The Bishop's Wife (1947)

An angel in human form enters the life of a bishop in order to help him build a new cathedral and repair his fractured marriage.

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 | angel | christmas | hope | faith | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

16 February 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jede Frau braucht einen Engel

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on March 1, 1954 with Cary Grant again reprising his film role.

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Goofs

On the first morning, as Dudley is walking back into the study to organize the index cards, there is an editing error. You'll see a very brief exterior shot. It's too quick to see what it is in real-time, but if you pause it, you'll see that it's from the scene of the previous evening with Dudley and the Professor standing in front of the old church building.

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Quotes

Henry Brougham: Dudley, if we should need you again, will you come back?
Dudley: Not I. I shall ask to be assigned to the other end of the Universe.
Henry Brougham: Is that because I was so difficult?
Dudley: Oh, no. This difficulty was in me. When an Immortal finds himself envying the Mortal he is entrusted to his care, it's a danger signal. Take her in your arms and hold her tight.
[Coming]
Dudley: Kiss her for me, you lucky Henry!

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Connections

Featured in The Soundman (1950)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

An Angel For All Seasons

What a pleasure to revisit this Henry Koster little gem. Everything works in the most unexpected way. The mystic magic of the story is utterly contagious. The unexpected musical number on ice skates by Cary Grant, Loretta Young and James Gleason made me want to see it again straight away and thanks to the new technologies I was able to do it on the spot. There was a remake of this movie a few years ago, remember? No, probably not. Denzel Washington in the Cary Grant part and Whitney Huston in Loretta Young's. To see both films back to back should be a masterclass in film anthropology that proves without a doubt that with the passing of time we have lost something invaluable. I don't know what it is. Maybe there isn't a word for it yet. What I would love to share with all of you is the joy that "The Bishop's Wife" borough to me. Even Gladys Cooper's upper class monster has a moment of exquisite redemption. Not to be missed.