Bishop's Wife

Church Bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven) wants to build a new and bigger church in the worst way. He is even willing to kowtow to rich demanding congregation members to get funding. Loretta Young as his lovely and somewhat neglected wife Julia, understands how badly her husband wants his new church but she doesn't want him to forget why he became a Bishop and to remember where his real duties lie. In desperation Henry prays for help and guidance. Help comes to him in form of a handsome, debonair and somewhat irreverent angel named Dudley, played superbly by Cary Grant. Grant arrives and immediately steals the heart of Henry's young daughter as well as the hearts of his secretary, maid and wife. When Henry cancels an appointment to hear young members in his congregation sing, Dudley goes instead. Dudley also encourages Julia to buy a rakish hat she admires, he takes her dining and dancing and wins over the disapproving church members who see them together. It seems that angel Dudley can do no wrong, everyone loves him, except Henry who starts to wonder if Dudley really is an angel and what is his real purpose here. David Niven as the somewhat uptight Bishop was the right choice for this role.

There are so many wonderful scenes in this movie. Dudley magically types letters and stuffs envelopes so Henry's secretary can leave the office early to do Christmas shopping; he decorates the tree that the fluttering maid (a very young Elsa Lanchester) has just started to trim; and he has taxi driver, James Gleason, ice skating like an Olympic champion. When the boys won't let Julia's daughter play catch because she throws like a girl, Dudley steps in to give her a good pitching arm. Monty Woolley as the Professor who suspects that Dudley is a VERY special person is simply wonderful.

This is the perfect story for all faiths.

Vannie(~.~)


* * * * * I'd give it 10 stars!   August 19, 2004
MEJ (Cowlesville, NY)
19 out of 20 found this review helpful

This is my favorite movie of all time. It has a wonderful cast, every one of them is so well suited for their role. It's even entertaining to watch them eat celery! The Angel choir throughout gives such a hopeful feel and reminds us who we're dealing with. I love the special effects as well. Without computers I am sure the film makers had to be very clever to make them work and they were done beautifully. I watch this every Christmas by the light of my Christmas tree. Buy it and share it with your family and friends!


The Bishop's Wife: A Movie for the whole family.   October 29, 2001
Sherryl Lynn Watson Cararas Seymour Line (Bentonville, AR United States)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

This is one of the classics of Christmas videos. Cary Grant is at his very best as the angel who comes to assist the Bishop (David Niven) who has prayed (for a great cathedral, he thinks, for guidance, according to the angel) only to find that God works in mysterious ways. The acting is supreme and one can find more and more to enjoy in this film the more one watches it. Loretta Young is the Bishop's Wife - thus the title of the film. The charismatic angel performs small miracles as he interacts with this small group of flawed human beings, unbeknownst to them. One of the best parts occurs when Dudley (the angel) and Julia (the wife) must attend a choir performance given by the boys who still attend the neglected poor parish church. Under the guidance of Dudley, the boys sing with all their hearts and it is truly inspiring! There's a twist at the end, leaving all without having ever known that an angel has visited them. They seem perplexed and a little saddened at his leaving although they do not know why they feel this way. The audience feels sad also - to see such a great movie end. One of my all time favorites for Christmas with wonderful family values.