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The Bishop's Wife | Year: 1948 Classification: Drama Directed: - Henry Koster Actors/Actresses: - Cary Grant - Loretta Young Fine Xmastime Viewing-in Black and White Please! "The Bishop's Wife" is a feel good Christmas story in the "It's A Wonderful Life", "Miracle on 34th Street" tradition. The plot turns around a stressed out, overwrought, harried pastor (David Niven), constantly obsessed about raising funds for a new cathedral. He plays the pinch nosed role to the hilt and turns in the film's best performance. Thickening the plot is his patient, beautiful, too good to be true, supportive wife (Loretta Young), who he usually ignores. An angel ! (Cary Grant) appears to help him out of his misery. Grant is slightly too smooth for words but as good angels will, engineers a happy ending. Young's tolerant, loving attitude toward the brooding Niven is another high point of BW. I was unaware of how attractive she was. The supporting cast, including Gladys Cooper, Elsa Lanchester and Monty Woolley are excellent. The gloomy black and white, wintertime eponymous setting is perfect. This is one movie that should not be colorized! Some have suggested that Young's work in BW was a factor is her winning Best Actress Oscar for "The Farmer's Daughter" later in 1947. I have read elsewhere that it was Grant who suggested role reversals between he and Niven. The producers certainly were correct to agree! Niven was made to be that unhappy parson! The only weak point is that "famous" skating scene. What were they thinking? Since when do male angels take some guy's wife skating? That belonged on a cutting room floor! Viewers should find BW excellent Christmas time viewing, unhampered by the overexposure of the other "usual suspects" shown at that time of year. Loretta Young deserved that Oscar! Loretta Young deserved an Oscar and she got it the year this film was made, but for another role "The Farmer's Daughter" a comedy. While that was also a wonderful performance I can't help thinking that Academy voters were also thinking of this movie when they cast their vote for her to win against the odds on favorite that year, Rosalind Russell. In the first 15 minutes of the Bishop's Wife Loretta Young brought me nearly to tears twice the first time I watched this movie and many times since. Mind you the all star cast does not end with her alone, we have Cary Grant giving us a little piece of heaven right here on Earth. In addition, we have David Niven in a wonderful turn as a very believable (trust me I know!) Episcopal Bishop over-worked and harried trying to raise money for a new Cathedral. Monty Wooley, James Gleason and Elsa Lanchester were all wonderful. Gladys Cooper was also a scene stealer as the "selfish materialistic woman" that the Bishop must grovel to for funding. I wish they made wholesome faith-filled movies that still deliver a message of tolerance and inclusion during the Christmas season in this day and age. Well, I will go on wishing, but I recommend this DVD to watch for the time being. Christmas with Cary Grant. I think overall, this movie is maybe my favourite that was set around Christmas time. It's better than the brilliant - although overrated - Capra classic, "It's a Wonderful Life". I am in no way meaning to compare the two though. "The Bishop's Wife" is not really like that movie. But both films remain the two greatest christmas time classics to come out of the 1940's. The film is, as one would have already guessed, set around christmas time. The main plot of the story, is that David Niven is this Bishop, who prays for guidance, of how to get a new cathedral built. Dudley (Cary Grant) is an Angel, who has been sent to help, although the Bishop does not take to him being an Angel too seriously, for some time. Dudley helps everyone he meets, but not always in the way they might prefer, to start off with. Dudley spends a lot of time with the Bishop's wife (Loretta Young) and he is not liking it. Dudley becomes the popular friend among all the people he meets, and helps, but the Bishop is the odd one out, becoming more annoyed, and frustrated with him as it goes along. It all ends nicely though, of course. The film is really wonferful. There is a skating scene, that is inparticularly memorable, among Cary Grant always charming, excellent performance. The acting in this movie, is simply brilliant. I cant possibly have seen it being any better. The script, the story, everything about this movie is great. Repeated viewings are easy, and its one of Cary Grant best movies. This DVD from MGM has a great print. It contains very few signs of scratching, and the other little artifacts you find in some movies of this age, and is an overall good looking transfer. The extras are lousy. You get the trailer (which is quite fun, might I add) but absolutely nothing else. Oh well, the print is the main thing, and they have done a good job in that part. Highly recommended. Buy The Bishop's Wife at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on The Bishop's Wife Search with the Priority Search Engine on The Bishop's Wife This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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