The story of Elwood P. Dowd who makes friends with a spirit taking the form of a human-sized rabbit named Harvey that only he sees (and a few privileged others on occasion also.) After his sister tries to commit him to a mental institution, a comedy of errors ensues. Elwood and Harvey become the catalysts for a family mending its wounds and for romance blossoming in unexpected places.
Acting
Stewart's gentle chaos — never winks, never breaks
Writing
Pulitzer-perfect dialogue, every line a tightrope
Direction
Koster never shows Harvey, and you never need him
Director
Henry Koster
James Stewart
Elwood P. Dowd
Josephine Hull
Veta Louise Simmons
Peggy Dow
Miss Kelly
Charles Drake
Dr. Sanderson
Cecil Kellaway
Dr. Chumley
Victoria Horne
Myrtle Mae Simmons
Jesse White
Wilson
William H. Lynn
Judge Gaffney (as William Lynn)
Wallace Ford
The Taxi Driver
Nana Bryant
Mrs. Hazel Chumley
Clem Bevans
Mr. Herman Shimelplatzer
Don Brodie
Mailman (uncredited)
Pat Flaherty
Policeman (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Josephine Hull won an Oscar for playing Veta — then immediately retired from film to return to stage work.
Harvey the pooka comes from Celtic folklore — a shapeshifting trickster spirit, not merely Elwood's invention.
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