SPIELBERG TAKES "HARVEY" AS NEXT PIC

Variety ^ | August 02, 2009, | Mike Fleming

[tlb]

So the big question is, will Elwood P Dowd be played by Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Jim Carrey, or Jack Black.

Harvey no more needs a remake then does Casablanca. Intellectual and artistic bankruptcy.

[Yossarian]

Hollywood: You lose your morals, you lose your marbles, you lose ability to function.

What has gone on in Tinseltown the last 10 years is nothing short of pathetic! What a great industry, lost to the dolts.

[jtal]

Go market your drivel in cuba spielberg

[incredulous joe]

I think the brainiacs that would seek to remake this classic would know that Hanks is probably the only one who has the chops to pull it off.

That being said, I wouldn’t pay to see a new version taint my memory of “Harvey”. I’d also hate to see them gratuitously drop in crackberries and modern technology into such a remake.

Why don’t they just write something new rather than ride the nostalgia??

I thought Adam Sandler did an awesome job with “Bedtime Stories”. Obviously. there is probably a cache of good material out there for them to work with. Hollywood simply lacks creativity at the studio level.

[chris37]

I’ll take a pass on anything from Mr. Spielberg.

He was good back in the day, but now...not so much.

[chris37]

As a lover of movies from the golden years (for me that’s mostly 70s-80s), I can only theorize that they are absolutely and totally out of ideas.

The fact that they are making movies out of every single comic book, toy series, and...well remaking movies shows me that their creativity is zilch.

[Othniel]

Mrs. Othniel rented "The Great Buck Howard" this week. Not bad at all. Hanks's son is the lead, and the ever-strange John Malcovich plays Buck Howard, a mentalist whose time has past. Colin Hanks had the chops to pull it off and make it a good film. Hanks Sr. played his dad.

Doing Harvey would be a daunting task for anyone, since Stewart did it in such a low-key style, totally sincere, but with the touch of edge that made you wonder if a few of the bats HAD vacated the belfry. Jack Black would wreck it. So would Cruise. Sandler, maybe, would do a good script justice. Of course, knowing Spielberg, there would probably be some instance where Harvey would intervene in some situation, and everyone would go, "Aaaah. Maybe there IS a big bunny there...." or soemthing like that.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Yay! more remakes!

We need more remakes! PLEASE REMAKE EVERY MOVIE HOLLYWOOD!!!

[Names Ash Housewares]

Agreed.

Anyone that had anything to do with that last Indiana Jones movie is toxic waste now.

[upsdriver]

They can remake Harvey all they want but never will it improve on Jimmy Stewart’s version. That one is classic!

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Harvey "relevant?"

lololol.

[chris37]

Luckily, I have not seen that movie.

I remember The Raiders of the Lost Ark was such an awesome, entertaining movie in its day.

It’s almost like we are going through a “dark ages” as far as movie making goes.

I almost think that I could say the same about the music industry.

[Jeff Chandler]

Adam Sandler could take Stewart’s place the way he did in Mr. Deeds. It just wouldn’t be the same, though, what with Elwood P. Dowd thoroughly beating the crap out of Dr. Chumley.

[airedale]

Hanks would be my guess from that list. He’s the only one who is likable enough to give Jimmy Stewart a run. Likability and gentleness is one of the key elements of the role. It’s one of my favorite movies but for the younger crowd a black and white movie doesn’t seem to work even if it’s a great movie with a fantastic cast. Another movie from a Broadway play that “doesn’t need a remake” but would work is Arsenic and Old Lace. Again casting and staying true to the play would be vital keep it alive. I can only think of 1 remake that was better than the original (1930 and later film) and that was Unfaithfully Yours.

[deannadurbin]

You know they will have a CGI Harvey and everyone will be able to see him. He won’t be invisible like in the Jimmy Stewart classic.

This will stink.

[Jeff Chandler]

for the younger crowd a black and white movie doesn’t seem to work even if it’s a great movie with a fantastic cast.

I raised my daughters on B&W movies. Once they shut up and stop rolling their eyes, they soon forget it isn't in color.

[Jeff Chandler]

I still want to see Sandler as Elwood P. Dowd beat the snot out of Dr. Chumley.

[Rummyfan]

Another movie from a Broadway play that “doesn’t need a remake” but would work is Arsenic and Old Lace.

But who would play Cary Grant's role?

[Rummyfan]

I can only think of 1 remake that was better than the original (1930 and later film) and that was Unfaithfully Yours.

Red Dust and Mogambo.

[DemforBush]

Ehhh...this would not be one I’m looking forward to. I have a soft spot for the original.

I am a bit more optimistic about Spielberg’s plans to remake The Secret Life of Walter Mitty with Jim Carrey filling the lead role (done by Danny Kaye in the original). Carrey could pull that off.

By far, the WORST remake I think is coming down the pike is the forthcoming remake of the beloved B-movie classic “The Warriors.” They’re moving it from NYC to Los Angeles, they’re letting Tony Scott direct it, and it’s going to feature ACTUAL Los Angeles gang members in the supporting cast/as extras (Scott said they were “wonderful to work with”).

And don’t get me started on the planned Three Stooges movie...