Harvey 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.5

Harvey 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Some 75 years since its original theatrical release, 'Harvey' arrives on 4K UHD disc courtesy of Universal. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Mary Chase, screen legend Jimmy Stewart stars as Elwood P. Dowd, reprising a role he played on Broadway. Stewart is joined by stage partner Josephine Hull, who also reprises her role of Elwood's sister Veta in the film. This release features a pleasing 4K transfer, a solid DTS HD Master Audio track, and carries forward the legacy on-disc supplemental features that were found on the 2012 Blu-ray release. A slipcover, Blu-ray disc, and Digital Code redeemable through Movies Anywhere are also included.

Harvey 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

It's always a pleasure to see classic Hollywood films treated well on 4K, and Harvey's fans will, I'm sure, be pleased with what's on display here. There is fine film grain present that consistently resolves naturally and never becomes noisy or clumpy. Detail levels are quite strong, allowing viewers to appreciate costuming particulars such as lace and beadwork, women's tightly controlled hairdos, and also providing a rich tactile presence to fur coats and Stewart's tweeds. Whites approach brilliance but never truly get all the way across that line. Blacks are deep and absorbing, but even darkened interiors remain available for viewers to explore. In his review of the 2012 Blu-ray disc, my colleague Jeffrey Kauffman spoke of some problematic moments during the opening credits and other instances where the image was dominated by an abundance of white set or environmental elements, where he felt the grain looked unnatural. Happily, as I viewed the film and paid particular attention to these moments, I did not detect any real observable change in the grain structure, which remained consistently fine, natural, and in line with the rest of the film. Some slight softness is visible in certain shots, but they are short-lived and do not detract from the overall viewing experience. It's a healthy and filmic transfer.

Please note that the screenshots are sourced from the included 1080p disc.

Harvey 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Harvey 4K has been paired with the same DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track that first appeared on the Blu-ray release from 2012. While some may balk at this fact, it's fair to say the track rather nicely marries up with the film and crafts an authentic, vintage listening experience. Dialogue is cleanly rendered without any defects or anomalies. Musical elements found in the opening credits and various transitional moments in the film, by virtue of this being a 2.0 mono track, handle mid-range and treble elements well enough, but obviously lack any meaningful bottom end. The same holds true for sound effects, which are almost exclusively limited to mundane, everyday sounds such as slamming doors, footsteps, and, due to the setting of several scenes, a shrill alarm bell, but their reproduction here is certainly era-appropriate. It's a more than adequate, workman-like track.

Harvey 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Harvey 4K includes the legacy on-disc supplemental material found on the Blu-ray release from 2012 as listed below.

• Special Introduction by Film Star James Stewart with Photographic Montage (7.09)

• 100 Years of Universal: The Carl Laemmle Era (8.42)

• 100 Years of Universal: The Lew Wasserman Era (8.50)

• Theatrical Trailer (1.27)

Harvey 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Harvey is an endearing film that is every bit as enjoyable as the stage play from which it is adapted. Stewart turns in a performance that seems almost effortless, which is doubtlessly the result of the considerable amount of time he spent portraying the easy-going and charming Elwood P. Dowd on the stage. Far from seeming like a man who needs to be confined in a sanitarium, Elwood is the kind of man who might walk into a room full of strangers but will leave with a room full of friends. Kindness, compassion, and empathy comprise the entirety of his personality, and all in his orbit are better for having known him - if they can accept his unusual and invisible friend, Harvey, a pooka from Irish folklore. Frequently funny and increasingly heartwarming, Harvey is a calm and quiet tale that is fantastic without being unbelievable, and sweet without being saccharine. The 4K presentation with Dolby Vision provides a solid upgrade over the previous Blu-ray releases, and Harvey 4K is strongly recommended.