Harvey could very well be my favorite “feel good” film. It’s a movie I can pop in and no matter how blue I may be, I’m smiling joyfully within minutes, as James Stewart’s Elwood shares with his family and friends the stories he has with his good friend, a six and a half foot tall invisible rabbit. It’s a film that has held up very well over the years and even those who I show this to that have trouble getting into classic American cinema seem to enjoy the movie quite a bit.
Chalk this up as very surprising news then. While doing my daily browsing, I came across an article on Variety confirming that another adaptation of the award winning play is in the works – and it is going to be Spielberg’s next directorial project.
Below is my favorite scene from the movie, a monologue I have just about memorized from my countless times watching it. While I think a Spielberg adaptation of the play would be, uh, interesting (who would Spielberg cast as Elwood? Tom Hanks seems like the obvious choice – but I could see him aiming for someone less conventional: Paul Giamatti? Even a restrained Jim Carrey?), I can’t imagine anything would top the 1950 adaptation with Stewart. I’d rather see something more original from the man, like his long-awaited Lincoln biopic (Liam Neeson isn’t getting any younger to play Abe, you know). Watch below and enjoy. If you haven’t watched this, I hope the scene below will convince you to put that right atop of your Netflix queue.













I’m tempted to say “what a load of crap!” just for the sake of irony, but I’ll refrain
I weep. My favorite film ever , and its going to get the redo. I don’t want to see any trailers, previews, or anything else about this project. In my darkest hours I have always turned to this film. It has always made me feel better.
Tom Hanks will NOT be playing Harvey. Let the rumors continue.
The announcement of Robert Downey Jr. being cast is imminent? http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2009/09/robert-downey-jr-starring-in-steven-spielbergs-harvey-.html