Plot: What’s it about?
Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart) and his friend Harvey have all sorts of fun, spreading laughter and happiness wherever they happen to be. All the people who meet Elwood are introduced to Harvey also, which is what makes his sister Veta Louise (Josephine Hull) so upset with him. You see, Vita Louise wants to marry off her daughter, but thanks to Elwood and Harvey, that is getting harder and harder to do. You see, no one can see Harvey and when Elwood talks about him, it tends to make some folks wonder about his mind. So who is this Harvey? Well, he is a six foot tall (and some change) rabbit that follows Elwood around, the two are like best friends around the clock. Elwood has a problem with alcohol and that is what is blamed for his behavior, although some think he has just gone insane. His sister thinks his mind is lost and as such, she takes him into a mental ward, where he can be locked up and treated. But when he gets to walk out a free man and she gets locked up, it seems as though she’ll never have her wishes. Is Elwood really insane or has he simply taken on a different philosophy, one where happiness and love are the focus?
Who knew that James Stewart and a six foot rabbit would make such a wonderful cinematic team? I wouldn’t have predicted it, but I do love the premise and it is worked to perfection in this film. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning play of the same name, this film has excellent material from the start and thanks to a solid cast, it comes off in fine form and doesn’t seem to lose a beat. Stewart is the main man here, but some other cast members include Josephine Hull (who won Best Supporting Actress for her role), Charles Drake, and Cecil Kellaway, all of whom turn in solid performances. When you have a talented, well chosen cast and terrific material for them to work with, it seems like the rest should fall into place, which is what happens here. The film seems to rise to another level as well, one above even the great pace set by the cast and material. Harvey has a lot of comedic moments and is fun to watch, but it also deals with more serious subject matter, though not in a preachy sense. In this case, the focus seems to be on alcohol, but I think the message can be applied to any number of topics and still work. If you’re looking for a touching picture that boasts memorable performances, terrific photography, and keen writing, then Harvey is highly recommended from this reviewer.
Video: How does it look?
Harvey is presented in a full frame transfer, which preserves the film’s intended aspect ratio. And with this new 4K offering, the transfer allows the black & white photography to shine, as the black levels are accurate and the source print looks good. Of course, some small imperfections do surface with the print, but nothing serious and I think this print is very clean. The black & white image looks a little soft at times, but in the end, is sharp enough and looks very solid. Given the age of this film, I think Universal has issued a fine visual presentation here.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included 2.0 DTS HD Master Audio track is clean and sounds good, but still has to function within the limits of the format. I heard no serious problems though, the track is clean at all times, with no real age related flaws to report. The music sounds good here, very upbeat and snappy, while the minimal sound effects present also come off very well in this mix. But the vocals never get overwhelmed here, as the dialogue is crisp and consistent, no problems in the least. It isn’t much to get excited about, but this track handles the basics without much trouble. This disc also includes subtitles in English and French, in case you’ll need them.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Introduction by James Stewart – Stewart’s narration runs over a presentation of still photos.
- 100 Years of Universal: The Carl Laemmle Era – A look at “Uncle Carl”, the founder of Universal Studios.
- 100 Years of Universal: The Lew Wasserman Era – If you don’t know the name, you don’t know movies. One of the most respected film agents and the “last of the movie moguls” who had the respect of countless in the industry due to his tireless work ethic.
- Theatrical Trailer
The Bottom Line
James Stewart’s career had many highs (and very few lows). While his films with Hitchcock might be the ones he’s most remembered for (or Frank Capra), it’s an invisible six foot tall rabbit that might have captured many hearts. This anniversary edition breathes new life into the transfer and makes for a nice, all around package.
