The Bishop's Wife (1947)

How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

**SPOILERS** This is a small thing, and I'm almost sorry to think that I'd complain. However, complain I must, don't you know? The movie had three of my favorite actresses, of course Loretta Young is beautiful and charming as always (even when she plays a bad girl, she's charming), Sara Haden, and the delightful Elsa Lanchester. Niven obviously has a stick up his British bum, and Cary Grant simply can't make a mistake in this story. Being an angel, he better not. Monty Wooley is just as he is supposed to be, and all's right with everything else. The only problem I have, and keep in mind several small miracles, is that on Christmas Eve, the Bishop and his wife don't take their daughter to services with them. This is not only ridiculous, it's just insupportable. Everything else, no problems at all; a terrific movie. The end, without their beloved daughter? Sorry.. a 9.

Angels in the film during Christmas are always welcome. The fact is that they always looks impressive. However, if the presence of the angels you can fit in with other elements, particularly convincing story, there will be a kind of problem.The story in the basics and be sentimental with a clear message. Tall, handsome, charming, charismatic and debonair angel does not fit in this story. THE BISHOP'S WIFE was cheerful and lighthearted film. Very simple and meager story of human spirituality and weaknesses. Needless to analyze what is not working as it should. In life there are a lot nicer than some of the moral, professional or business ideals. Family and friends are the most important things in the world. What a man needs in order to feel fulfilled and happy? Very little. Clear guidelines. Acting could be a lot better.Cary Grant as Dudley is an angel who has a solution for all, compassion for everyone, a warm smile that brightens everyone's heart and love for the bishop's wife. I do not believe in angels, but I believe in Grant's charm.David Niven as Bishop Henry Brougham is closed his eyes. Basically on the deft and funny way of knowing that his goal brings a lot more dissatisfaction than goodness. Do not let your job or profession away from yourself or from the people you love and who love you. A clear message. Loretta Young as Julia Brougham, I agree that it is nice to see a happy and contented woman. However bad acting and characterization destroyed role that had plenty of room in the story.The film is a solid, carries a clear and compelling message, however, is superficial and can cause a feeling of illusion.

I watched this movie on Christmas with a bunch of people who thought it was great, so apparently there are people for whom this odd mix of romance and religion works, but this movie doesn't connect with me at all.Cary Grant is quite good as a sly angel who comes to earth to help out a minister and his wife. He is, as usual, charming and likable. Loretta Young is okay as the rather bland wife, and David Niven is stuck playing a charmless minister who he can't do much with.The movie is full of moments that delighted my companions, like a cute ice-skating sequence and a choir performance, but for me these all felt like things that seemed like a good idea but that didn't effect me. The movie has clever ideas here and there, but it also has many moments of lead-footed religiosity, as when Grant tells a bible story to a small child while everyone else in the household watches, inexplicably rapt.For me, this movie has an *almost* quality. Grant is good, there are moments I like, and only a small percentage of scenes really grate on my nerves. I feel there is enough here that a good movie probably could have been built out of the pieces, but I've read that the movie went through rewrites already so perhaps this was ultimately as good as they could manage. Watchable, but that's about it.

All in all this is a fantastic fantasy film, especially nice at Christmas but a charming tonic no matter the season. What's so wrong with depicting a world bathed in such a rosy black & white hue, and like craggy taxi driver James Gleason wistfully declares at one point helps restore your faith in human nature (if not your faith).At a difficult fund raising moment bishop David Niven's prayer for guidance is answered by angel Cary Grant appearing, who then also appears to step into the bishop's shoes, scarf, business and marriage to loyal wife Loretta Young. Naturally, or unnaturally angel Dudley makes an electrifying positive difference in the life of everyone to whom he speaks in his mission to help, but finds one of the mere mortals far too interesting and he gets amusingly sidetracked apparently enjoying red blood in his ethereal veins again. Favourite bits among many: Grant's not only suprahuman but superhuman powers even if sparingly used; Gladys Cooper's beautifully decorated and opulently furnished mansion, even if with somewhat tightly fitting chairs; the pivotal ice skating scenes, even if mainly performed by doubles; the boys choir gradually taking their places in front of conductor Grant even if they didn't seem to know why; Niven asking for and receiving an example of a miracle even if he still couldn't believe it.The schmaltz is laid on thickly and with a trowel, but do you really expect anything else from a family Christmas movie which actually mentions Christ? Maybe it's problematic to cynics and atheists, and fundamentalheads because they consider film to be the invention of the Devil, however to the vast majority of us it should be a simple unpretentious joy to watch.