At this year's Film Festival, fans can catch beloved legend James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd, one of his most memorable characters. In "Harvey," which Mary Chase adapted from her stage version, seeing really is believing.
Elwood is a middle-aged man loved by everybody in town. However, there is something strikingly odd about him - he sees a 6-foot rabbit nobody else can see. Elwood lives with his sister, Veta Louise Simmons (Josephine Hull), and his niece, Myrtle Mae Simmons (Victoria Horne). Veta and Myrtle tolerate Elwood and his invisible pal, who he calls Harvey, until one day he tries to introduce Harvey to one of the most important women in town.
Fearing that Elwood is ruining Myrtle Mae's chances of meeting a nice young man, Veta decides that it is time to commit Elwood. But when they arrive at the sanitarium, a hilarious mix-up occurs and Veta is committed while Elwood walks free.
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Along the way, Henry Koster shows us Elwood's philosophy on life. Though people cannot see him, Harvey eventually affects the life of every person in the movie.
In this 1950 classic, Hull turns in one of the most brilliant performances of her career, earning an Oscar for her efforts. Veta slowly loses her mind as she tries to put up with her supposedly crazy brother. Hull's physical talents allow her to use her extremely expressive facial and body gestures to convey her emotions. Coupled with her high-pitched, nervous voice, she actually rivals Stewart for command of the screen.
However, Jimmy Stewart is Jimmy Stewart. He is one of the best actors ever, and in "Harvey," he turns in one of the most memorable performances of his career. His disarmingly simple down-to-earth charm, his stammering voice, his impeccably polite manner, the twinkle in his eye, and his innocent manner all coalesce to convince the audience that Harvey is actually there with him.
Elwood is a man who literally has no worries or cares. He has a simple view of the world, a view that believes a drink and a good friend to be the solutions to everything. Chase presents his philosophy on life in two of the movie's greatest lines: "My mother told me once that in this world you have to be either oh-so-smart or oh-so-kind. I tried smart for 33 years. Personally, I recommend kind." And "I have wrestled with reality for 35 years and I am happy to state, doctor, that I finally won out over it." He turns an irresponsible, single-minded alcoholic into an ultimately sympathetic and redeemable character everyone will adore.
By today's standards, "Harvey" is an old-fashioned, politically incorrect movie. Yet that is the exact reason that it retains all its original charm, and in fact, the reason why it has become even more of a charming movie over the years. It harkens back to a day when people could live like Elwood - simply - and for the most part without the threat of sanctions. In today's society Elwood would have been locked up and treated by all kinds of psychiatrists.
After viewing this movie one cannot help but wish that he could go through life with Elwood's ease and simplicity. To him life poses no problems and all people are friends. And after watching this movie and experiencing Harvey's magical powers, you too will feel a kinship with Elwood and feel the same joie de vivre.
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