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Harvey (1950) |
An unusual friend and a missing coin purse save a man's life
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The 1950 film "Harvey" is a comedy-fantasy based on the 1944 play of the same title written by
Colorado author Mary Chase.
Elwood P. Dowd lives with his sister Veta Louise Simmons and Veta's daughter Myrtle Mae in an old
Victorian house in a small town. For several years Elwood has had a friend "Harvey" who is an
invisible six foot three inch tall white rabbit.
Elwood's eccentricity has been causing problems with his sister and niece's attempts to enter the town
social set. Finally Veta attempts to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium.
At one point Elwood is in the sanitarium where a doctor has convinced Veta and Elwood to have him
injected with a dangerous personality altering drug. A taxi driver who brought Veta to the sanitarium
demands payment and Veta can not find her coin purse to pay him.
The loss delays the injection.
No actual coins appear in the film.
1. Title
Elwood P. Dowd appears leaving a large Victorian house.
2. Elwood P. Dowd
Elwood lives with his older sister Veta Simmons and Veta's daughter Myrtle Mae.
Actually the women live with Elwood as he owns the house.
Elwood's claimed friendship with Harvey, an invisible six foot tall white rabbit, has caused problems
for the women, Veta who wants to enter the town high society, and Myrtle, who wants to find a man
who will marry her.
3. Aunt Ethyl visits the Dowd house
Aunt Ethyl is a rich high society relative and Veta and Myrtle don't want her to meet Elwood.
4. Aunt Ethyl and Elwood
Elwood introduces her to Harvey and she leaves.
Veta goes to the Chumley's Rest Sanitarium to see about committing Elwood.
She is met by Dr. Sanderson.
5. Veta sees Dr. Sanderson
The doctor talks to Veta and decides she is the one to be kept.
Later the doctor and Miss Kelly, his assistant, talk to Elwood.
6. Dr. Sanderson and Miss Kelly interview Elwood
Elwood introduces them to Harvey.
Later Dr. Chumley himself appears and examines a hat that was found.
7. Dr. Chumley examines the hat
He finds that there are holes for large ears.
Someone mentions that Harvey is a "Pooka" which leads Marvin Wilson, an orderly, to open a book.
8. Marvin reads the description
Pooka P-o-o-k-a Pooka.
From old Celtic mythology.
A fairy spirit in animal form, always very large.
The pooka appears here and there, now and then, to this one and that one.
A benign but mischievous creature, very fond of rumpots, crackpots...
And "How are you, Mr. Wilson?"
Veta manages to get away from the sanatarium and return home.
9. Veta describes her stay
They put me in and let Elwood out.
This awful man stepped out.
He was a white slaver. I know he was.
He was wearing one of those white suits. That's how they advertise.
He grabbed hold of me and took me in there, and he took me upstairs and he tore my clothes off.
And then he dumped me down in a tub of water.
That man grabbed hold of me as though I was a woman of the streets.
Then one of those doctors came upstairs and asked me a lot of questions.
All about sex urges and all that filthy stuff.
Elwood brings home a painting.
10. Portrait of Harvey
Veta and Myrtle see the painting and decide to seek medical "help" for Elwood.
Later Elwood, Dr. Sanderson, Kelly, and Wilson meet at a local bar.
11. Elwood describes Harvey
Elwood tells how he met Harvey several years before.
Later at the sanitarium Elwood and Dr. Chumley have a talk.
12. Dr. Chumley as patient
More than ever Veta wants to have Elwood treated.
Dr. Sanderson suggests using his "Formula 977" on Elwood which will drastically alter
his personality.
13. Veta persuades Elwood
Veta convinces Elwood to take the injection.
The taxi driver who broght them demands payment.
The family lawyer has no cash and Veta searches her handbag for her coin purse.
14. Veta looking for change
Veta can't find her coin purse and tells the taxi driver that they can get the money from Elwood
after he is treated. The driver tells them that he has taken many people to the sanitarium for the
treatment, they arrive happy and contented, but afterwards they are unhappy and mean.
Veta decides she wants the pleasant Elwood even with Harvey around.
15. Elwood returns
Veta goes through her handbag again.
16. Veta finds her coin purse
She exclaims "Harvey!"
Veta and Myrtle leave, followed by Elwood.
17. Walking into the sunrise
The cast members are then shown except for one.
18. Harvey as Himself
Cast, Directors, Writers:
James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd
Josephine Hull as Veta Louise Dowd Simmons
Peggy Dow as Miss Kelly
Charles Drake as Dr. Lyman Sanderson
Victoria Horne as Myrtle Mae Simmons
Jesse White as Marvin Wilson (rest home orderly)
Cecil Kellaway as Dr. William Chumley
Harvey as Himself
Director: Henry Koster
Writers: Mary Chase, Oscar Brodney
Josephine Hull as Veta Louise Dowd Simmons
Peggy Dow as Miss Kelly
Charles Drake as Dr. Lyman Sanderson
Victoria Horne as Myrtle Mae Simmons
Jesse White as Marvin Wilson (rest home orderly)
Cecil Kellaway as Dr. William Chumley
Harvey as Himself
Writers: Mary Chase, Oscar Brodney
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