The Bishop Misbehaves (1935)

On a walking tour of English cathedrals, Donald Meadows meets Hester Granthem in church. Hearing he is from that hot-bed of crime, Chicago, Hester asks Donald to help her in a robbery she ... See full summary »

Director:

Ewald André Dupont (as E.A. Dupont)

Writers:

Leon Gordon (screen play), Frederick J. Jackson (from the play by) (as Frederick Jackson)

Stars:

Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'Sullivan, Lucile Watson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Edmund Gwenn	...	Bishop
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Hester
Lucile Watson	...	Lady Emily
Reginald Owen	...	Guy Waller
Dudley Digges	...	'Red'
Norman Foster	...	Donald
Lilian Bond	...	Mrs. Waller
Melville Cooper	...	Collins
Robert Greig	...	Rosalind
Charles McNaughton	...	'Frenchy'
Etienne Girardot	...	Brooke
Ivan F. Simpson	...	Mr. Grantham (as Ivan Simpson)
Lumsden Hare	...	Constable
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andy Clyde	...	(scenes deleted)
Charles Coleman	...	Commissionaire (scenes deleted)

Storyline

On a walking tour of English cathedrals, Donald Meadows meets Hester Granthem in church. Hearing he is from that hot-bed of crime, Chicago, Hester asks Donald to help her in a robbery she has planned. Thinking it a joke, he plays along; but Hester is serious, and hearing that she plans to rob Mr. Waller, the man who has cheated her father out of thousands of pounds, Donald agrees. A robbery at a pub is arranged, but the Bishop of Broadminster, an avid mystery fan, and his sister stumble into it. Playing detective the Bishop complicates matters and each side, the Bishop, the unscrupulous Waller, the gang Hester hires, and Hester and Donald, each get the upper hand along the way.

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Plot Keywords:

bishop | robbery | cathedral | pub | thief | 

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Taglines:

The Theatre's Comedy Success - Now a Screen Hit!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 September 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aventuras de uma Noite

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film received its initial television broadcast in Los Angeles Thursday 2 May 1957 on KTTV (Channel 11), followed by Cincinnati 15 May 1957 on WXIX (Channel 19) (Newport KY), by Philadelphia 28 June 1957 on WFIL (Channel 6), by Chicago 20 July 1957 on WBBM (Channel 2), by Seattle 26 July 1957 on KING (Channel 5), by New Haven CT 1 August 1957 on WNHC (Channel 8), by Miami 8 August 1957 on WCKT (Channel 7), by Lubbock TX 11 August 1957 on KCBD (Channel 11), by Norfolk VA 13 August 1957 on WTAR (Channel 3), by Portland OR 24 August 1957 on KGW), by Minneapolis 20 September 1957 on KMGM (Channel 9), and eventually by San Francisco 27 February 1958 on KGO (Channel 7), and by New York City 28 September 1958 on WCBS (Channel 2).

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Connections

Version of The Bishop Misbehaves (1951)

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Soundtracks

Abide with Me
(1861) (uncredited)
Music by William H. Monk
Hymn by Henry F. Lyte (1847)
Sung a cappella by Etienne Girardot

User Reviews

I liked the character even more than the film itself.

"The Bishop Misbehaves" is a very unusual entry into the very crowded field of mystery films of the 1930s and 40s. Big studios, little studios and those in between ALL made a bazillion of these films...and most were, at best, mediocre. However, this film stands out because of its main character and his very odd way of dealing with crime. Edmund Gwenn plays an Anglican bishop who loves solving crimes and sadly it's a stand-alone film--no sequels were to follow. His style is VERY unconventional...and that's why I give the film a 7...it certainly isn't because of the rest of the writing.

When the film begins, a young lady (Maureen O'Sullivan) is despondent. Her father's been cheated by a scum-bag and you KNOW that he is because the introductory credits tell you that Reginald Owen is a jerk and a crook! He's stolen her father's secret formula and she's planning on hiring some folks to help steal it back--using her very complicated plan. Oddly, however, an American who just met her agrees to help her...even though it could potentially get him killed or sent to prison! Into the middle of this stumbles the Bishop and his sister and instead of being horrified, they are THRILLED...as he loves solving crimes and meddling. And, a charming meddler he is!

The film is good...but be aware that sometimes the writing disappoints. This is a b-movie after all and plot problems and holes are not all that uncommon in these style films. In this case, there are just too many twists and surprises--to the point of being absurd. Still, it's oddly enjoyable....mostly because you really like Gwenn's character.