Harveyis a 1996 Americanmade-for-televisionfantasy-comedy filmand a remake of the blockbuster Americancomedydramafilm1950 classic film(starringJames Stewart) based onMary Chase's 1944play of the same name.The television adaptation was directed byGeorge Schaefer(his final film project) and starredHarry Anderson(as the eccentric Elwood P. Dowd),Leslie Nielsen,andSwoosie Kurtz.[1]Though it was filmed in 1996, the film sat on the shelf until July 18, 1999, when it was broadcast byCBS,two years after Schaefer's and Stewart's deaths.
Harvey | |
---|---|
Based on | Harvey 1944 play byMary Chase |
Teleplay by | Joseph Dougherty |
Directed by | George Schaefer |
Starring | Harry Anderson Leslie Nielsen Swoosie Kurtz |
Music by | Ragnar Rosinkranz |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers | Robert Halmi Don Gregory |
Producer | Lisa Towers |
Cinematography | David Geddes |
Editor | Michael Eliot |
Running time | 120 minutes |
Production companies | Don Gregory Productions Hallmark Entertainment |
Original release | |
Network | CBS |
Release | July 18, 1999 |
Plot
editAnderson plays the role of Elwood P. Dowd, an amiable but eccentric man whose best friend is an invisible, 6 ft 3+1⁄2 in-tall (1.92 m) whiterabbitnamed Harvey. As described by Elwood, Harvey is aPúca(pooka), a benign but mischievous creature fromCeltic mythology.Elwood spends most of his time taking Harvey around town, drinking and talking at various bars and introducing Harvey to almost every person he meets, much to the puzzlement of strangers, though Elwood's family and friends have accepted Harvey's (supposed) existence.
His older sister Veta (Kurtz) and his niece Myrtle Mae live with him in his large estate, but have become social outcasts along with Elwood due to his bizarre behaviors in public and his obsession with Harvey. After Elwood ruins a party Veta and Myrtle Mae had arranged in secret, Veta finally tries to have him committed to a localsanatorium.In exasperation she admits to the attendingpsychiatrist,Dr. Sanderson, that she sees Harvey every once in a while herself and that she has started to believe in his existence. Mistaking Veta as the real mental case, Sanderson has Elwood released and Veta locked up. Dr. Chumley, head of the sanatorium, discovers the mistake and realizes he must bring Elwood back, searching the town with Wilson, anorderly.With Veta's help, Chumley eventually tracks Elwood to his favorite bar, "Charlie's", and decides to confront him alone.
Four hours later, Wilson returns to the sanatorium, but learns from Sanderson and nurse Kelly that Chumley has not returned with Elwood. They arrive at Charlie's and find Elwood alone; he explains that Dr. Chumley had wandered off chatting with Harvey after several rounds of drinks. When asked, Elwood explains that he met Harvey down a street beside alampostone day, leaning against a pole. Elwood was surprised when Harvey called him by his name and soon they started taking about various things in the world and became fast friends. They had since enjoyed going to bars and socializing with other people. Convinced Elwood is insane and may have harmed Chumley, Wilson calls the police and has Elwood escorted back to the sanatorium.
Chumley returns to the sanatorium disheveled andparanoid,and is followed by an invisible presence. When the others arrive, Chumley invites Elwood to his office. In private, Chumley says that he now knows Harvey is real, and Elwood explains Harvey's various powers, including his ability to stop time, send anyone to any destination for as long as they like, and then bring them back without a minute passing. Veta arrives with Judge Gaffney and Myrtle Mae, prepared to commit Elwood to make him "normal". They are convinced by Sanderson that aninjectionof a serum called Formula 977 will stop Elwood from "seeing the rabbit".
As they prepare the injection, Veta tries to pay the cab driver but, emptying her purse, is unable to find her smaller coin purse. She interrupts the injection procedure and asks Elwood to pay the driver. Elwood while paying the driver starts a conversation about the driver's occupation. Warmed by Elwood's kindness, the cab driver explains how he has driven many people to the sanatorium to receive the same medicine and how they enjoy the ride here, watching the sunset and talking about various things, some real, some not, but on the way back, the same people start shouting at the cab driver, complaining how busy they are and that they are always running short of time. He warns Veta that Elwood will become like them, "a perfectly normal human being,...and you know what they are." Veta is upset by this, and halts the injection, bringing Elwood out of the examining room. At this, Judge Gaffney becomes annoyed and leaves. She then finds her coin purse, and realizes that Harvey had intervened to save her brother.
As Elwood is about to leave, he finds Harvey near a staircase; they start walking back, but Dr. Chumley finds them and asks Elwood where he can find his ownpúca,to which Elwood replies, "He'll find you...When you are ready."
In the ending scene, Veta and Elwood are seen smiling and playing the piano together in their mansion while an empty chair rocks back and forth, supposedly with Harvey sitting on it.
Cast
edit- Harry Andersonas Elwood P. Dowd
- Leslie Nielsenas Dr. Chumley
- Swoosie Kurtzas Veta Simmons
- Jonathan Banksas C.J. Lofgren, cab driver
- Jessica Hechtas Miss Ruth Kelly
- William Schallertas Judge Gaffney
- Lisa Akey as Myrtle Mae Simmons
- Jim O'Heiras Duane Wilson
- Robert Wisdenas Dr. Sanderson
- Lynda Boydas Mrs. Chumley
- Alex Fergusonas Zabladowski
- Sheila Moore as Mrs. Chauvenet
- Sheelah Megill as Miss Tewksbury
- Robin Kellyas Mrs. Greenwalt
- Ingrid Tesch as Girl Reporter
Production
editThe film was shot inVancouver,British Columbia,Canada.
References
edit- ^"Harvey:Overview".Movies MSN. Archived fromthe originalon June 9, 2012.RetrievedDecember 3,2010.