“The Bishop’s Wife” (1947)
I’d not heard of the holiday film The Bishop’s Wife until I started researching DVDs this season. Cary Grant in a holiday film? I’m in, and there was but a short wait for it at the library because it is a lesser known holiday classic.
Grant shows up in a suit (natch) and seems to know everyone’s name. He’s particularly kind to Mrs. Brougham, the bishop’s wife of the title, played by Loretta Young. She’s sad at Christmas, as her husband, played by David Niven, is preoccupied with sucking up to his new, wealthy parishioners in order to finance a cathedral. Grant offers to be Niven’s assistant, then reveals to him that he’s an angel. This angel works in mysterious ways, but the end result is satisfying if not surprising, as Niven becomes aware of just how much he has neglected home and at work. Grant spreads charm wherever he goes, making friends and looking good in a suit, even while ice skating! It’s hard to imagine him and Niven in opposite roles, as happened in the early shooting of the film. This is sweet, frothy fun with a great trio of lead actors. A worthy addition to the holiday DVD roster.
It was remade in 1996 as The Preacher’s Wife, starring Denzel in Cary Grant’s role, and Whitney Houston as the wife.
January 10th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
I love this movie. It reminds me of what a wonderful actor David Niven was. Loretta Young is so beautiful in it and there is no one like Cary Grant. They originally were in the reverse roles??? How interesting.