The Preacher's Wife (1996)

Good natured Reverend Henry Biggs finds that his marriage to choir mistress Julia is flagging, due to his constant absence caring for the deprived neighborhood they live in. On top of all ... See full summary »

Director:

Penny Marshall

Writers:

Robert Nathan (novel), Robert E. Sherwood (earlier screenplay),

Stars:

Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Courtney B. Vance

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Denzel Washington	...	Dudley
Whitney Houston	...	Julia Biggs
Courtney B. Vance	...	Reverend Henry Biggs
Gregory Hines	...	Joe Hamilton
Jenifer Lewis	...	Margueritte Coleman
Loretta Devine	...	Beverly
Justin Pierre Edmund	...	Jeremiah Biggs
Lionel Richie	...	Britsloe
Paul Bates	...	Saul Jeffreys
Lex Monson	...	Osbert
Darvel Davis Jr.	...	Hakim
William James Stiggers Jr.	...	Billy Eldridge
Marcella Lowery	...	Anna Eldridge
Cissy Houston	...	Mrs. Havergal
Aaron A. McConnaughey	...	Teen

Storyline

Good natured Reverend Henry Biggs finds that his marriage to choir mistress Julia is flagging, due to his constant absence caring for the deprived neighborhood they live in. On top of all this, his church is coming under threat from property developer Joe Hamilton. In desperation, Rev. Biggs prays to God for help - and help arrives in the form of an angel named Dudley. However, Dudley's arrival seems to cause even more trouble...

---

Plot Keywords:

angel | church | marriage | reverend | gospel | 

---

Taglines:

They needed help. What they got was a miracle.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief mild language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 December 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ask melegi

Filming Locations:

Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

JPY 54,112,300 (Japan) (20 December 1996)

Gross:

$48,093,211 (USA) (18 April 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mundy Lane Entertainment, Parkway Productions, Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A grip was hit by a car and killed while crossing the street during production in Yonkers, New York.

---

Quotes

Jeremiah Biggs: Just because you can't see the air doesn't keep you from breathing. And just because you can't see God doesn't keep you from believing.

---

Connections

Remake of Robert Montgomery Presents: The Bishop's Wife (1951)

---

Soundtracks

"Somebody Bigger Than Tou And Me"
Performed by Whitney Houston
Courtesy by Arista Records

User Reviews

A pale remake of a minor Christmas classic

You have to wonder why some folks out in Hollywood try to remake that which was done so very well the first time. You can just see them sitting around the conference table talking about adding color and, oh, yeah, lets make the characters black! It would be OK if they really tried to do it better. But they are really just trying to cash in.

Such is the case with "The Preacher's Wife". A modernized color version of the Cary Grant vehicle, "The Bishop's Wife", the insertion of even this excellent black cast does nothing to enhance the story.

Denzel never seems to capture the sly charm of Dudley, the angel sent to help the Preacher. Now we know Denzel can be a charmer, but even he cannot deliver through this tired direction and uninspired script. Nothing really works in the movie (unless, perhaps, you never saw the original), the Preacher is not sympathetic enough, Whitney isn't at full strength as the title character, and even Gregory Hines can't seem to make the villain seem like much of a baddie.

A thorough waste of time and celluloid!