Classic 50s Movie: “Harvey”
May is Classic 50s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Felicity Flesher.
Movie Title: Harvey
Year: 1950
Writers: Mary Chase (and based on her Pulitzer Prize play) & Oscar Brodney
Lead Actors: James Stewart, Josephine Hull, Harvey as himself
Director: Henry Koster
IMDb Plot Summary: Due to his insistence that he has an invisible six-foot rabbit for a best friend, a whimsical middle-aged man is thought by his family to be insane — but he may be wiser than anyone knows.
Why I Think This Is A Classic 50s Movie:
Harvey gives us Jimmy Stewart in one of his most classic roles as drinker and eccentric Elwood P. Dowd. We see him here in the prime of his career — post-Capra comedies/pre-Hitchcock thrillers. While Stewart garnered a Best Oscar nom for his performance, he is equally matched in Josephine Hull who plays his sister, Veta. Hull would win the Oscar for Supporting Actress for the part and Stewart himself admitted that she had the most difficult role since she had to simultaneously believe and disbelieve in the invisible rabbit. Both reprise their roles from the 1945 play.
The film remains a classic today and has frequently been revived (most recently on Broadway starring The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons) and poised for film remakes, however it is also a significant work from its time. In 1945, Chase was only the fourth woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for the lighthearted comedy that actually takes on some heavier issues like alcoholism, mental illness, psychiatry, class distinction, and tense family relationships. Chase and Stewart give us a glimpse at an alcoholic, possibly unstable man who is one of the most lovable characters in film history. Audiences want to escape to the same fantasy world that Elwood visits with Harvey, a world where no one is a stranger and everyone is welcome to join you at the bar.
My Favorite Moment In The Movie:
I love every moment when Harvey gets any other character to start to doubt themselves. For example, when Wilson looks up Pooka in the encyclopedia:
WILSON — “P. O. O. K. A. Pooka — from old Celtic mythology — a fairy spirit in animal form — always very large. The pooka appears here and there — now and then — to this one — and that one — a benign but mischievous creature — very fond of rumpots, crackpots, and how are you, Mr. Wilson?” “How are you, Mr. Wilson?” Who in the encyclopedia wants to know?
Later, Dr. Chumley starts to think about how Harvey could take him to Akron where he would have a woman call him “poor, poor thing” as he drinks cold beer. And then in the clinching moment, Veta seriously questions Harvey’s existence when she finds her coin purse. These instances perfectly blend magic and realism and call our own whimsical beliefs into question. Chase’s great feat in this work is making Harvey completely real to everyone by the end of the story.
My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie:
ELWOOD — Doctor, I want to say good-bye to some of my friends before I leave.
CHUMLEY — Mr. Dowd, none of those people are your friends — but I want you to know that I am your friend.
ELWOOD — Well, thank you, Doctor. And I’m yours.
CHUMLEY — They underestimate you — as I did. This sister of yours is at the bottom of a conspiracy against you! She’s trying to persuade me to lock you up. Today she had commitment papers drawn up. She has your power of attorney and the key to your safety box! And she brought you here!
ELWOOD — My sister did all that in one afternoon? That Veta certainly is a whirlwind, isn’t she?
CHUMLEY — Good heavens, man! Haven’t you any righteous indignation?
ELWOOD — Oh, Doctor, I — I — Years ago, my mother used to say to me — she’d say, ‘In this world, Elwood, you must be — ‘ She always called me Elwood. ‘In this world, Elwood, you must be oh, so smart or oh, so pleasant.’ Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. And you may quote me.
Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie:
The comedy strikes a great tone — it looks at normality with a dash of satire and silly, yet treats the 6' 3.5" invisible, talking white rabbit completely seriously. We then side with the goofy protagonist rather than the “normal” supporting characters.
Another great mix it strikes is creating one of the most likeable protagonists without forcing all of the other characters to become unlikeable. Even though we might side with Elwood and enjoy watching high society blush at Harvey, we still empathize with Veta and the rest.
Given the film’s basis as a play, it shouldn’t be surprising that Chase throws in some juicy monologues. They really give Stewart a chance to shine and are some of the most outstanding and memorable scenes. It makes it as though Elwood is really just speaking to only us. For an example, see:
KELLY — What is it you do, Mr. Dowd?
ELWOOD — Oh, Harvey and I sit in the bars and — have a drink or two — play the jukebox. And soon the faces of all the other people — they turn toward mine — and they smile. And they’re saying, ‘We don’t know your name, mister, but you’re a very nice fellow.’ Harvey and I — warm ourselves in all these golden moments. We’ve entered as strangers — soon we have friends. And they come over and they — they sit with us, and they drink with us, and they talk to us. And they tell about the big terrible things they’ve done — and the big wonderful things they’ll do. Their hopes and their regrets, their loves and their hates. All very large, because nobody ever brings anything small into a bar. And then — I introduce them to Harvey. And he’s bigger and grander than anything they offer me. And — and when they leave, they leave impressed. The same people seldom come back, but — that’s — that’s envy, my dear. There’s a little bit of envy in the best of us. That’s too bad. Isn’t it?
Thanks, Felicity! To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!
Twitter: @thefelociraptor.
We already have a set of classic 60s Movies, 70s movies, 80s Movies and 90s Movies. This month, we’re working on 50s movies.
Here is an updated list of 25 fine folks who have already volunteered [those who I put in bold have already sent me their posts]:
12 Angry Men — Ipsita Barik
A Place in the Sun — Zach Jansen
A Star is Born — Melinda Mahaffey
All About Eve — Ricardo Bravo
American in Paris — stefani1601
File on Thelma Jordon, The — David Joyner
Harvey — Felicity Flesher
High Noon — Jeff Messerman
Invasion of the Body Snatchers — Rick Dyke
Kiss Me Deadly — John Henderson
Marty — jetwillie69
Night of the Demon — David Hutchison
Night of the Hunter — Mark Twain
On the Waterfront — Bilbo Poynter
Pickpocket — Zach Jansen
Quiet Man, The — Traci Nell Peterson
Rear Window — Roy Gordon
Rebel Without a Cause — uncgym44
Searchers, The — mkm28
Seven Samurai, The — Paul Graunke
Some Like It Hot — Will King
Stalag 17 — James Schramm
Sunset Blvd. — Rick Dyke
Tokyo Story — Jeff Messerman
Vertigo — Jason Pates
I’m looking for 31 guest posts, one for each day of May. Why not pitch in to help add to this online resource to inspire writers to learn about and — most importantly — watch great movies.
If you have a classic 50s movies on which you’d like to do a writeup, please either post in comments or email me.
Thanks in advance!
For the original post explaining the series, go here.
For all of the 50s movies featured in the series, go here.
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