“You see, science has overcome time and space. Well, Harvey has overcome not only time and space, but any objections.”
- Elwood P. (James Stewart), the film Harvey
I could write a whole edition on great James Stewart lines from movies. When I read the one above, from the great movie “Harvey,” I flashed on other great lines he delivered in some of my favorite movies, like Ransom Stoddard in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence: “Education is the basis of law and order.” And in The Philadelphia Story: “With the rich and mighty, always a little patience,” and of course, in It’s a Wonderful Life, “Atta boy, Clarence.” Of course in each of these movies there are many more great lines, and he performed in many more great movies.
Today, I write of Harvey, a movie you ought to see or rewatch. Where’s the short story, Moon’s Gift? It’s coming, but wow, fiction is not easy. It is the next level of writing, and I will attain it. So stay tuned. But in the meantime:
I. Film: Harvey
Harvey is a movie that seems out of space and time, like the quote above references. In 1950, you had film noir, or airy love stories, or war movies… and then there was Harvey. Harvey is a movie about an eccentric and kind man named Elwood P. Dowd who has money enough to own his house and provide a home for his sister and niece, and he spends his days frequenting his favorite bars and enjoying the company of people. Oh, and he’s an alcoholic, but you always see him drink, never stumble. He is at home in inebriation. He has a friend: Harvey. Harvey is a 6 foot 3 1/2 inch Rabbit. Harvey is invisible to almost everyone but Elwood. Elwood opens doors for Harvey, and introduces Harvey to the people he meets, which results in interesting times. Some folks immediately believe he is crazy. Others humor him (“Oh, Elwood’s over there with his friend.”) And some, like his lawyer, want to take advantage of him.
Two other lines touch on the theme of this movie, both by Elwood:
“Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it.”
and
“In this world, you must be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.”
So who is Harvey? Is he real? Well, Harvey is a “Pooka,” which is an Irish spirit prankster. The character “Puck” in A Midsomer Night’s Dream is based on the idea of a pooka. And Elwood met Harvey and they have been fast friends ever since. But is Harvey real? You’ll have to watch the movie, but consider this: are any fictional characters real?
Is Sherlock Holmes real? Is Mickey Mouse, or Luke Skywalker, or Harry Potter, or Scarlet O’Hara? We live in the physical universe, but we are able to create fictional universes - or share in the collective delusion of a writer’s dream. What picture do you get when you think of Sherlock Holmes, say? Can you describe him? Can you hear him? Do you know what he would say? Is he real?
I posit that yes, Sherlock Holmes is real. Fictional characters are real in the universes we build for them, and therefore are in our reality. So, when I look at a movie like Harvey, and think of the universe in which Elwood P. Dowd lives, which is, by the America in 1950, I have to ask, who is sane? Elwood? Or everyone else? The movie makes a great case for Elwood. The taxi driver sums it up: when his fares are on their way to the insane asylum, they are talkative, friendly, and tip well. But when they get out, they “crab, crab, crab,” and no tip. They act like any other normal human being, and “you know what sinkers they are!”
I love this movie, and you might, too. I watched in on HBO Max, which I recommend overall.
Meanwhile, I persist! I owe you a podcast and a story. Working on it!