The Bishop's Wife

Films/DVD Asylum

Movies from comedy to drama to your favorite Hollyweird Star.

1947 film starring Cary Grant as an angel sent to help a Bishop played by David Niven, and the Bishop's wife, played by Loretta Young. Niven wants to build a new cathedral, and, to do so, must obtain funds from patrons who attach conditions to their money. Niven does not want the strings attached, and so he prays for guidance. Voila. Grant shows up. At first, he does the standard angel fare of saving babies from being hit by cars, then the standard cute angel fare of re-filling bottles and glasses of sherry. In one scene, a professor shows the Bishop that when he pours a glass of sherry, the bottle does not empty. Now THAT is a useful skill.
The film takes place at Christmas, and I read that it has become standard Christmas viewing. I must say that I have not seen it played regularly on television during the holiday season, particularly in light of Jimmy Stewart's Christmas classic hogging the airwaves. My cynical side suspects that this film is more overtly religious than Stewart's film, and the media today tries to avoid positive depictions of religion. I read that Loretta Young was very religious.
Does Niven get the new Cathedral? In the end, that is not important, and the screenplay does an excellent job of resolving that issue that makes complete sense, and is in the spirit of the season. There is nothing that is groundbreaking or earth shattering here, simply a pleasant story, with some good effects for the time, acted by very pleasant, capable actors, that leaves you feeling better after you have seen it than before.

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Topic - The Bishop's Wife - jamesgarvin 14:20:52 04/25/05 (8)

Re: The Bishop's Wife - patrickU 02:05:33 04/26/05 (6)

Re: The Bishop's Wife - jamesgarvin 06:43:07 04/26/05 (5)

Re: The Bishop's Wife - patrickU 07:49:52 04/26/05 (4)

Re: The Bishop's Wife - jamesgarvin 08:17:50 04/26/05 (3)

Re: The Bishop's Wife - patrickU 08:33:54 04/26/05 (2)

Re: The Bishop's Wife - jamesgarvin 13:09:54 04/26/05 (1)

Re: The Bishop's Wife - patrickU 13:22:04 04/26/05 (0)

Great Classic...with very capable performances by the three leads...it is interesting to note that while Ms. Young was.. - TWB 01:11:40 04/26/05 (0)

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