Harvey

"The Wonderful Pulitzer Prize Play … becomes one of the Great Motion Pictures of our Time!"

1950 1h 44m EN

🙌

7.7

BANGER

🍅

88%

FRESH

👌

METACRITIC

⭐

7.9

IMDB

★7.7TMDB · 705🍅88%Rotten Tomatoes●79Metacritic★7.9IMDB · 60,260

ComedyFantasy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The story of Elwood P. Dowd who makes friends with a spirit taking the form of a human-sized rabbit named Harvey that only he sees (and a few privileged others on occasion also.) After his sister tries to commit him to a mental institution, a comedy of errors ensues. Elwood and Harvey become the catalysts for a family mending its wounds and for romance blossoming in unexpected places.

“The Wonderful Pulitzer Prize Play … becomes one of the Great Motion Pictures of our Time!”

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Cast

James Stewart
Elwood P. Dowd
Josephine Hull
Veta Louise Simmons
Peggy Dow
Miss Kelly
Charles Drake
Dr. Sanderson
Cecil Kellaway
Dr. Chumley
Victoria Horne
Myrtle Mae Simmons
Jesse White
Wilson
William H. Lynn
Judge Gaffney (as William Lynn)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Henry Koster
Writers: Oscar Brodney, Myles Connolly
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

76 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Henry Koster, shot by William H. Daniels. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Ralph Dawson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

CAST

Did you know

James Stewart and Josephine Hull and Peggy Dow carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

AWARDS

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The Wonderful Pulitzer Prize Play … becomes one of the Great Motion Pictures of our Time!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0042546 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Henry Koster directs. William H. Daniels behind the camera. Ralph Dawson cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

176 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Henry Koster, shot by William H. Daniels. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Editor Ralph Dawson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
4James Stewart and Josephine Hull and Peggy Dow carry the top of the cast.
5Marketing tagline: "The Wonderful Pulitzer Prize Play … becomes one of the Great Motion Pictures of our Time!".
6IMDB entry: tt0042546 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Classified under 11 themes, including "sanatorium", "based on play or musical", "imaginary friend", "mental institution".
8Released under 10 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: William H. Daniels
Editing: Ralph Dawson
Costume design: Orry-Kelly
Makeup / hair: Joan St. Oegger
Runtime: 104 min · 1h 44m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Harvey (1950)
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% 🍅 Fresh
Metacritic: 79/100
IMDB rating: 7.9/10 · 60,260 votes
MPAA: Approved

Awards

Won 1 Oscar. 5 wins & 4 nominations total

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Henry Koster

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2014-09-06
★ 8/10
That damn 6ft 3" rabbit is as charming as ever. Elwood P. Dowd is a charming harmless fella, he takes a drink or two for sure, but he's a delightful human being regardless. So why then does his sister want to have him committed to a home for the insane? Ah well you see, Elwood has an invisible friend who happens to be a six-foot-three rabbit! Faithfully adapted by Mary Chase from her hit Broadway play, Harvey remains to this day a wonderful fantasy comedy that delights all members of the family. It's the kind of film that leaves a warm glow once the credits role, it's basic premise is one of fantastical whimsy as Elwood drives all around him to distraction with his discourse with the invisible Harvey. It's here that the film has a rather naughty streak because Elwood actually appears to be the only sane person on show, all around him is chaos, but he remains calm and completely at peace with his lot. Starring as Elwood is James Stewart (Academy Award nominated), and it's a very special memorable performance as he carries off with ease the eccentric nature of the character. Stealing the show as Elwood's sister Veta, is Josephine Hull (Aademy Award winner best supporting actress}, completely flustered and effervescent with comic timing precision. Solid support comes from Peggy Dow (why didn't she do more movies?), Charles Drake and the always watchable Cecil Kellaway. The direction from Henry Koster I personally find uneven, at times too hectic when the magic moment has passed, it's as if he was caught between making a screwball comedy or just a basic fantastical one. I often wonder what Frank Capra could have done with this particular adaptation? Still, the film remains much beloved by many, and I'm certainly counting myself amongst that number. Bless the pooka indeed. 8/10
DanDare2017-06-14
★ 8/10
Harvey is a whimsical film, at times a clever film about innocence and making sure it is not lost in a cynical dog eat dog world. James Stewart plays Elwood an amiable pleasant drunk, although we never see him actually drink. He is a sweet man who likes talking to people, so adept he is at listening to people, they tell him all sorts of hopes, desires, wishes and problems like he was the parish priest. Elwood's sister Veta Louise (Josephine Hull) wants to marry off her daughter Myrtle Mae (Victoria Home) but what is holding them back is Elwood and his conversations with Harvey, a 6 feet tall invisible rabbit. Veta decides to have Elwood committed but due to a series of mishaps it is her who ends being institutionalized before the error is discovered and further farce ensues. Eventually she realises that she wants her brother just the way he is.
barrymost2021-12-06
★ 9/10
People like Elwood P. Dowd. He has plenty of friends, and knows almost everyone in town. If he doesn't know you, simply allow him to give you his card. His best friend, however, is a clever pooka who takes the form of a 6'3" tall rabbit. I didn't know it was possible to like James Stewart even more than I already did! Here he gives one of his most endearing performances, in a role he called his personal favorite. Josephine Hull, Victoria Horn, Charles Drake, Peggy Dow, Cecil Kellaway, and others make up a colorful and lively supporting cast. From the Pulitzer prize winning play comes this wonderfully zany comedy celebrating the eccentric in all of us. A delightful and heartwarming film enjoyable for all ages. I think Jimmy Stewart speaks for all of us when he says at the end, "I prefer you, too, Harvey."