The Bishop's Wife

Plot synopsis:
On a snowy evening, a dapper gentleman (Cary Grant) strolls serenely through the streets of New York City, admiring the Christmas decorations and the smiling faces of children. He seems to be wandering around doing good deeds for others, almost magically appearing at the right place and time. He helps a blind man cross the street and rescues a baby whose carriage is rolling into traffic. When he sees the beautiful but sad Julia (Loretta Young) converse with her old friend Prof. Wutheridge (Monty Woolley), he takes a serious interest in helping her. Feigning an old acquaintance, he gets more information from the professor, who's unsure if they've ever really met, but guardedly tells the gentleman about Julia's troubles. As they part, Wutheridge wonders who the fellow really is.When she arrives home, Julia finds her husband Henry Brougham (David Niven), the Episcopalian bishop of the local diocese, in a heated argument with the chair of the cathedral committee, Mrs. Hamilton (Gladys Cooper), a wealthy but domineering older woman. Henry has a dream of building a new cathedral, and needs Mrs. Hamilton's financial support. Unfortunately, she demands that the cathedral be built as a monument to her late husband. Later, Henry argues with Julia, and it's obvious that their marriage is strained by his preoccupation with the cathedral. Harried and harassed, Henry is at his wit's end, and retiring to his study he prays for guidance. Turning to leave, he is surprised to find a gentleman has somehow appeared in his study. Telling Henry that his name is Dudley, the gentleman reveals that he's an angel, and he's come in answer to Henry's prayer.Despite Henry's doubts, Dudley quickly charms his way into Henry's life, becoming a favorite of his maid Matilda (Elsa Lanchester), his little daughter Debby (Karolyn Grimes), his secretary, his St Bernard Queenie, and even his wife Julia, all the while preventing Henry from telling anyone what Dudley claims to be. Julia enjoys Dudley's company, delighting in his broad knowledge of the world and his ability to do seemingly everything well. Meanwhile, Henry gets no closer to building his cathedral, and becomes increasingly angry with Dudley for being so intrusive.A confrontation looms, and Henry decides to submit to Mrs. Hamilton's demands in order to speed things along, get his old life back, and get rid of Dudley. His visit to Mrs. Hamilton is fraught with tension before he even sets off because he'd agreed to have lunch with Julia that afternoon and hear the boys' choir rehearse at St. Timothy's, his old church. Dudley offers to see Mrs. Hamilton so Henry can keep his appointment with Julia and the choir, but Henry curtly refuses, so Dudley meets Julia. He takes her to lunch, to the choir practice, and then they go skating. While Dudley brings out the best in the boy sopranos, Henry abases himself. In the movie's funniest scene, he apologizes to Mrs. Hamilton for disagreeing with her and promises the cathedral will be built exactly as she wishes. She adds a new condition: in the stained-glass window depicting St. George and the dragon, St. George must have her late husband's face. "Who do you see as the dragon?" asks Henry, and she looks at him a bit suspiciously, but he's all innocence. Having achieved his objective he tries to go, but finds himself stuck to his chair, which prevents him from meeting Julia. Everyone involved — the bishop, the dowager, and her butler — is much too dignified to allow the scene to descend into farce, but it takes some doing to avoid it, with Henry creeping around the room in the hunched posture forced upon him by the chair. Eventually he calls home and asks Matilda to bring him another pair of trousers.Later that afternoon, Henry tells Dudley he can leave; Henry's prayer had been answered. Dudley's not so sure. What does Henry really want: the cathedral, or Julia's happiness? Enraged, Henry demands that Dudley get out of his life at once, and as Dudley departs with a smile, he admonishes Henry not to let Julia see him this angry. Later, visiting Professor Wutheridge, Henry confesses that he's probably lost Julia to Dudley, and is surprised to find that he can actually tell the professor about Dudley being an angel. Wutheridge reminds Henry that he has an advantage over an angel: he is a mortal man, and Julia is a mortal woman.During the afternoon on December 24th, Henry gives his secretary Miss Cassaway (Sara Haden) the manuscript of his Christmas Eve sermon to type. She isn't thrilled to be staying late on Christmas Eve, so when Dudley turns up and offers to finish it for her, she's quick to accept. Dudley tosses the manuscript and incomplete typescript into the fire, orders the typewriter "Take a sermon," and starts dictating a sermon about Christmas gifts and an empty stocking.Meanwhile, Henry and Julia have gone to pay some calls, finishing with Mrs. Hamilton. But Dudley is there before them. Left alone to await her in the drawing room, he finds an old musical manuscript dedicated lovingly to Agnes (Mrs. Hamilton's first name is Agnes) and signed "Allan" — not her late husband's name. When she comes in Dudley's playing the composition on her harp. Hearing it again after many years moves her, and she tells Dudley that the composer, Allan, was the only man she ever loved. They were engaged, but he didn't have any money and because she feared poverty, she broke it off. She married Mr. Hamilton because he was fond of her, and he was very rich. Mrs. Hamilton breaks down and cries on Dudley's shoulder. when the Broughams arrive she's uncharacteristically warm, asks them to call her Agnes, and mentions in passing that she's decided to give her money to help the poor.Back at the house, Henry faces Dudley one last time. Henry tells him that Julia means more to him than life itself, and he's willing to fight Dudley no matter what may happen. Relieved that Henry has gotten his priorities straight at last, a beaming Dudley tells Henry that he's leaving, and that Henry's prayer has been answered. Confused, Henry disagrees. "I prayed for a cathedral," he says."No Henry, you prayed for guidance," says Dudley. "That has been given to you."Dudley has a final meeting with Julia to let her know that he's unlikely to see her again — angels aren't assigned to the same post more than once because they're not supposed to form attachments — but he is tired of constantly moving. She realizes what he's saying and tells him very firmly that he must indeed go away and never come back. When he leaves, Dudley takes with him all memory of his existence. None of the people he's helped remember him at all. As they gather in church for Henry's Christmas Eve sermon, Dudley stands outside, unrecognized. He smiles and walks off into the city. Henry delivers Dudley's sermon, asking his flock to fill Jesus's stocking with gifts of "loving kindness, warm hearts, and a stretched out hand of tolerance: all the shining gifts that make peace on earth."

Tags: paranormal

Review:
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.
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.".
Grant gets to flash those pearly whites of his and be charming and Young gets to look beautiful and torn between depressed husband and fun-loving Dudley, and Niven gets to showcase his British stiff upper lip while at the same time display some very funny slapstick pratfalls.
This charming Christmas fantasy truly warms the hart and kindles the soul.David Nivin plays the perfect foil for Cary's assignment of "answering the bishop's prayers".
Loretta Young's charming demeanor as the bishops devoted, but neglected wife, distracts Cary("Dudley")from his primary mission, and leads the audience on a heart warming journey through small town America at mid 20th century, during a memorable Christmas season.My young son saw this movie for the first time when he was nine years old.
The special effects are minimalist but effective, the careful framing and lighting of Gregg Toland's ("Citizen Kane") black and white cinematography, the tentative steps title character Julia (Loretta Young) takes as she starts to experience happiness again, and the slow realization by Bishop Henry of how far he has drifted from what matters the most.The unity and subtlety is best illustrated in the scene of Henry walking up the sidewalk towards the Professor's (Monty Wooley) apartment.
Henry and Julia's young daughter is played by Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu in "It's a Wonderful Life").A nice thing is that while the film's "little" miracles are done on screen they are interwoven into the fabric of the story instead of dominating a scene.
Reverend Henry Brougham (David Niven) is working very hard to get his cathedral built--in fact, he's so busy speaking to wealthy clients and attending business meetings that he forgets that the one thing he needs most in this world is his wife Julia (Loretta Young) and their daughter Debbie.
It's a shame that Loretta Young spent most of the film looking pensive, and even in her character's moments of joy--say the ice-skating scene--she simply fails to leap off the screen and run away with the audience's hearts.Cary Grant has no such problem, however.
Cary Grant is charming as Dudley, the angel sent to answer the prayers of the bishop (David Niven) who is desperately trying to raise funding for a new cathedral.
Niven plays the bishop and, as usual in the film world, is portrayed as a weak clergyman.Nonetheless, it is a charming, feel pretty-good movie that entertains through most of it.
The Bishop's wife has all three.Dudley, Played by Cary Grant, is an Angel sent to David Niven, the Bishop who wants to build a grand Cathedral.
"The Bishop's Wife's" Oscar for best sound was there on display.When the filming began, Cary Grant was cast as the Bishop and David Niven as the angel.
If I had a problem this Yuletide season, I'd kind of like Cary Grant to help me out, if I couldn't get Bing Crosby.Loretta Young is radiant as the woman who causes Cary's halo to slip and David Niven is as charming as he always is.
Loretta Young who is as beautiful as always,plays David Niven's wife who finds Cary Grant (Dudley) very charming  and fun to be with.
I would recommend watching this film when there is nothing to distract you from the humour and every bit of action going on in the story as you will want to take in every moment.I had never heard of this movie until I received it for Chrstmas, so it might be a little known treat for all the die-hard Cary Grant fans out there.
Although I'm not a big fan of David Niven, I enjoyed him in his role as the bishop.My favorite scenes include the annual debate between the professor and merchant for the purchase of a Christmas tree (which resembles the Charlie Brown variety), lunch at Michele's where Dudley invites the snoopy gossips to join he and Julia, ice skating on the pond (whoever did the comic skating for the taxi driver was wonderful), and when the boys choir starts singing with one or two voices added at a time until the whole rehearsal room is filled with heavenly music.I look forward to viewing this classic, and not just at holidays!.
A delightful script, excellent acting, along with beautiful sets and deft direction make this simple movie stand up so well even today.Cary Grant plays an angel that comes to assist the extremely controlling and obsessed Bishop, played by David Niven.
In addition to these two wonderful actors, the film also features Loretta Young, Monty Woolley, James Gleason, Elsa Lanchester and Gladys Cooper.
I didn't realise who Cary Grant(the angel), David Niven(the bishop), and Loretta Young(bishop's wife) were at the time.
Cary Grant is masterful as Dudley, and the rest of the cast are superb.I have never even watched the remake ("The Preacher's Wife" with Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston) because I just know that they have managed to ruin my all-time favourite movie by trying to "update" a story which simply does not require it.Message to Disney: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!.
However where "It's A Wonderful Life" has a much darker undertone in its literally life or death narrative, here all good angel Cary Grant has to do is divert Bisop David Niven away from a glory-hunting cathedral-building blind alley back to the path of piety and humility and at the same time restore him to the bosom of his loving family.There are many Christmassy touches, with snow everywhere, ice-skating in the park, Christmas tree decorations and carol-singing boy choirs with many of these giving Dudley the angel (why do angels always cop such corny names?) the opportunity to flex his miraculous muscles to do good.
It's all done very entertainingly, the special effects nicely rendered for the time and once Cary gets those less than angelic thoughts about the bishop's pretty wife, Loretta Yong, out of his head and on the way take the rich old cold widow Mrs Hamilton (Gladys Cooper) on a Scrooge-like conversion, the happy ending is never in doubt.The acting by a big-name cast is affable - Cary is hardly exercised and merely requires to look beatific most of the time and Loretta Young is attractive and effervescent.
I'm not sure about David Niven in a dog-collar but he gets the best line (humorously but subtly likening Mrs Hamilton to a dragon) and Golden Age perennials James Gleason and Monty Woolley do well in support.As a whole the film seems a little too full to bursting with good-cheer and peace for all men - even driving avowed non-believer Wooley to church by the end and encouraging Mrs Hamilton to pledge her millions to helping the poor "everywhere in the world" but that might just be the cynic in me.
Cary Grant is angel Dudley, David Niven is the Bishop, and Loretta Young is the Bishops wife.
David Niven and Cary Grant are two of my favorite actors.The head boy in the snowball fight also plays a young Jimmy Stewart in the movie it a wonderful life..
Like the old professor it renews my faith in the world every time I see it.Cary Grant never looked more amazing, acted more charming, or brought to life a deeper character than Dudley the Angel.
Cary Grant, David Niven, Loretta Young, Monty Woolley, James Gleason, Gladys Cooper and Elsa Lanchester, all help to make this a perennial necessity for Christmas viewings.
Karolyn Grimes, who plays Young and Niven's daughter, makes appearances occasionally and talks about this film and "It's A Wonderful Life." She looks like Meryl Streep now.
Yes, this is a sentimental piece with an overtly Christian message, but it is a very fine movie nonetheless.Viewers can savor the expert characterizations of Cary Grant as Dudley the angel, contrasted with David Niven's stressed-out bishop Henry Brougham.
Both Niven and Grant possessed fine comic abilities, and Koster allows them full rein to exercise their range of facial expressions.The film benefits from a strong supporting cast, including Young as a harassed housewife redeemed from drudgery by Dudley's intervention; Monty Woolley as a distinguished professor who eventually admits that he has spent the last few years of his life in utter idleness; Elsa Lanchester as an unusually high-spirited parlor-maid; and James Gleason as a cab-driver learning how to skate once more.The subject-matter is very much of its time, as Mrs. Hamilton is dissuaded from giving $1m.
This movie is one of those special films which you appreciate more and more each time you see it.Superb casting with Cary Grant as the 'angel' sent from heaven to help the Bishop, David Niven, to make a crucial decision, and Loretta Young as "the Bishops Wife" ( What a doll !!
Excellent supporting performances are added by Monty Wooley ( the professor ) and veteran character actor James Gleason in the role of a philanthropic cab driver who is just happy to have Cary and Loretta as passengers for their 'uniqueness'.The main plot shows Grant TRYING to be a faithful assistant to a Bishop who is insecure at the very least about many aspects of his life.
It's fun to dig into the vaults occasionally and come up with a classic that perhaps you've never seen, or haven't seen for a long time; and it's especially satisfying when you come up with a gem like `The Bishop's Wife,' directed by Henry Koster and starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven.
Watching this film, it's easy to understand why it's been designated as `classic.'  Well written and stylishly delivered, `The Bishop's Wife' is an absorbing, memorable film that makes you realize (either again or, perhaps for many, the first time) why Grant, Young and Niven are considered `stars,' and how much great character actors like Woolley, Gleason and Lanchester contributed to so many great films during their careers.
I discovered this movie on TV many years ago, never having heard of it previously, but what a joy, being able to call on such talents as Niven, Grant and Loretta Young, not to mention stalwart supporting players such as Gladys Cooper, Monty Woolley and Elsa Lanchester, gave the studio a head start of course.
So even the "incidental" music turns out to have an enormously gratifying emotional arc and payoff -- like every other element in this expertly crafted piece."The Bishop's Wife" is, really, a small intimate story with none of the elaborate allegorical scope of Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life." I constantly discover nuances in the performances I hadn't noticed before; inventive camera angles and compositions by legendary cinematographer Gregg Toland ("Citizen Kane"); and flawless pacing by director Koster.Every scene, every sequence, has an arc and a payoff and builds naturally to the next.
But this is the film that makes all the others seem like runners-up.Dudley (Cary Grant - playing an angel) is an inspiration to me each time I see this movie.
The story is about an angel named Dudley (Cary Grant) sent to Earth to help Bishop Henry (David Niven), who's struggling with raising the money necessary to build a new cathedral, all the while neglecting his wife Julia (Loretta Young).Cary Grant is just perfect as Dudley, one of his best 1940s roles.
Also of note to fans of another Christmas classic: Karolyn Grimes and Bobby Anderson (Zuzu and young George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life) are in this.It's a quality production with great direction and cinematography, and a witty and emotional script full of very human characters who are flawed but not in the same broken way that description is used today.
He is sent help, as Christmas approaches, in the form of Dudley (Cary Grant)--an angel...Dudley announces himself only to Henry, the bishop; to the others, including staff Elsa Lanchester, and Sara Haden, a daughter Debbie and wife Young he is "a new assistant" hired by Henry.
I will not reveal the ending to this charming and only-occasionally-troubled tale; Dudley's explanation of religion to the daughter does not quite hold together; but the fun in the film for me as for millions lies in watching Grant suggest the dangerous strength of the human side versus the angelic--and the simplicity of the good will he uses, by means of which he awakens individuals to realizing that even if life cannot be perfect, it could be better if they set their priorities in order and then did something about them.
What's so wrong with depicting a world bathed in such a rosy black & white hue, and like craggy taxi driver James Gleason wistfully declares at one point helps restore your faith in human nature (if not your faith).At a difficult fund raising moment bishop David Niven's prayer for guidance is answered by angel Cary Grant appearing, who then also appears to step into the bishop's shoes, scarf, business and marriage to loyal wife Loretta Young.
The years following World War II brought an influx of angels (or Heavenly Conductors) to the movie screen in films such as Stairway to Heaven, It's a Wonderful Life, and the 1947 The Bishop's Wife starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven.
Nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, original score, and film editing, the only Oscar the film won, however, was that for Best Sound and the performances by Grant, Young, and Niven, considered to be among their best, were overlooked.In the film, Bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven) asks for divine guidance to help raise the money to build a cathedral, a project to which he is so single-minded about that his values, marriage, and family are put in jeopardy.
This particular angel (Cary Grant) is rather handsome and charming and takes particular notice of Henry's wife Julia (Loretta Young) who is under the impression that he is Henry's new assistant.
The film has some memorable set pieces that are worth the price of admission by themselves.Dudley, Julia, and Sylvester performing a sparkling skating routine (with the help of professional doubles), Sherry glasses that keep filling up by themselves, Dudley miraculously rounding up a group of forgetful boys to perform the beautiful hymn O Sing to God (Noel) by Gounod at St. Timothy's church, and Dudley "finding" a harp to play in Agnes' living room.The Bishop's Wife has a good message, brilliant performances especially from Cary Grant, and a joyous feel to it, though it is somewhat dampened by the humorless and aloof Henry who doesn't seem to get the message of humility and love that Dudley is trying to convey (well, at least not right away).
For example, can you imagine the roles in this film performed by anyone else other than Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven, Monty Woolley, and James Gleason?
But she's certainly more than passable.One of my favorite performances came from Elsa Lanchester, in a minor role as the family maid.This movie becomes magical only once---during the ice skating scene between Cary Grant, Young and James Gleason.
Originally, Theresa Wright was to play Julia, the title character and Dana Andrews was to be the angel, Dudley, opposite Cary Grant as the Bishop.
It's an absolutely marvelous holiday fantasy that delivers it's message of the true spirit of Christmas without coming close to hitting you over the head with it.It's, along with Harvey (1950, a high water mark for director Henry Koster, who had considerable help from supporting cast members James Gleason as a cabbie and Monte Woolley as a beaten down old professor who finds new life through Dudley..
Grant plays Dudley, Young is Julia Broughham, and Niven is Bishop Henry Brougham.
Enjoyed this film years ago and recently viewed this film on TCM and enjoyed this great Classic film where Cary Grant, (Dudley) plays the role as an angel who visits Bishop Henry Brougham,(David Niven).
Cary Grant is the "minor" angel sent to earth to help sort things out between the marriage of the Bishop played by David Niven and his wife and their congregations quest to build a new cathedral.
Seiter with Cary Grant as the Bishop and David Niven as the angel.
The Bishop's Wife is just one of those charming movies that portrays the world as you'd wish it to be and has Dudley as everyone's great angel.
"The Bishop's Wife" is simply a tremendous movie, beautifully combining the talents of Cary Grant (Dudley the angel), David Niven (Bishop Henry Brougham) and Loretta Young (Julia Brougham).
Although not actually a Christmas film, 'The Bishop's Wife' does have a holiday glow about it, due largely to the performances of Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven in the starring roles.
Cary Grant is an angel named Dudley who automatically charms everyone except Niven-the only one who even knows what he is.
Cary Grant plays Dudley with such an intense charm it is impossible to take one's eyes off him, something the other characters in the film clearly feel.
Handsome angel Dudley (Cary Grant) makes everyone's Christmas a little happier (especially Julia's (Loretta Young), the titular spouse) as he indirectly guides her conflicted husband, Bishop Brougham (David Niven) who is trying to raise money for a new cathedral.
David Niven, Cary Grant, Loretta Young, James Gleason, Karolyn Grimes, Elsa Lanchester, Monty Wooley, The Mitchell Boy's Choir.