The Bishop's Wife (1947)

A bishop trying to get a new cathedral built prays for guidance. An angel (Cary Grant) arrives, but his guidance isn't about fundraising.

Director:

Henry Koster

Writers:

Robert E. Sherwood (screenplay), Leonardo Bercovici (screenplay),

Stars:

Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven

Won 1 Oscar. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cary Grant	...	Dudley
Loretta Young	...	Julia Brougham
David Niven	...	Henry Brougham
Monty Woolley	...	Professor Wutheridge
James Gleason	...	Sylvester
Gladys Cooper	...	Mrs. Hamilton
Elsa Lanchester	...	Matilda
Sara Haden	...	Mildred Cassaway
Karolyn Grimes	...	Debby Brougham
Tito Vuolo	...	Maggenti
Regis Toomey	...	Mr. Miller
Sarah Edwards	...	Mrs. Duffy
Margaret McWade	...	Miss Trumbull
Anne O'Neal	...	Mrs. Ward (as Ann O'Neal)
Ben Erway	...	Mr. Perry

Storyline

An Episcopal Bishop, Henry Brougham, has been working for months on the plans for an elaborate new cathedral which he hopes will be paid for primarily by a wealthy, stubborn widow. He is losing sight of his family and of why he became a churchman in the first place. Enter Dudley, an angel sent to help him. Dudley does help everyone he meets, but not necessarily in the way they would have preferred. With the exception of Henry, everyone loves him, but Henry begins to believe that Dudley is there to replace him, both at work and in his family's affections, as Christmas approaches.

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Plot Keywords:

bishop | christmas | fund | angel | hope | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

16 February 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jede Frau braucht einen Engel

Filming Locations:

Loring Park, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the version of the Christmas sermon dictated to the typewriter by Dudley, the following is shown typed onto the paper: "You give me a tie. I give you a book." However, in the pulpit on Christmas morning the Bishop reverses these two sentences when he reads, "I give you a book. You give me a tie."

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Goofs

In several shots throughout the movie, the dog trainer's shadow can be seen. When Dudley pushes Julia's chair in, at Henry's back a shadow moves, and the dog gets up and walks over to Dudley.

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Quotes

Prof. Wutheridge: God bless you!
Dudley: Thank you! I'll pass that recommendation along.

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Connections

Referenced in The Making of 'It's a Wonderful Life' (1990)

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Soundtracks

"Noël"
(Montez à Dieu) (uncredited)
Music by Charles Gounod
Sung by the boys' choir

User Reviews

One of the kindest, gentlest, most beautiful movies ever made...

A good script and inspired casting is what makes this film a real winner.

Cary Grant as Dudley the Angel has a charm that transcends his role.

When he enters a room his presence fills the screen -- you know he is there even if you cannot always see him.

Loretta Young (who was a last minute replacement) is positively luminescent when she gazes into Dudley's face.

This goes for Elsa Lanchester and Gladys Cooper (the staff at the Bishop's house) too -- they have absolute adoration in their countenance. Not hard to do with Cary Grant I am sure -- but they take it to the spiritual level.

David Niven gives just the right amount of disbelief and cynicism as the Bishop that may have lost his faith.

I have always enjoyed performances by Monty Wooley and again he is perfectly cast as the self-described "has-been scholar."

The special effects are wonderful for a time (1947) when special effects were pretty much in their infancy.

Movie books classify "The Bishop's Wife" as a fantasy -- but there is so much more there than that.

It is a love story, a comedy, a drama and an all around inspiring film.

"Peace on Earth; good will towards men."