Search - Harvey on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Excellent For Children Movie Release: 1950 DVD Release: 02/06/2001 Format: DVD - Black and White,Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English, Spanish Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 45 mins Studio: Universal Studios Members Wishing: 49 Genres: Comedy, Comedy of Manners, Screwball Comedy

This whimsical fantasy about a local drunk's 6' 3 1/2" imaginary rabbit pal was a smash hit (and a Pulitzer Prize winner) on Broadway and was then adapted into this likeable farce that's also an allegory about tolerance. James Stewart stars as Elwood P. Dowd, a wealthy tippler whose sunny philosophy and inebriated antics are tolerated by most of the citizenry. That is, until Elwood begins claiming that he sees a "pooka" (a mischievous Irish spirit), which has taken the form of a man-sized bunny named Harvey. Although everyone is certain that Elwood has finally lost his mind, Harvey's presence begins to have magically positive effects on the townsfolk, with the exception of Elwood's own sister Veta (Josephine Hull), who, ironically, can also occasionally see Harvey. A snooty socialite, Veta is determined to marry off her daughter, Myrtle (Victoria Horne), to somebody equally respectable, and Elwood's lunacy is interfering. When Veta attempts to have Elwood committed to an insane asylum, however, the result is that she is accidentally admitted instead of her brother. Then the institution's director, Dr. Chumley (Cecil Kellaway), begins seeing Harvey, too. Hull, who reprised her part from the stage production, won an Oscar and a Golden Globe. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

James Stewart - Elwood P. Dowd
Josephine Hull - Veta Louise Simmons
Peggy Dow - Miss Kelly
Charles Drake - Mr. Sanderson
Cecil Kellaway - Dr. Chumley
Victoria Horne - Myrtle Mae Simmons

Released in 1950, Harvey's exploration of a loveable loon who prefers hanging around bars with a giant invisible rabbit to leading a "normal, responsible" life remains as timely as it is entertaining. Highlighted by an utterly perfect, low-key performance by James Stewart, this delightful adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play gets a good, if not definitive, DVD release. The pristine full-screen transfer lives up to William H. Daniels' beautiful black-and-white cinematography and shows how a moody noir look enhanced this dreamy, nocturnal comedy (Daniels lensed such dark crime films as Naked City and Brute Force). The audio track has also been cleaned up in Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono and, as an extra feature, Jimmy Stewart gives a lovely introduction to the movie. Harvey is the type of classic movie that viewers can watch over and over again, making it perfect for the DVD format. ~ Nick Dedina, All Movie Guide