Harvey

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Harvey

Released Oct 13, 1950

1h 44m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart) is a wealthy drunk who starts having visions of a giant rabbit named Harvey. Elwood lives with his sister Veta (Josephine Hull) and her daughter (Victoria Horne), and Veta worries that Elwood has gone insane. In the process of trying to have him committed, Veta admits that she occasionally sees Harvey herself. The director of the mental home, Dr. Chumley (Cecil Kellaway), tries to reconcile his duty to help Elwood with his own growing experiences with Harvey.

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

The charm of the play has been brought to the screen and all audiences should find it highly satisfying.

Jul 30, 2019

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TIME Magazine

Unhappily, what the film also borrows from the play, and somehow makes more conspicuous, is a tendency to drag its feet for long stretches, especially during the virtually actionless last third of the story.

Mar 29, 2011

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Great performances lifts this movie above its stilted script and production.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 29, 2011

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Some will find the film cute and endearing, while others will need to see an ophthalmologist to correct their eyes that have rolled back into their heads to repeatedly.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 17, 2024

Full Review

Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

While perhaps trivialising some serious issues, Harvey still presents a sweet and delightful comedy-drama about one eccentric man who befriends an imaginary (or possibly just invisible!) giant rabbit.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 18, 2024

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Kristin Battestella

InSession Film

Maybe we should all be a little more like Elwood P. Dowd and befriend our own devil may care pooka because we could sure use one right about now.

Apr 19, 2024

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Johnathon W

Charming classic thanks to a brilliant lead performance by Jimmy Stewart and solid direction from Henry Koster. The main appeal is Stewart's performance, showing his range as a whimsical man who believes he is friends with a six foot rabbit, named Harvey. He plays him as just a nice, charming man who, while a little eccentric, isn't harming anyone, so who cares what he believes. Behind the camera, Koster adapts the play nicely, though it still looks like a play at times, and manages to get the cast bouncing off each other nicely. He also keeps the audiences on its toes by not revealing if Harvey is real or not. Overall, a great movie that gave a great showcase for Jimmy Stewart's range.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/25

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Russ G

My problem with this movie is its treatment of alcoholism. Drunks are said to see "Pink Elephants;" Elwood P. Dowd sees a six foot rabbit. Twice in my life I've been deathly ill after three martini's; Elwood orders them two at a time. This is one of innumerable Hollywood depictions of the Loveable Drunk going back at least as far as WC Fields, but the actual physical and mental effects of heavy drinking are ignored in favor of cheap laughs. OK, it's a comedy, but alcohol abuse is no laughing matter.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/06/25

Full Review

Alec B

Stewart and Hull give iconic performances and while I do think this movie loses a little bit of the play's whimsy and weirdness it is probably the best adaptation we are ever likely to get.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

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Nathan H

The dialogue was excellent and closely followed the original Broadway production James Stewart said that this was his favorite role. Such a great movie. It is my all time favorite. A must watch for everyone especially when just wondering the meanings of what's important in life. Entertaining and hilarious .

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/24

Full Review

CodyZamboni Z

This movie, half way thru I was not buying into the bs. I was tuned out, not empathetic to James Stewart's sick, sad, deluded alcoholic. But then, the movie starts to makes its point, and irony, that James is better at helping people than the doctors, that people need magic, kindness, and imagination in life. That faith is something bigger than they are, and all Stewart is doing is bringing joy to others, and re kindling and re igniting relationships.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/25

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James L

A truly great film that was Jimmy Stewart at his acting best, carrying on a believable running dialogue with a giant invisible rabbit-extraordinary!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Henry Koster

Director

James Stewart

Elwood P. Dowd

Josephine Hull

Veta Louise Simmons

Cecil Kellaway

Dr. Chumley

Peggy Dow

Miss Kelly

Charles Drake

Dr. Sanderson

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Synopsis

Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart) is a wealthy drunk who starts having visions of a giant rabbit named Harvey. Elwood lives with his sister Veta (Josephine Hull) and her daughter (Victoria Horne), and Veta worries that Elwood has gone insane. In the process of trying to have him committed, Veta admits that she occasionally sees Harvey herself. The director of the mental home, Dr. Chumley (Cecil Kellaway), tries to reconcile his duty to help Elwood with his own growing experiences with Harvey.

Director: Henry Koster
Producer: John Beck
Screenwriter: Mary Chase, Oscar Brodney, Myles Connolly
Distributor: Universal Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co: Universal International Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 13, 1950, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 11, 2015
Runtime: 1h 44m

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