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Harvey

Dir. Henry Koster, English, USA

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Sun 28 October 2012 // 18:30 / Cinema

Harvey (1950)

Harvey is a timeless magical black and white masterpiece starring James Stewart as Elwood P Dowd, a mild mannered, pleasant dreamer who keeps company with an invisible six foot tall white rabbit. As his sister tries to commit him to a mental institution Elwood and Harvey (the rabbit) become the catalysts for a series of comedic events sparking romanticism, peace and contentment in almost everyone who knows them. Hilariously uplifting.

“ Harvey will do you a world of good… if it does not send you forth into the highways and the byways embracing a warm glow then the fault will be less with ‘Harvey’ we suspect, than it will be with you”

Bosley Crowther, Film Critic

Director:Henry Koster

Stars:James Stewart, Josephine Hull and Peggy Dow

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWmc_XRpa9U

Elwood P. Dowd's Philosophy:

"Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, 'In this world, Elwood, you must be" -she always called me Elwood – "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.' Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me".
—James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd
About Harvey:
Harvey is a Pooka, a benign but mischievous creature from Celtic mythology  who is especially fond of social outcasts (like Elwood). Elwood has driven his sister and niece (who live with him and crave normality and a place in "society") to distraction by introducing everyone he meets to his friend, Harvey. His family seems to be unsure whether Dowd's obsession with Harvey is a product of his (admitted) propensity to drink or perhaps mental illness. Elwood spends most of his time in the local bar, and throughout the film invites new acquaintances to join him for a drink (or to his house for dinner). Interestingly, the barman and all regulars accept the existence of Harvey, and the barman asks how they both are and unflinchingly accepts an order from Elwood for two Martinis.
About the Director:
Henry Koster was introduced to Cinema about 1910 when his uncle opened a very early movie theatre  in Berlin. Koster's mother played the piano to accompany the films, leaving the young boy to occupy himself by watching the films. After working initially as a short story writer, Koster was subsequently hired by a Berlin movie company as scenarist, became assistant to director Curtis Bernhardt. Bernhardt became sick one day and asked Koster to take over as director.

In 1936 Koster got a contract to work with Universal Picturesin Hollywood, and he travelled to the USA although Koster did not speak English.

Koster was nominated for an Academy Award for The Bishops Wife (1947) and in  1950 he directed what was his biggest success to date, the James Stewart comedy Harvey. 

Although Koster never won an Oscar himself, he directed six different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Cecil Kellaway, Loretta Young, Celeste Holm, Elsa Lanchester, josephine Hull, James Stewart and Richard Burton. Hull won the Oscar for Harvey.