Saturday, March 15, 2014

#238 Harvey (1950)

I had no idea about this movie. I have never even heard of the title. I just was in the mood to watch an older movie, and I randomly found this one. I was pleased to find Jimmy Stewart is in it. I apparently have a lot more films to watch with him in it, so I will wait to write something when I have a movie with less to talk about. This movie was really good. Just when I was starting to get annoyed at old films for being bland repeats of themselves, I find this gem. The acting is (decently) normal. And to be completely honest, it made me think. A lot of old movies just tell a story; they don't make you think. This movie seemed to explore many complex areas. I am not sure I know what their point was, but I don't mind.
I felt this movie was a critique on society. It seemed to critique people who have all the answers, and seemed to imply just living a simple life should be enough for anyone. Being a nice, friendly person is what should matter. Furthermore, there seemed to be a message about the mentally ill: just let them be. I guess what you would consider the antagonist (there isn't really one), keeps mentioning the "nuthouse." I am not sure if this is an attempt to point out that this is insensitive, or maybe this is just how people talked. Maybe I am reading too much into this movie, but it was quite good. There was also a plethora of great quotes from this movie. I ended up going with the one that made me laugh. Watch this movie!

"I was walking down along the street and I heard this voice saying, 'Good evening, Mr. Dowd.' Well, I turned around and here was this big six-foot rabbit leaning up against a lamp-post. Well, I thought nothing of that because when you've lived in a town as long as I've lived in this one, you get used to the fact that everybody knows your name." -Elwood P. Dowd

Have you seen this movie? What movie should I watch next?
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