Harvey

A pleasant and well mannered-man, Elwood P. Dowd, is in the constant company of one of his best friends, Harvey. Harvey is a six-foot 3 and a half tall inch rabbit whom is claimed by Elwood to be a pooka. A pooka is defined in the movies as a,"Fairy spirit in animal form, always very large. The pooka appears here and there, now and then, to this one and that one. A benign but mischievous creature."

                                                  Movie cover for Harvey, pictured here is Elwood and Harvey.



At the start of the movie you get the impression that Elwood, is crazy, as both  his sister Veta and Myrtle May claim, but further in viewing the movie you realize others can see him. Others including the doctor and Veta, though she is ashamed to admit this, and only sees him sometimes. Knowing this lead me to believe that Harvey is real, but only if you believe he is real. This concept can be related to the bell from the Polar Express that only rings for those who believe in Santa, or from Peter Pan where not believing in Tinker Bell can kill her.Personally, I think that Elwood has the belief of Harvey to possibly fill a void that was caused by the death of his mother.

                                              Elwood marveling at his portrait of himself and his companion Harvey



James Stewart plays Elwood, the pleasant man that instantly becomes your friend and dinner guest with just one conversation. Elwood is mainly beloved by everyone at first conversation, until he introduces you to his "very good friend," Harvey. This beloved tall white rabbit is played by himself. Veta the sister who tries countless times to commit Elwood to the mental institution is played by Josephine Hull. Lastly is Myrtle May, the young woman and daughter of Veta, who never thinks any guy will fancy her is portrayed by Victoria Horne.