Harvey
The classic stage hit gets the Hollywood treatment in the story of Elwood P. Dowd who makes friends with a spirit taking the form of a human-sized rabbit named Harvey that only he sees (and a few privileged others on occasion also.) After his sister tries to commit him to a mental institution, a comedy of errors ensues. Elwood and Harvey become the catalysts for a family mending its wounds and for romance blossoming in unexpected places.
1 Oscar. 5 wins & 4 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Harvey (1950) reveals meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Henry Koster's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Elwood P. Dowd
Veta Louise Simmons
Dr. Lyman Sanderson
Nurse Ruth Kelly
Dr. William Chumley
Myrtle Mae Simmons
Main Cast & Characters
Elwood P. Dowd
Played by James Stewart
A gentle, eccentric man whose best friend is Harvey, an invisible 6-foot rabbit. Despite his sister's attempts to institutionalize him, Elwood maintains his cheerful disposition and kindness to all.
Veta Louise Simmons
Played by Josephine Hull
Elwood's exasperated sister who tries to have him committed to restore her family's social standing. She's caught between shame over her brother and genuine concern for him.
Dr. Lyman Sanderson
Played by Charles Drake
A young, ambitious psychiatrist at the sanatorium who initially dismisses Elwood but becomes intrigued by his case and philosophy.
Nurse Ruth Kelly
Played by Peggy Dow
A practical, no-nonsense nurse at the sanatorium who develops sympathy for Elwood and romantic interest in Dr. Sanderson.
Dr. William Chumley
Played by Cecil Kellaway
The head psychiatrist at the sanatorium, pompous and by-the-book, who eventually encounters Harvey himself and questions his own sanity.
Myrtle Mae Simmons
Played by Victoria Horne
Veta's unmarried daughter who is frustrated that Elwood's reputation prevents her from meeting eligible men.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Elwood P. Dowd cheerfully greets strangers on the street and invites them home to meet Harvey, establishing his gentle, eccentric nature and complete contentment with his unconventional life.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when The society guests flee in horror after Elwood tries to introduce them to Harvey. Veta realizes she can no longer tolerate the social embarrassment and decides Elwood must be committed.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Elwood voluntarily returns to the sanitarium and calmly agrees to be committed, choosing to enter the world of psychiatric evaluation without resistance. His kindness and cooperation charm the staff., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Dr. Chumley has a personal encounter with Harvey and becomes a believer. The stakes shift from whether to commit Elwood to whether they should change him at all. False victory: it seems Elwood will be accepted., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Elwood is prepared for the injection of Formula 977 that will make him a "perfectly normal human being" but destroy his gentle nature and friendship with Harvey. The death of his true self looms., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Veta realizes she loves Elwood exactly as he is and stops the injection. She chooses kindness and individuality over social acceptance, synthesizing the film's thematic lesson., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Harvey's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Harvey against these established plot points, we can identify how Henry Koster utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Harvey within the comedy genre.
Henry Koster's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Henry Koster films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Harvey represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Henry Koster filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Henry Koster analyses, see The Robe.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Elwood P. Dowd cheerfully greets strangers on the street and invites them home to meet Harvey, establishing his gentle, eccentric nature and complete contentment with his unconventional life.
Theme
Veta Louise mentions that Elwood's mother told him "In this world you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." The theme of kindness versus social conformity is planted.
Worldbuilding
Veta and Myrtle Mae prepare for a society party, desperate for social acceptance. Elwood arrives home with Harvey and disrupts everything by introducing guests to his invisible companion, horrifying his family.
Disruption
The society guests flee in horror after Elwood tries to introduce them to Harvey. Veta realizes she can no longer tolerate the social embarrassment and decides Elwood must be committed.
Resistance
Veta goes to Chumley's Rest sanitarium to have Elwood committed. She explains Harvey to Dr. Sanderson and nurse Kelly, becoming so flustered that they mistakenly commit her instead of Elwood, who walks away free.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Elwood voluntarily returns to the sanitarium and calmly agrees to be committed, choosing to enter the world of psychiatric evaluation without resistance. His kindness and cooperation charm the staff.
Mirror World
Dr. Chumley becomes fascinated with Elwood and Harvey. The relationship between Elwood and the skeptical psychiatrist begins, representing the thematic conflict between imagination/kindness and rational/rigid thinking.
Premise
Elwood charms everyone at the sanitarium with his gentle philosophy and stories of Harvey. The staff and doctors debate whether Harvey is real, while Elwood's kindness transforms those around him.
Midpoint
Dr. Chumley has a personal encounter with Harvey and becomes a believer. The stakes shift from whether to commit Elwood to whether they should change him at all. False victory: it seems Elwood will be accepted.
Opposition
Veta insists on the injection that will make Elwood normal. Pressure mounts as the family's desire for conformity battles against the staff's growing affection for Elwood. Dr. Chumley struggles with administering the treatment.
Collapse
Elwood is prepared for the injection of Formula 977 that will make him a "perfectly normal human being" but destroy his gentle nature and friendship with Harvey. The death of his true self looms.
Crisis
Veta faces the reality of what "normal" means. A cab driver describes how the formula changes people into irritable, unkind versions of themselves. She begins to question whether conformity is worth losing Elwood's sweetness.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Veta realizes she loves Elwood exactly as he is and stops the injection. She chooses kindness and individuality over social acceptance, synthesizing the film's thematic lesson.
Synthesis
The family and doctors accept Elwood and Harvey. Dr. Chumley plans to escape with Harvey to Akron. Elwood graciously forgives everyone, and the sanitarium staff embrace the mystery and magic of Harvey's existence.
Transformation
Elwood walks out with Veta and Myrtle Mae, tipping his hat to strangers just as in the opening. But now his family walks proudly beside him, transformed by accepting kindness over conformity.