The Bishop's Wife
1947
David Niven plays preoccupied, harrassed Bishop Henry Brougham whose prayers are answered at Christmas when an angel (played by Cary Grant) is sent from heaven to help him raise money for a new church, enabling him to give his full attention to his neglected wife (Loretta Young) and parishioners. The heavenly agent performs a .. Read more
| Starring | Cary Grant, David Niven, Loretta Young, James Gleason |
|---|---|
| Director | Henry Koster |
| Genres | Comedy |
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The Bishop's Wife
David Niven plays preoccupied, harrassed Bishop Henry Brougham whose prayers are answered at Christmas when an angel (played by Cary Grant) is sent from heaven to help him raise money for a new church, enabling him to give his full attention to his neglected wife (Loretta Young) and parishioners. The heavenly agent performs a number of miracles on his behalf, restoring hope to all. A delightful comedy which was remade in 1996 by Penny Marshall with Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington as THE PREACHER'S WIFE.
| Starring | Cary Grant, David Niven, Loretta Young, James Gleason, Gladys Cooper, Elsa Lanchester, Sara Haden, Regis Toomey |
|---|---|
| Director | Henry Koster |
| Studio | MGM ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 45 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 06 Nov 2006 Production year: 1947 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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In this fantasy comedy, Cary Grant stars as an angel who descends from heaven to put the marriage of irritable, materialistic bishop David Niven and Loretta Young in order, and to raise money for a new church. There were tensions on the set as Grant clashed with Young and director Henry Koster over Robert E Sherwood's script, which Grant thought substandard. However, the playing from all three stars is enjoyable and the festive setting allows Grant to trim a Christmas tree with the flick of a finger. His best line, “The only people who grow old are people who were born old to begin with,” might well have been his own epitaph.
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Pleasant enough Goldwyn-produced whimsy, cashing in on the success of '40s angelic fantasies such as Here Comes Mr... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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12 out of 13 people found this review helpful
Sent down by an angel
This film is so simple but so very perfect!. You will never watch or find a more perfectly crafted feel good I want to help the world kind of film, the casting was perfect with Cary Grant as the angel oooozing Charisma by the bucketful, David Niven as the doubting bishop with his little quirks and nuances and Loretta Young as the stunning wife who angelically flirts with the angel.
I wont say any more about this film except to say in my 10 years of wrighting about films I have only ever given 4 films 10/10 and this being one of them is an overlooked master pieces that should be over looked no more!.
Only the coldest of cynics will not get what this film is about.
Rent it, watch it, love it! -
Most recent members' review
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Uplifting and magical!
This film is as good as if not better than 'It's a Wonderful Life'! Charming and funny, this film also has a serious side. Its idealism is tempered by the humour and superb acting so that it is not a sentimental cringe-making film.
The best film I've seen in yonks! -
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