Harvey (1950) First Time Watching Reaction & Review
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- Опубликовано: 24 июл 2024
- First time reaction and brief review of the movie "Harvey". Future Reaction Polls + Early Access + Exclusive Content (currently "Star Trek: Enterprise" rewatch reactions) Available on Patreon: / alexachipman
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:16 Reaction
18:58 Review
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“In this world you can be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant. For years I was smart, I recommend pleasant.”
This line has stuck with me all my life.
Stewarts performance as Elwood P.Dowd was so amazing that theres not been a film adaptation of "Harvey"since. No actor believes they can live up to the reputation of James Stewart in the role.
His entire speech about meeting Harvey and introducing him to the people at the bar is so sweet. And that ending is one of the best in film. "I prefer you too." One of my top ten favourite films of all time.
They did a TV movie adaptation of Harvey with the late Harry Anderson. I LOVE Harry, but it was NOT good. It was like when Marlo Thomas had the audacity to make a TV movie remake of It's a Wonderful Life (with a gender change)...I have never forgiven her.
I love it when Dr. Sanderson asks Elwood about the name 'Harvey', so sure of himself thinking the name Harvey must be the name of one of Elwood's childhood friends. And Elwood says yes he had a best friend growing up named...Vern.
Because of this video, after 34 years I finally get that joke in Who Framed Roger Rabbit where the drunk guy says to the judge while arm hovering his arm "Say Hello, Harvey!"
Hit me like a lightning bolt
Ha! It didn't take long for you to become one of my top fave reactors. I love this movie so much. It has such a sweetness to it, while also tackling so many deep issues in a way that doesn't feel like you're being hit over the head with a sledgehammer. (Just a Pooka in giant rabbit form.) And there are just so many great lines! "Years ago my mother used to say to me, she’d say, ‘In this world, Elwood’-she always called me Elwood-'you can be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant.’ Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me."
I also really enjoy the way you point out pertinent "fun facts" along with way. It adds an extra layer to the reactions. Thank you SO MUCH for watching and reacting to this gem. ❤️
Thank you! I loved that quote as well. I didn't include it since it was just me being quite pensive with it! That is definitely one I will be thinking about, years later.
I got hooked on Harvey the moment I bought it on video, and then on DVD.
For a long time I couldn't understand what made me so angry every time I watched it, and then one day it suddenly clicked:
"You're living your own life in your own way and you're not hurting anyone, but we don't approve and so we're not going to allow you to do it any more".
That broke me up - most of my young life had been spent living to other people's expectations and demands, regardless of what I wanted to do.
So true!!
I love that line. “And how are you Mr. Wilson?”
"...Especially fond of rum-pots, crack-pots, and how are you, Mr. Wilson."
Me too.
My favorite scene in the movie.
Who in the encyclopedia wamts to know?
This has always been one of my favorite old films. It's just charming.
Once, back in the early 90s, I was stuck at a friend's place in the middle of an apple tree farm and a major snow storm hit. We weren't plowed out for several days. The place had no central heat so we had one kerosene heater we had between the living room and kitchen and watched movies, snuggled into blankets to stay warm. This was one of the movies that came on and we had such an urge for 'egg & onion' sandwiches, we stopped the movie and made egg salad even though we had no heat. Boiling the water for the eggs helped warm the room so then we just sat a big stockpot of water on top of the heater for the rest of the time which really helped.. Seeing this brought those memories back.
So glad you enjoyed it. Fun reaction.
Nice Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy reference, too!
What a story! Thanks for sharing!
I agree.
I have seen this film probably 20x and it's still funny every time he gets yanked into that elevator by the orderly. Oh and they actually do show the rabbit in the film.... remember the painting over the mantle...LOL!
"Is he alone?"
"Well, there's two schools of thought, sir."
I've loved this movie since I was a kid. It's got a real heartwarming charm - though the pooka is a trickster and old folks often used to fear them. I guess the secret is that if one lets you see him, you have to treat him with respect.
Exactly! Otherwise the mischievous side will come out.
I've watched this movie about 10 times, love it. Seen it on stage a couple of times (my father played Elwood), that was about 35 years ago. And when my father re-visited the role of Elwood about 15 years ago, he tricked my into playing Wilson, it was great fun.
Sounds like a lot of fun!
I love these movies that are based on stage plays - the dialogue is always so sharp and the actors really shine! And, if no one's mentioned it, the play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1945.
I can see why! I would love to see a stage version.
@@alexachipman There was a Broadway revival a few years back with Jim Parsons. I love him in The Big Bang Theory but that's a TOUGH one, playing the role that Jimmy Stewart did so perfectly. ruclips.net/video/ZKD8zsCIBmQ/видео.html
I like the acting in this film. Especially the older woman portraying Jimmy Stewart’s older sister.
She was great!
Yes! Josephine Hull won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress that year. I believe Jimmy Stewart said she had the more difficult role because she had to both believe and not believe in Harvey. She was also great in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' (a classic and shockingly dark comedy!)
@@victorsixtythree Fortunately, Hull had a head start since she had played the role on stage before making the movie. She was a great talent and I wish she had made more movies for us to enjoy her in.
@@victorsixtythree yes, Arsenic And Old Lace, a great fun movie. And let's not forget A Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart.
The greatest line in the movie -
Aunt "I'm sure he has friends of his own"
Elwood "You can't have too many friends"
'Harvey' is one of my favorite films of all time.
The play Harvey won the Pulitzer Prize!
I love rye bread, too. I even make homemade rye/pumpernickel croutons for salad.
I once came upon what appeared to be a 5 foot tall mallard duck standing in the middle of the road. It was late, about 3:30 am and I was on my way home from work. Not sure what it was, but a Pooka is as good as explanation as any.
Lovely reaction Alexa. I appreciate that you brought up Celtic mythology as well as science fiction with your "42" reference from "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". Nice to find a reaction by someone well read. Sorry I didn't find your channel sooner.
Here are some recommendations for old comedy movies from the past. The first is 'Arsenic and Old Lace' about a newly married couple and an odd family. It stars Cary Grant, who has the odd family. And then there's the three Topper movies titled 'Topper (1937), Topper takes a Trip (1938) and Topper Returns (1941). All three movies are about Cosmo Topper who has the unwanted ability to see and talk to ghosts, with hilarious consequences.
Thanks! I have added the films that I haven’t seen to the list! In future if you recommend movies, please do not include any spoilers.
Strongly second the suggestion to watch Arsenic and Old Lace.
Thank you so much for making the connection between Harvey and the fairy folk (I think of them as the "little people," but I think you get it)--that's something that never occurred to me--and it's great!
The little people to me are connected with the machine elves as well as UFOs and that a giant rabbit is also part of this blows my mind in a good way. Thank you!
I love that early on in this reaction you said "Ok. So he has an invisible friend, I take it." Instead of "Ok. So he has an imaginary friend, I take it." That's quite an intelligent deduction that early on in the movie without very many clues, yet. Also, I believe the folklore behind pucas is that they only allow themselves to be seen by those who are willing to see them, so ''invisible' may not exactly be the correct word, but that's neither here nor fhere concerning the movie.
While a feel good movie, an "imaginative" friend beyond childhood is a concern and shouldn't be taken lightly.
Trivia: When speaking with Mrs. Chumley, Elwood describes Harvey as a púca, which is a creature from Irish mythology, and in Celtic as well Nordish myth as well. Referred to as a bringer of either good or bad tidings, a púca can appear in the form of various animals, and sometimes as a human. In most cases, a púca is both friendly and very helpful.
Jesse White, the guy who wanted an egg & onion sandwich, played the Maytag repairman for a long time.
This is a film worth seeing a few times.
What I think is unique is the camera direction to show negative space where Harvey is supposed to be in the camera frame.
This is a great film. I heard about this from my parents saying hey to Harvey and honking the Horn in the car saying hey Harvey and for years my parents said this because my grandpa used to say this to my Mom. It has only been since 2012 or 2013 that I bought the film.
That is adorable! I love it!
Jimmy Stewart says in a 1990 interview that this was originally a play that the actress portraying Jimmy Stewart’s older sister and Jimmy Stewart were in the play version before they made the film.
That's fantastic - I knew it was based on a play but had no idea they were in a production of it!
Really enjoyed your reaction/review. This is one of my favorite movies. It was interesting to see someone watch it that has knowledge of the Fae. I do think you were a bit hard on the doctor; I believe the whole idea was that he and the nurse had been growing closer, and he lost himself in his career, and then a promotion, and there goes the ego. Now that Elwood (and Harvey) have reconnected them, I believe they will find their way; he knows now he doesn't have all the answers. Harvey seems to always know how to help people move in a good direction, and his friend, Elwood, can be friends with anyone. :)
It's interesting, between them, my parents were like Elwood. Mom could talk to anyone and make friends instantly with people, Dad was the person everyone could let the walls down with. I've watched this movie more times than I can count. I never tire of it. My favorite quote is the winning over reality quote; something I would like to truly say. Now I just need a pooka...
The scene at 15:28 always cracked me up because of the role reversal there. LOL! I always enjoy this movie. And your singing is great BTW. 😎👍
This is one of my favorite movies. I had it in the DVD player ready to watch again when I searched for a reaction video to see what someone else thought on first watching. Your knowledge of pookas and the spirit world is an added bonus. I'm glad you enjoyed it. My favorite quote is, "In this world, you must be oh, so smart, or oh, so pleasant. For years I was smart. I recommend pleasant." It takes a smart person to make that choice.
This WAS a stage play before it was a movie. The play was by Mary Chase in 1944 and it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1945.
Speaking of Twilight, there's a fan theory that the "vampires" in the series are nothing of the kind; they're actually Fairies. Some types of Fae do drink blood. Edward's sudden obsession with Bella, to the point of stalking her in a way that would be seriously unhealthy in a human, is very Fair Folk. The way they sparkle in sunlight without being harmed matches tales of their unearthly beauty too. Not to mention the way Edward likes to hang out in a circular meadow in the woods (crop circles anyone?). And now you're associating Doctor Cullen with a Pooka. This is one of those "once you've seen it, you can't unsee it" theories. Think about it.
I love that theory!
I loved this when I was a kid. The actors were amazing. Such fun. I bet a behind the scene would have been interesting back then.
That would be a fascinating behind the scenes!
3:56 - "The barkeep probably loves this because he orders twice as much." I like the way you think! Reminds me of the line from Woody Allen's 'Zelig' "I have an interesting case treating two sets of Siamese twins with split personalities. I'm getting paid by eight people."
This was Jimmy Stewart's favorite movie and he often said that Harvey was his favorite co-star. I love this movie; I actually did the play before I saw the movie. I was maid and for the play stage manager, so I always said I played Harvey, I opened all the doors, moved things for him. It is a fun play, if you ever get a chance, I recommend it. Back then there was no downloads and cable had not come yet, you had to wait for it play as either an afternoon or nighttime movie, and you never knew when that was going to be. Except for Jimmy most of the cast was in the play on Broadway. I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Fantastic! I would love to see a stage play version.
@@alexachipman i hope you enjoy it, it is one of my favorite plays.
People used to have the irrational notion that insanity was contagious.
It’s not entirely irrational.
The first rule of Pucas is...
You Do Not Talk About Pucas
Brad Pitt, a pucca? Didn't see that one coming
I love seeing someone react to this movie. I has been in my top 10 movie list since about 1990. I also enjoyed your aside on clothing styles.
Love this reaction because this is my favorite movie of all time. BUT, you forgot to acknowledge that the artist who painted Elwood and Harvey, obviously could see Harvey too.
Excellent point!
You could have egg and onion on rye.
Josephine Hull was primarily a stage actress, but she made her imprint here and in a wild and crazy farce, "Arsenic and Old Lace", where she plays a completely opposite temperament. As a Brooklynite, I have a particular fondness for "Arsenic and Old Lace".
I know you have seen "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir", and you need to know that the Victoria Horne, actress who played Myrtle Mae was the sister-in-law in "Mrs. Muir". Again a completely different character from the one here, and a glimpse of the range that these supporting players were capable of.
This is one of my all time favorite movies and I love a lot of movies. I've never run across your channel before this, but when you broke out in song, I became a sub. This is just a sweet, wonderful story and Jimmy Stewart is perfection in this one. Your reactions were perfect. Thank you. Best wishes!
Thank you!
Have you ever watched Peter O'Toole's "The Ruling Class"? It's a rather... interesting take on how people treated the "mentally different" in Victorian England.
Not for many years, I should rewatch it!
Always enjoyed the character actors like Cecil Kellaway as Dr. William Chumley you can see him "I Married a Witch" with Veronica Lake (1942).
Thank you!
Another great old school family movie is Life with Father from 1947.
OMG. What she said about the women’s fashion and how older women continued to dress in the style of their youth. This reminds me of my great grandmother. I was born in the 60s, my great grandmother was very Victorian in her ways. I remember till this day (I am in my 60s now). When I was about 9yrs old. Great grandmother went apes##t because she saw me playing I. The garden wearing hot pants. Very short shorts to those too young to remember that fashion. To Americans they were like Daisy Dukes. I was a child of the 60s running wild and free. She kept going on about how she got slapped for accidentally showing an ankle when she lifted her full length skirt to step over a puddle when she was a girl. I never got on with her.
Came back to rewatch this. Appreciate the reaction
The wrestling with reality line is like the quote by Oscar Levant. "There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line".
They were not sure if Jimmy Stewart was a crazy person in the film talking to invisible animals.
Gave you the 42nd like when you acknowledged 42 as the answer to everything.
Whoah!
Of the many films Mr. Stewart has done, I believe he considered _'Harvey'_ to be his favorite.
He even had the portrait of Harvey in his home.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I remember this one, among a few others that my uncle introduced me to when I was younger. I love this movie and brings fond memories. And as always, your insight is impecable.
Keep in mind that this film happened in the 50s in America, when no one was very accepting about any kind of deviation from what was considered the "Perfect" lifestyle. So, to have a "loony" in the family who talks to giant rabbits was a huge point of contention.
I saw someone else recommend Arsenic and Old Lace (1943), and I'll add His Girl Friday (1940). The first reminds me very much of this one (and has the wonderful Josephine Hull), just a goodhearted funny movie, only it masquerades as a scary Halloween movie. The second one is a classic screwball/fast talk comedy with some brilliantly written and professionally performed dialogue. Both stars Cary Grant.
Two romcoms from the time when comedies could be romantic and love stories could be funny.
[indistinct muttering about how everything was better back in the days] ;)
Love both those films! My family used to quote Arsenic and Old Lace almost constantly while I was growing up. I can't actually remember an age when I hadn't seen that one! So much fun! I've seen the original play on stage a few times as well.
A very intelligent review. I thoroughly enjoyed your reaction to one of my favorite films
I recommend "Bell, Book and Candle" for another magical story with Jimmy Stewart.
Agreed! Love that movie!
Thank you for very enjoyable reaction, particularly appreciated your thoughts on the age/fashion appropriate costuming, the Hitchhiker's guide and Man of la La Mancha refs (you have a very nice voice). If you haven't already seen it you might consider watching Arsenic and Old Lace (with Cary Grant)as a companion piece, very much of the same period... I enjoy Harvey very much but watching it always leaves me a bit melancholy because the true fantasy element in the film is the happy ending.
Thanks! I love Arsenic and Old Lace - I rewatch it every year!
My favourite movie. Oh that I could be more like Elwood.
Great reaction! I'm so glad you watched this movie!
Remember the episode of Star Trek "Shore Leave"? Now McCoy was supposedly thinking of Alice in Wonderland and the girl he saw was definitely Alice, but wasn't the white rabbit just a regular sized rabbit but it wore clothes and talked?
What McCoy saw was a 6' tall white rabbit. I think he may have merged in his mind a couple of.different white rabbits! 😝
I'm totally a ham sammitch guy, but rye isn't my favorite, much prefer wheat. I wouldn't say no to some egg salad with onion on the side either.
Whenever I see the name of Boston's NBA time in writing, I always read it as "Celtics" with a hard "C". It never sounds right when others pronounce it with a soft "C".
Man of La Mancha is my favorite musical of all time! I've even named my dog "Dulcinea".
Best Regards!!!
Love this tie-in! Oddly enough I just referenced that TOS episode in an upcoming reaction!
I find it fascinating that you know so much about pwcai ! How did you happen to come by this?
I was in the play, "Harvey" at the Reperatory Theater, along with my then-girlfriend, who played Myrtle Mae; she possessed the amazing ability to burst into tears on cue, accompanied by howls of anguish, every time Harvey's name was mentioned! The audience absolutely loved it! Oh, and at the end, as we were taking our bows, Harvey's ears were seen moving above the stage curtain at the back.
My religion is Avalonian, they are part of our tradition.
Thank you for this. Harvey is my favorite movie.
If you are interested there's a great movie with Cary Grant called 'Arsenic and Old Lace' that's also starring the actress who plays the sister in this movie, she's playing one of the aunts (who do genuinely mean well and really think they're doing a kindness), you can tell that like 'Harvey' it was a play before it was a movie and can see remnants of Cary Grants days from Vaudeville (I think that was when his name was still legally Alexander Archibald Leach - he was actually from England but there's no recording of his original accent). Cary Grant and James Stewart also did a great movie together with Katherine Hepburn - the 'Philadelphia story'.
Love Arsenic and Old Lace, I've lost track of how often I've rewatched it! Fantastic film!
@@alexachipman Me too! Love it so much!
Have you ever watched alfred Hitchcocks rear window, with Grace kelly and james steward it is such a iconic movie
I can’t think of a single Jimmy Stewart performance that’s not great. One of my favorite Christmas movies is ‘Bell Book and Candle’ with him, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon and Elsa Lanchester.
Yes - Rear Window is fantastic, and "Bell Book and Candle" I've seen the movie version and the stage play. That's a great one!
Fabulous.... I LOVE this film.....MAGICAL... I first saw at a child and was enchanted
"A guy in a suit would have ruined it. Perfect choice by the director not to show anything." - Alexa Chipman
Funnily enough, The Art Carney version/remake (1958) has a guy playing Harvey in a rabbit suit.
This is in my top three personal favorites along with The Tale of Princess Kaguya and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. Please check those out, if not on your channel on your own time. Worthwhile, I promise.
Of course Harvey is real, he appears throughout the film and Harvey played himself. Love how people play along pretending not to see Harvey. A delightful reaction video and Harvey agrees.
Hi, Harvey! Thank you!
Love old movies. Nice video.
20:25 if you thought that the doctor was bad, you should meet Nurse Fletcher in “One flew over the cuckoo nest”
Stewart picked up the role again for a 1972 TV movie.
Nice!
@@alexachipman here's a link to part one. Madeline Kahn played the nurse. ruclips.net/video/kIpVwvFN-gE/видео.html
@@DavidB-2268 Thank you!
@@alexachipman you're very welcome
Harvey made an impression on me when I saw it as a teenager. After watching it, I decided to try to be the nicest person I possibly could. It worked. My mom, who was psychologist, was concerned that I was just too nice. Well, it worked for awhile, until I got to college where my roommate taught me to be cynical. Guess I got the serum injection.
By far my favorite movie of all time, but then I’m fond of crackpots, rum pots and how are you Mr Wilson?
i love that you understand this movie.
Egg and Onion man! After my own heart. Also Liverwurst and Onion with English Mustard on Rye... mmm!
You may like The Miracle Worker with Patty Duke and Ann Bancroft
Beautiful film, I've seen it several times!
@@alexachipman How about Marty with Ernest Borgnine or Paper Moon with Tatum O’Neal?
@@k.c.8658 I haven't seen Paper Moon, I'll add it to the list, thank you!
Harvey is one of my "cheer up" films; it's funny but profound too. Gentle sweet and really deep, they don't make them like this anymore. So great! And yes, the doctor and nurse SHOULD NOT have gotten together! He was a jerk!
Wonderful commentary on this, my favorite movie.
Great Reaction with Insightful Comments..... (Sorry I'm Late.... LoL)
James Stewart also did a TV Movie remake version in 1972....
In High School I played Orderly Wilson in a Play,
Glad you watched it.
Love that you watch classics. Might I recommend Marty as well as The Prisoner of Zenda (1937). Both such great movies.
Thank you!
I love movies that are about kindness (except the parts where people are punished for being kind). The only part of your review that I didn't get was the part about Harvey no being shown in the film. He was in almost every scene! How could you not see him?
Anyone who says “I’m only thinking of you” are liars.
Thank you for getting the pronunciation of "Celtic" right. The American tendency to mispronounce it is one of my pet peeves.
Agreed! Fortunately I’m Avalonian, so we know things like that :)
You have a beautiful singing voice. ✌️
Thank you!
@@alexachipman you're welcome. ✌️
May I suggest you watch _Cheyenne Social Club_ ?
Also, Mel Brooks version of _To Be, Or Not To Be_
Have you seen Song of the Sea (2014) and/or Cloud Atlas (2012)?
Not yet, I will add them to the list!
Anyone ever tell you you look like the Mona Lisa? Perhaps its the blouse. Anyhow, you're amongst the most erudite reactors around. Thanks!
Thank you!
Cool reaction love the channel love to see u react to princess bride and casa blanca
Alas I have those memorized I have seen them so often, but I might do commentaries of them someday.
"egg and onion" refers to scrambled egg and sauteed onion, not egg salad...
Fascinating - I have never heard of that, thank you!
Hi..My favorite movie of ALL TIME.
It is a perfect example of my WALK WITH Jesus the CHRIST.
AWESOME.
Pookas are Celtic, not just Irish. Thank you for correcting the pronunciation of Celtic by the way. Seltic is a football team and that’s about it.
Good to know!
No kidding? This play is one hundred percent fantasy? Or is it?
13:27 this one sentence tells us that Elwood may be the one sane character in the play.
I’m a pagan, so we believe by default that he is telling the truth :)
I wonder how this film would be executed today.
Probably drawn and quartered
They would likely either change a lot of it or they would lean into the 1950s setting and go campy with it, that's my guess!
Terribly
This is one of the movies that couldn't be made today. There's a wholesomeness to this tale that I don't think today's Hollyweird can appreciate or replicate. They would make changes and the result would be worse for it. In any event, try "Topper" from 1937 starring Cary Grant and Constance Bennett. I think you'll like it.
Thanks!
Re: Twilight. Okay, so here's my problem with Twilight. I'm 40+ and 20-somethings seem like weird little fetus-people to me. And teenagers seem like zygotes. I can only assume this will get worse as the planet keeps going around the sun. SO! How does a 104 year old man have anything in common with a teenager?!?! Did the vampire blood stunt his brain? The mechanics of this are confusing. At least with Dracula, you could chalk it up to him being a Palpatine level demon who doesn't give a crap anymore. But...Edward is supposed to be some sort of hero?? Am I over thinking this? Or is Twilight a peer into a weird dark corner of the female psyche? If so, Anne Rice did that better too.
Anyhoo! Back to Harvey! (Finishes reaction) Nope....you covered everything.
Have you ever seen the 1921 film Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid ruclips.net/video/LQE0c1Zugx8/видео.html or Bruce Willis in the time travel film The Kid From the year 2000?
I haven’t seen the Bruce Willis one! Thanks!
Personally, I would’ve rather Ms. Kelly ended up with Elwood.
In those days, it was very scandalous to have a mentally ill family member, and they felt he was crazy. Of course he wasn't...this is about belief.
Things are different now. Especially when there is money in the family. Marriage was a really big deal. The rich people were into “breeding”, just like they did with their race horses so they did with their children.they all had to be thoroughbreds. Nobody would Mary someone who had insanity in the family. Also, as the younger brother, he was the son and heir. All the money, house and estate went lock stock and barrel to him. Can’t have a looney in charge of the “family” money.
In case you haven't seen "Who framed Roger Rabbit", this would be a good reason to do jus that.
I was also going to recommend that considering that there is a reference.
@@tristanpetty7173 Storm Akima just reacted to it.
@@zvimur Storm Akima is such a great channel - I'm loving their Witcher reactions. And no, I haven't seen that film! (I am careful not to watch other people's reactions to films like that I haven't seen, just in case!)