18th and Fairfax

 Harvey was a very fun movie and I'm glad I got the chance to see it. This movie was a very interesting movie and the characters really are what this film is really about. It's also obvious that this movie has had a profound effect on film and television since its creation. This film used comedy in a different manner than most of the other movies that we've seen during the course of this semester. This movie didn’t have me laughing out loud, or even chuckling, I don’t think that the movie was trying to even convey this kind of humor. The humor was in the situation, it was a subtle humor that can be found in the everyday life of most people. The humor that was conveyed in this film was mostly about piquing people’s interest and most of the outward humor that I saw revolved around Harvey and people’s perception of Mr. Elwood and Harvey. This is a humor that revolves around unexpected situations and reactions. The other subtle humor used was in the interactions between the other characters. These two different types of comedy are in contrast with each other, but at the same time, complement each other.

The humor that revolved around people and how they interact reminded me of a Wes Anderson film, at least in my perception. I saw this because again, it is subtle as well as quick. The exchanges people have in this film are comical in the content in which they speak about, such as Veta’s various conversations with Judge Gaffney. When she’s talking to him in a hush-hush tone at the beginning of the film, it’s funny because she’s whispering so low that she’s not saying a single thing, and neither is the Judge, but yet they’re communicating somehow. It also is humorous because it’s an awkward moment for Veta. She is trying to act out her front stage behavior in front of her guests as well as try to keep Elwood from returning home. This humor serves the purpose of pushing people into awkward situations and making them look foolish. The other more situational humor surrounding Harvey isn’t really in how people are communicating, but how they react and how they’re not communicating (mostly the beginning of the film). People don’t know how to react to Elwood and Harvey, and their reactions to him are funny, of course because people don’t really expect to see a grown man taking to an invisible 6’ tall rabbit named Harvey.

Both these different types of humor are part of the same general theme that stitch together quite seamlessly, both types of humor come together to bring people out of their comfort zones and see how they react outside of their perceived notions of how the world works. This comes full circle and becomes what this movie really is about, pulling people out of their shells and helping them to see others and get to know others that they would otherwise neglect, case and point, Dr. Sanderson and Kelly.  Overall this film was very fun and held my attention very easily and I think that the concepts of the film were very easy to relate to. 

I want to know Harvey

Harvey was quite possibly the most meaningful film I have seen in this class, and very well one of the most I have seen in my life. It is centered on a man, Mr. Dowd (Elwood P.), and his less than imaginary friend, Harvey. Unfortunately, usually only Mr. Dowd can see and talk to Harvey, which makes him a little hard to take seriously. Even more unfortunate is the fact that Harvey takes the form of a 6 foot (or 6 foot three and a half inches, if we're sticking to the facts) human sized rabbit. Anyone in their right mind would tell you that Mr. Dowd is absolutely crazy, at least in the beginning of the film. It seems as though he is really the only crazy one of all the characters. At least, he is the only one that is different. Everyone, like Vita Simmons, Dr. Chumley, Dr. Sanderson, and the judge are always so caught up in worldly possessions.
Vita is always concerned with her money and her friends' opinions. She even goes as far as to commit her own brother into a mental institution, even after she plans on suing the same place.
Dr. Chumley is always worried about his reputation and the reputation of his establishment. We see this when Dr. Sanderson tells him about a "serious error." Chumley replies by saying that "this institution does not permit errors." He has obviously worked very hard to get the hospital where it is today and he may even be scared of any problems that arise. Instead of concerning himself with the error right away, he tries to turn his back on it and ignore it, claiming that it must be false.
Dr. Sanderson cares A LOT about his job. We see this when he frantically tries to talk Mr. Dowd out of a situation that Elwood doesn't even know exists. Sanderson is constantly kissing up to Chumley and going out of his way to track Mr. Dowd down.
Finally, we see how much the judge cares about Vita and the position of Elwood. Throughout the entire film, we see how the judge, or Gaffney tries to appeal to Vita. It is very clear how much Gaffney is attracted to her, so he does pretty much anything she asks without question. He goes where she wants to go, he sues who she wants to sue. I thought it was funny how Vita says she wants to sue Chumley and right away Gaffney agrees, without even knowing what wrongs Chumley had pursued.
As a result of these temporal desires, all of these characters seem to possess a certain quality of unhappiness. They are so caught up with the things of the world that they lose all focus on what really matters. And that seems to be what Elwood P. Dowd knows the most about. He is the only character in the film who seems to care about everyone more than he cares about himself. He is the friendliest, most out going man I have ever seen. He never seems to show any rude behavior. He is always extremely polite to everyone he meets, even strangers. And there in lies the whole meaning of Dowd's existence. That is, to make friends. In almost every scene we see Elwood in, he is making a new friend. And that is really what it's all about, isn't it? We're all just trying to make it through this life with the people who make us happy. So, in a way, Elwood P. Dowd was not crazy at all. In a way, he was the most sane character in the film.
For me, these two quotes sum up the whole meaning of the film:

Dr. Sanderson: Think carefully, Dowd. Didn't you know somebody, sometime, someplace by the name of Harvey? Didn't you ever know anybody by that name?
Elwood P. Dowd: No, no, not one, Doctor. Maybe that's why I always had such hopes for it.

Elwood P. Dowd: Years ago, my mother used to say to me, she'd say "In this world, Elwood, you can be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart... I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.

Oh and please do excuse my tardy participation in this assignment. I won't make an excuse. I'm just a tad irresponsible. But aren't we all?

Harvey Darvey

First off I apologize for this being so late, I haven’t been able to get to a computer.   But anyway…

Harvey! Harvey! Harvey!  I keep saying each week that the movie has had a unique approach or story… However, this week yet again was another movie that I had never heard of and ended up being very well done with excellent acting.  For some reason black and white movies scare me at first and take me a little longer to get into it, however, this one captivated me almost instantly.  The movie I feel was certainly character driven because the story was based not on completing a task but on how the characters are reacting to each other.  

            This movie plays on the way lack of proper communication can cause people to come up with assumptions that can cause a lot of chaos and turmoil between characters.  It also used the idea of rabid that only some could see to increase this confusion.  The film Harvey had many techniques that helped make the story work.  For instance the camera angles that move to follow the invisible character, or how things move because the invisible rabid is moving them about.  All of these techniques combined with the actors and actress’s incredible abilities to act out scenes with an imaginary character made this movie really stand out and become a true comedy.  There were also similarities between Harvey and the Purple Rose of Cairo movie playing on not communicating properly can cause havoc, in addition to peoples want to fit into society versus just playing enjoyment of life and not a care in the world.  The movie also played on the idea on the fear of the unknown or being misunderstood by science and put into situations that they cannot control such as being put into an asylum.  As old as the movie is, it did and excellent job at combining many themes and techniques to make a very unique movie that I would highly recommend others to see.  

David Duneman

Expository Writing

Joe Serio

4/28/13

Elwood Be Down

            I did not know what to expect from Harvey when I started watching it but it turned out to be a very entertaining movie. This movie revolves around Jimmy Stewarts’ performance of Elwood P. Dowd. I believe his statement to the mailman, “Every day is a beautiful day”, is a phrase that pretty much describes Mr. Dowd’s personality. There is nothing not to like about Elwood P. Dowd; he is social, he is as optimistic as one can be, he is charming with women, he is very nonchalant, and most importantly he is real. It seems that Dowd is not all there and not really fully paying attention, but yet he is almost always doing the right thing. And Stewarts pulls off all these traits perfectly. It seems to be that the audience is almost the only people that enjoy his presence. I think the whole moral of Harvey is that life will be just fine if you believe it will be just like Elwood Dowd believes. We first learn this when the mental institution takes in his sister Veta in as a crazy person instead of Dowd himself. This scene was probably one of my favorites because Elwood is trying to tell the doctors of his giant rabbit friend the entire time but they keep interrupting him with questions and concerns. This is like a metaphor of many business systems of America, the patients are basically just a one-time thing for them so the business just wants them in and out as soon as possible, and it seems they won’t even let the patient get a word in just like with Dowd.

            I found some similarities between Harvey and The Purple Rose of Cairo. They both focused on the imagination quite a bit. Elwood imagined his rabbit friend Harvey, and Cecilia imagined Tom Baxter. Although in both these films the imaginary characters are real. I think that this is not really saying the imaginary characters are real, but rather saying that the imagination is more real than most people seem to believe.

            This movie seemed to have one section solely focused on sex. When Veta gets released from the mental institution she comes out saying that all they think about is sex and they tried to have their way with her. She didn’t even stop to think that she was thought to be a patient, but came to the conclusion that they were trying to have sex with her. And after this scene I don’t think they mentioned sex at all, or before for that matter.

            This was a wonderful movie, mostly because of the character Elwood P. Dowd, and I do believe ill watch this again in the future.

Uncertainty about Harvey

I am not really sure what this film was about. At first, it seemed like a light-hearted comedy about a wacky uncle that has an imaginary friend. However, the entire film turned wacky by the end. At times, I feel like Elwood used his “friend” Harvey in order help others deal with their life or their feelings. Elwood gives Dr. Chumley an excuse to talk about his life and his feelings, what he would have done differently if he could. Elwood states it himself: “They tell us about the big terrible things they’ve done and the big wonderful things they’ll do. Their hopes, and their regrets, and their loves, and their hates. All very large, because nobody ever brings anything small into a bar. And then I introduce them to Harvey… and he’s bigger and grander than anything they offer me”. Perhaps Harvey is a way for Elwood to relate to and interact with other people. Harvey is a psychological tool. He makes people confront their problems by creating something bigger than they can handle, a person/creature who does not exist.

Harvey is described as being a pooka. In Irish mythology, a pooka is a mischievous creature that can shape shift, but chooses to be seen as a large black horse most of the time. A large black horse is extremely ominous, but a large white bunny is not as threatening. By describing Harvey as a large bunny, Elwood creates an almost comical image that speaks to the innocence of childhood. I doubt that Elwood is trying to hurt others by creating this persona of Harvey. I am not completely sure what Harvey meant to Elwood. He could have been a way that Elwood dealt with his emotions, and then a way in which Elwood could reach out and interact with other people. Elwood does not seem to have any friends, apart from Harvey. He is pleasant to everyone he meets, even inviting complete strangers to his house. He may have a sort of disinhibited reactive attachment disorder, in which he seeks attention from everyone, including strangers, but he does not form strong relationships with his family members.

The main character that I just cannot stand is Myrtle Mae. She cares too much about herself than the happiness of her uncle or her mother. When her mother gets home and describes what happened to her in the hospital, Myrtle is comforting. After all, it sounds to the audience like Mrs. Simmons was practically raped, if not sexually molested. We as the viewers know that’s not what happened, but to Myrtle, it could have been rape.  And when the man who assaulted her mother comes calling, Myrtle is not afraid or even wary. She practically throws herself at him in order to get his attention. Myrtle could care less about what is right for her family, and cares instead about her personal love life. She barely knows Mr. Wilson, but she’s ready to go away with him and marry him. She needs to be loyal to her family and her uncle, who have been supporting her throughout her entire life.

What Do You Have In Mind?

This film could have been retitled The Importance of Being Pleasant. It brings a broad statement about human nature and how many perceive the actions of others in a distrustful light. There is a difference between seeing the actions of someone as dangerous or untrustworthy or accepting someone at face value. The end message being that it is important to have faith in others, in them as human beings, their jobs, and social interactions.

A general statement about trying to keep up appearances around the quiet squeaking steps of the cook (a stand-in for the rest of the world, just outside of the door), Elwood's aunt and cousin are two sides of a coin, one trying to keep her household in some order and interested in finding happiness with high-society, the other seething with desire, enough to bring disorder, to break out into society and find a partner.

While Elwood is presented in a generally positive light, there is an apparent acceptance of how Elwood can make people feel uncomfortable when attempting to place flower on his jacket, he gives it to Nurse Kelly instead, saying, "I seem to have misplaced my buttonhole." Being buttonholed can mean to keep someone in conversation by talking or physically holding their clothing and talking and rather invasive act. 

At the end, Harvey may have spent weeks with Dr. Chumley, but decided he didn't want to be part of his static and perhaps boring fantasy. Formula 977 is Dr. Chumley's own formula, something that turns people "...into human beings..." or someone who has "...got no faith..." in other people as the cabbie says near the end of the film.

Early in the film, Dr. Chumley mentions "his" formula 977 as a cure. Something that turns people "...into human beings..." or someone who has "...got no faith..." in other people as the taxi driver says near the end of the film; it is likely that Chumley wouldn't be a good match for Harvey and hopefully, changed Chumley enough to keep him from prescribing it in the future. 

I initially thought the aunt's caving in at the last second was a bit of deus ex machina, but after re-watching, I think her action was foreshadowed early in the film when she said, "I always thought that you were, showed in your face."  Foreshadowing her reversal when she believes that Elwood is about to be changed from a person with a face that everyone finds friendly.

Elwood's regular response, "What did you have in mind?" seemed to illustrate his openness to something interesting coming from other people and that he was waiting to see what it was.

Harvey

         Who is really the happiest?  Social acceptance over enjoyment? Reassurance, peace, and excitement fill the character Elwood after he creates an imaginary friend.  This imaginary friend turns out to be a six-foot-three and half-inch rabbit named Harvey. Society has difficulty understanding and accepting Elwood’s friend, because it isn’t socially acceptable and it may not be good for their “image.” Through creating the character Harvey, the audience understands it does not matter what we have to do to be fully happy in this life. This became evident when Elwood, said, "Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it."  This shows Elwood has truly found inner peace, and he enjoys all areas of his life.  Proving that through a good attitude and a light heart one can enjoy their life to the fullest.

         I really enjoyed James Stewart’s character.  He had me looking for that invisible rabbit the entire film. He was very successful in his roll, convincing the audience how happy and inviting he was. Good film.

Who isn't crazy?

Sometimes I have come to wonder what it would be like if we lived in a state of constant mindfulness around others. Acknowledging the negative parts of our lives, choosing to live each moment appreciating and enjoying all the good things that we have around us. Perhaps, just like Elwood, disregard the negative things that people do around us and focus in accepting that we are the same. Some would probably call you hippie, idiot, or simply crazy. In my opinion, the 1590s' film classic Harvey, by Henry Koster, invites us to take at look at ourselves to realize that perhaps there is a crazy side in all of us.

First of all, I have to recognize that I had serous doubts about the quality of this film. I could picture a meaningful story that included an imaginary six and a half feet rabbit. Nevertheless, the end of the film I realize the importance of the rabbit as a comedic device and also as part of the tools that the filmmaker uses to get his point across.

Dowd Elwood appears to be one of the kindest and well intentioned characters I have ever seen on screen; however, that does not stop others from calling him crazy and trying to put him in a mental clinic. Even though Elwood does not harm anyone, or even himself, his sister and people around him call him crazy just because he talked to an "imaginary rabbit" named Harvey. All the people that Elwood intended to introduce to Harvey thought, not without fair assumptions, that he was crazy.

At first, I thought that Elwood was crazy and that he needed some help, but after I see the way people act around him when he is brought to the sanatorium I began to wonder who was really crazy. Elwood? who lived each moment of his life in peace, kindness and passion, or the other characters of the film who are not able to see the great things they have in their lives. Elwood's family seems obsessed with the glamorous nights and celebrations, but are not able to truly relate to others in a more sincere way as Elwood does. The doctor and the nurse fail to recognize the love they feel for each other and for no particular reason fail to express what they feel for each other without the help of Elwood. Even Mr. Williams, who completely hates Elwood comes as across as even crazier than all the other characters. Williams is not only violent, but also seems to enjoy the suffering of other people. In contradiction with what we expect from a crazy person, Elwood brings everyone together by the end of the film.

Although the film does show parts where Harvey is real, such as the scene where the doctor's door office and the gate of the sanatorium open, I think that more important than considering whether Harvey was real or not, is that we might all agave the ability to look at the positive side of life, and be able to accept others without becoming a victim of prejudicing.

What is Harvey?

Holly Reese

4-28-13

Harvey

Serio

             I enjoyed Harvey and the humor it employed. It was funny in an intelligent way. Most of the humor comes from the plot and the dialogue. I like that it wasn’t all about slapstick humor (though at the beginning I thought it might, when the man slips and falls on the wet floor and slides into the door of a surgeon’s office). I also liked that t didn’t have to physically show a six foot white rabbit to get laughs.

             If we had actually seen Harvey talking to Elwood, the film would have been very different. I don’t think it would have been as effective if we saw a man in an Easter bunny suit. It would have taken on a tone of a children's movie or been absurd. Harvey as it is, stays right on the line of intelligent and absurd just as the character of Elwood does.

                Jimmy Stewart really brought the character of Elwood to life in a believable way. When he was first introduced, I found him to be a bit annoying. Why was he always offering people his card? He was so polite and had a very different way of speaking. However, when I realized who he was and what exactly was going on, I started to really appreciate him. I want to know a person like Elwood, who is just genuinely happy and always believes the best in people. While by today’s standards it might be weird to constantly invite strangers over for dinner, I liked how selfless Elwood was. My favorite quote that I believe really sums up Elwood’s character was “I always have a wonderful time, wherever I am, whomever I'm with.”

                 I am still unsure about the point of Harvey. Why could Elwood see him and what was the Harvey’s purpose? He could have just simply been a friend for Elwood. He could have been a psychological disorder that stemmed from Elwood’s repressed memories after the death of his mother. He could have been an actual pooka. Maybe it doesn’t matter what or if Harvey represented anything. I think he is intended to be interpreted in whatever way the audience decided. This movie works because we are never told directly what or who Harvey is. I really enjoyed that there is so much to be inferred from this film.

Where is Harvey Dent?!

Harvey, Harvey, Harvey Dent, oh excuse me I want to drive. Sorry I was talking about the wrong movie and wrong Harvey. I truly enjoyed this movie from it comical humor to the underlying message that I will address in a few. The first thing I want to talk about is the characters themselves. The first being Elwood P Dowd because well he is the main character. The first thing I want to point out is that he has a lot of cash. This money was not all originally his because he inherited it from I believe his mother? I believe that his mother gave him the money because she knew he would not squander it away. As we can see he has his routine with have at the bar but nothing more. Also one thing I realized is that he does not flash his cash around. This is a major sign of self-confidence. Which other people in this movie have a problem with. The second character I want to address is Elwood’s sister Veta Simmons. I can say she is as thin as a slice of cheese. She is only concerned with outward appearances and making other people happy. That is why she throws the party in the first place, she wants attention and to please other people. I feel on a deeper level she wants Elwood to be happy but her selfish societally driven mind can’t understand the meaning of Harvey. Myrtle Simmons is another piece of work too. She has zero self-confidence and needs a man in her life to define her. That is why she chose the only man to have to have the world’s cockiest ego.  She believes women have no power and need to know their place. For example can we name the most classic line in this movie? “Can I go and make you a sandwich?”  The last character I want to talk about is the Dr. Chumley. Now to analyze just his name; chum is fish food. I am an avid scuba diver and I have been chumming plenty of time in my life. Chum is a mixture of dead sea life and additives that attract fish. I believe this meaning plays directly into the character we know and see. When we first hear about him we can tell he is stuck up. The first thing we hear is that he dose not even see patients and he works at a mental facility. He is your typical high up doctor. He believes that he has it all together and no one person can tell him any different.

Now on to the point that makes Harvey well Harvey. I believe this more has that same theme as believing in Christmas and Santa Clause.  Imagine if all of the characters were in kid form. It would not matter one lick if Elwood had an imaginary friend, if anything it would be welcomed. I know the moral of the story is that you need to hold on to what is important and not let society corrupt your view and morals. If it takes a Pooka to do that then so be it. 

Where is Harvey?

         There is something about a movie that is able to pull off the main focus character be something that is not visible.  Harvey is able to do just that.  The way James Stewart was able to interact with Harvey even though there was nothing there is very impressive to say the least.  This uncanny interaction between Elwood and Harvey adds to the film and allows the viewer to really wonder if Elwood is crazy, or if he really does see this six foot three and a half inch tall rabbit.  A common theme that this seems to bring up is that ignorance is bliss.  Not to say that the character Elwood is ignorant, but it is to say that his character is blissful even when he is unaware that everyone around him views him as crazy.
        What is another recurring theme in the movie is to think about what is truly important.  What the film tries to point out is truly important are friends and family.  In addition to those it is to be extremely happy, blissful and not uptight about the little things that do not matter.  The line that makes the movie is when Elwood is speaking with the head doctor toward the end of the film.  James Stewart says the following so eloquently: "'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."  This is the line that makes the movie simply because that is exactly the character that Elwood is.  He aims to be pleasant to everyone in every situation at any chance he can get.  These are the things that are worth pursuing either being smart or pleasant, but according to the film, being pleasant contains much more worth.

"I would like to introduce you to my good friend, Harvey"

      Harvey was an interesting movie. I like the black and white films more and more. It gives the movie character, I think. The first thing that I want to know is why was having an imaginary friend back in the day so scary? It was not scary for children to have imaginary friends and yet people thought that Elwood was a totally looney. People freaked out and ran the other direction as if they were looking at a ghost, but you can’t see imaginary friends so why were people running?

      Who was Harvey? Besides being a big white rabbit Harvey was a friend that everyone wanted to have. They wanted to have someone they could count on to be there for everything whenever they needed them. Friendships and relationships are a theme in this film. Harvey has his best friend that he would do anything for and Harvey would do anything for Elwood. Veta also really wants friendships. She gets Elwood out of the house because she doesn’t want her friends to think that she is a looney too. Her friends never come to see her because of Elwood. Mary could not meet someone for herself also because of Elwood.

      Everything happens for a reason. There are several parts in the film that shows this. If Veta had not been taken into the ward by mistake then Elwood would have been locked up forever. Also Mary would not have found someone. The last part of the movie where Elwood is at Charlie’s demonstrates this even better. If Harvey had not followed the doctor the Elwood would have not told the Dr. about how he met Harvey. The head Dr. also would have not believed Elwood otherwise about Harvey.  The most important part in the film, to me, was when the taxi driver wanted his money. If the judge and Veta did have money, then Elwood would have had that serum and been changed forever. He would have lost his sweetness and been normal.  At the end of that scene Veta finds her coin purse in her bag and blames it on Harvey. Harvey isn’t only a pooka but he is that thing. Not luck but that thing in life that everybody needs a little bit of. It could be faith in that everything always works out the way is suppose to or that everything happens for a reason. Veta gets to keep her brother, the doctor meets Harvey, Mary finds her mate, and Elwood gets to keep his best friend. Everything works out in the end of this film. One last thing, if a person is truly your friend they will stick with you no matter what.

"Don't judge me because of my pooka!"

The film Harvey is a lovely film about a supposed “imaginary” six foot, three and a half inches tall white rabbit named Harvey.  I am not sure what Harvey in particular represents but I have a couple ideas what he could symbolize.  I am almost positive that the filmmaker did not intend to prove the existence of a big white invisible rabbit known as a pooka.  However, the filmmaker might have used Harvey as a symbol for unconventional ideas, according to the society of that time, that shape individual’s lives and actions.  Even though the results of that belief are beautiful, people still judge them as bad because of the belief behind them.  Another idea is that perhaps Harvey represents God.  Since God is invisible and reveals Himself only to those who choose believe in Him or who allow themselves to acknowledge Him, this symbol makes sense to me but not, however, according to the time period that the play and movie was made.  In any case, whatever or whoever Harvey represents, Elwood P. Dowd is falsely judged and poorly treated because of his believe in the existence of the pooka. 

However, ‘whether Harvey exists or not’ is not the question that the movie really addresses, but rather ‘is it worth taking away one’s joy when proving the nonexistence of Harvey or whatever he represents’.  With Harvey, Elwood is the sweetest, most non-judgmental, most gallant, and gentlemanly character in the entire movie.  He makes friends with misjudged drunkards, criminals, and almost everyone he comes into contact with.   Veta Simmons, Elwood’s sister, realizes that if she stifles her brother’s belief and relationship with Harvey, she would, in turn, put out his fire, or his joy and purpose in life, as it were.  The filmmakers show the audience that obliterating someone’s beliefs for the sake of proving them wrong is, one, not always loving and, two, not always helpful but rather it is usually harmful.