Harvey

 Harvey 1950

• Director: Henry Koster
• Seen by this director: Good Morning Miss Dove, The Singin Nun, Flower Drum Song
• Based on the book: no.
• Cast: James Stewart, Wallace Ford, William H Lynn, Victoria Horne, Jesse White, Cecil Kellaway, Charles Drake, Peggy Dow, Josephine Hull
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• James Stewart – The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Greatest Show on Earth, Bell Book and Candle, Vertigo, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Rear Window, Rope, maybe others
• Wallace Ford – A Patch of Blue
• Jesse White – TV Series
• Cecil Kellaway – TV series, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, The Proud Rebel
• Charles Drake – TV series
• Josephine Hull – Arsenic and Old Lace
• Why? A childhood favourite.
• Seen: Probably twice before. Now: 10 November 2021      

       Elwood P Down (Stewart) is a mild pleasant middle-aged man who generously offers his card to everyone and who is very solicitous of his dear friend Harvey who just happens to be a giant rabbit. An invisible one.

       This causes great distress to his sister Veta (Hull) and niece Myrtle Mae (Horne), especially when Elwood and Harvey show up at their afternoon tea party. The elegant petit bourgeois ladies rush off in alarm at being introduced to Harvey.

       In despair, Veta tries to have him committed. Instead, the psychiatrist (Drake) commits her.

       The farce thickens.

       James Stewart gives his most loveable roll and Josephine Hull is great fun as the despairing sister.

       What a sweet and endearing film.      

5* of 5