Based on Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, this fantasy comedy makes one question what society deems acceptable behavior. James Stewart performance as Elwood P. Dowd is just one of his iconic parts, bringing a joyous level of kindness. Josephine Hull (ARSENIC AND OLD LACE) won an Oscar for performance as Elwood's distraught sister Veta Louise Simmons. Would you be distraught if your brother introduced everyone he meets to an invisible, six-foot-tall rabbit named Harvey?
Elwood P. Dowd might be the nicest man who ever lived. He wants to invite every person he meets over for dinner or out for drinks. Veta's distinguished circle of friends looks at her brother oddly. Veta's daughter Myrtle Mae (Victoria Horne, THE GHOST AND MR. MUIR) has lost complete faith that, with her uncle around, she'll ever find a nice man. Others like Cracker the bartender (Dick Wessel, FATHER OF THE BRIDE) accept Elwood and Harvey as they are. But Veta doesn't want to befriend bartenders and ex-cons like her brother, so she decides to have him institutionalized. However, her frantic behavior and Elwood's calm demeanor make one wonder which one of them should be institutionalized.
At the asylum, Dr. Sanderson (Charles Drake, WINCHESTER '73) makes all the calls for lead doctor Chumley (Cecil Kellaway, KIM). Miss Kelly (Peggy Dow) is the nurse who has feelings for Sanderson, but he always puts other things before her. Sanderson's first encounter with Veta and Elwood creates a great deal of confusion, and due to his actions, Chumley feels the institution could be sued. This spurs, Chumley to personally head out to capture Elwood. But he hasn't met Mr. Dowd yet.
The key to the film's philosophy is summed up in the advice from Elwood's mother, "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Elwood's answer, "Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant." Whether Harvey is real or not, you'll have to watch the film to find out, but what is real is how Harvey changes the lives of the people he "interacts with." In a wonderful scene in the alley behind Elwood's favorite bar, Dowd tells Sanderson and Kelly how he first met Harvey and how he sees the giant rabbit. His friendship with Harvey has surely changed him, but is that good or bad?
This classic made two AFI's list for comedy and fantasy. While fantasy plays a role, comedy plays a much bigger part in the experience. Chase adapted her play with Oscar Brodney and uncredited Myles Connolly. The film has some wonderfully constructed laughs, especially when Veta and Elwood first go to the asylum. The sequence is filled with brilliant irony. An element so often missing from modern comedy.
It's hard to see any other actor bringing such charm to Elwood P. Dowd. He may have chosen pleasantness over smarts, but that doesn't mean he's dumb. He's a literal man, but keenly observant. He doesn't even know how good he is. That's because he has no ego. He just wants to make friends. And what a great friend he'd be. I mean Harvey prefers him.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
