinking at various bars, and introducing Harvey to almost every person he meets. Even though Elwood is kind and people love him, Veta and Myrtle Mae are fed up as they become social outcasts. Having enough of Elwood and his antics with Harvey, Veta decides that the best thing to do is lock him up in the sanatorium.
Harvey was just as cute and fun to watch when I was a kid. I forgot how entertaining this film was. When watching it, I remember how cool it would be to have a pooka. To have a giant rabbit that causes some mischief but one that you can conversate with and never be alone. When you watch the film, Elwood seems like a nut because he has a 6-foot-3 giant rabbit. The motions that Elwood makes will make you laugh. He will grab Harvey’s arm to pull him out of the road or save him a seat, but since Harvey is invisible, people think he is a little off. When you hear Elwood talk, he seems very much sane and in his world. He talks about how Harvey came into his world and how they became friends. Even though Harvey is Harvey, he has been an excellent friend. That is what everyone in this world needs. A great friend.
The central theme of the whole story is Elwood’s sister, Veta, and niece, Myrtle Mae trying to have him committed to a local sanatorium. Veta is all over the place and seems to be at her wit’s end because Elwood and Harvey have “ruined” her life and social standing, and now she is considered an outcast. First off, you live with him and in his house. What bills you pay, and then how are you going to commit someone for talking to a giant white rabbit? You never had an imaginary friend?
Things become funny and crazy when Veta and Elwood go to the sanatorium. Miss Kelly leads Elwood to one of the rooms, but the attending psychiatrist, Dr. Lyman Sanderson, listens to a stressed-out Veta. He thinks Veta is the crazy one and has her committed instead. Elwood tries to tell everyone about Harvey, but they won’t listen to him and let him on his way. The funny part is that when Dr. Chumley looks at the hat Elwood left, he sees that it has two holes in it for ears. Realizing the mistake, everyone panics, and Veta is on her Drake looking for revenge. She is ready to sue.
Things get even more hectic when everyone searches for Elwood, who is chilling at his local bar, having a drink. Dr. Chumley manages to trach Elwood down and confront him alone. Dr. Chumley and Elwood speak until, boom, Dr. Chumley has disappeared from all sight. Marvin, Sanderson, and Miss Kelly arrive at the bar and see Elwood alone. Elwood states that Dr. Chumley had wandered off with Harvey after several rounds of drinks. Marvin is not having any of it and tries to pick a fight. This is where things get funny. Back at the sanatorium, Dr. Chumley reappears and has seen some things. Harvey blew his freakin mind because homeboy looked like he had been robbed. I’m talking about hair all over the place, a ripped suit, and he looks like he needs to be locked up.
I would say the switch in Veta is also a critical moment in the film. When She finds Elwood, she complains about how much Harvey has ruined her life. What is funny is that she sees a picture Elwood made of him and Harvey. When she convinces Elwood to go to the sanatorium, she is dead set on having a procedure. She convinces Sanderson to give Elwood, “Formula 977” which will stop Elwood from “seeing the rabbit.” As Elwood prepares and Veta tries to pay the cab driver, she sees she doesn’t have her coin purse. She stops the procedure when the cab driver tells her that all life will bounce from Elwood. The funny part is that she finds her coin purse and realizes that Harvey had stopped everything to save his dear friend.
Even though we never get to see Harvey, the film does a fantastic job of saving him to the very end. Dr. Chumley sees him, but it wasn’t until the end when the swing is moving, and he opens up the gate to follow Elwood. I have to admit that Harvey is a committed friend, and even though he can make time and space go by in an instant, he really loves Elwood and his company.
The two people that need to be praised in this film are James Stewart and Josephine Hull. James Stewart is a joy to watch as Elwood. As this character, he just seems so at ease and loving life. Other people think he is crazy because he talks to thin air but seems happy with life. Stewart was excellent because he made you believe a giant rabbit was around with his movements. Stewart’s voice is so calming. When he was telling the story of how he met Harvey, he held your attention with a soft voice.
Josephine Hull as Veta Louise Dowd Simmons was equally fantastic. She played Veta with pure joy and insanity. A woman up to her last wit with her brother, she tried to lock him up. Hull was great as she was hysterical and showed those fake tears and a little anger when she didn’t get her way. She won the Academy Award when she said “Harvey.” That was a voice of pure disappointment.
Harvey is a simple but great film to watch. It has aged a little bit, but it is one that still is fun to watch. Stewart and Hull are excellent in their respective roles. The story is great as you think the main character is off with talking to a giant rabbit. Have fun with this film, and maybe you can befriend a pooka.
