Overview
A whimsical tale of friendship that blurs the line between reality and imagination.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- witty
- warm
- lazy sunday
- classic movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's whimsical comedy, faithful stage adaptation, and especially the charming performances of James Stewart and Josephine Hull.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Harvey is a human-sized rabbit spirit visible mainly to Elwood and a few others, driving misunderstandings and reconciliation.
Elwood's openness and generosity gradually expose the damage caused by his family's concern with respectability.
Harvey's existence remains a comic point of uncertainty because most characters cannot see him directly.
The attempt to commit Elwood to a mental institution turns conventional judgments about sanity into the film's central comic pressure.
Films like Harvey, and why
The Bishop's Wife
whimsical fantasy comedy centered on an eccentric outsider whose unusual worldview unsettles conventional society
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
warm, character-driven comedy blending supernatural elements, romance, and emotional reconciliation
Arsenic and Old Lace
screwball comedy about eccentric characters, social respectability, and a benevolent disruption of family life
Movie Details
- Director
- Henry Koster
- Release Date
- 1950-12-04
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 7.7 / 10 (704)
Cast
- James Stewart
- Josephine Hull
- Peggy Dow
- Charles Drake
- Cecil Kellaway
- Victoria Horne
- Jesse White
- William H. Lynn
- Wallace Ford
- Nana Bryant
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Harvey about?
- A gentle eccentric and his invisible six-foot-three rabbit upend a family's plans for respectability, commitment, and romance.
- What is Harvey like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Harvey as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Harvey violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Harvey.
- What did critics think of Harvey?
- Critics broadly praised the film's whimsical comedy, faithful stage adaptation, and especially the charming performances of James Stewart and Josephine Hull.
- Which films are like Harvey?
- Films with a similar feel include The Bishop's Wife, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and Arsenic and Old Lace.
- How long is Harvey?
- Harvey runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch Harvey?
- In United States, Harvey is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
