Fantastic!

best movie i've ever seen.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

In their fifth onscreen pairing, real-life friends David Niven and Loretta Young play husband and wife. He's the bishop, and she's The Bishop's Wife. Niven wants to build a cathedral, but in doing so, he's losing sight of his old ideals. He prays for help, and help is granted, though not in the form he wanted. Cary Grant, an angel, is sent down to Earth, but is he there to help ensure the cathedral is built, or is he trying to remind Niven of what's really important?It's easy to see why The Bishop's Wife is a Christmas classic in most households. The story is interesting, the acting is good, Hugo Friedhofer's music is delightful, and Robert E. Sherwood's and Leonardo Bercovici's script is memorable and wise. I often wondered why the film, and original novel, was entitled The Bishop's Wife, instead of perhaps The Bishop's Visit or even The Bishop's Cathedral. After watching it for probably the twenty-fifth time, I finally understood the title, and the true meaning of the story-just one of the reasons why this classic is so wonderful. Learning something new from the film after 25 viewings is incredible. I won't tell you my take on the story, because it's the type of story that could speak to everyone differently, but the next time you watch it, try really focusing on Cary Grant's purpose. The famous trivia from this movie is that the original male casting was reversed. David Niven was supposed to be the angel, and Cary Grant the bishop. Since I absolutely love The Niv, I think the original casting would have been fine; he would have been as charming and attractive as the angel role required. After all, I fell in love with David Niven in this movie! "Have a chair," Agnes Moorhead offers. "Thank you, I . . . have one," he answers with perfect British comic timing. That was it-my heart was his!I recently bought Robert Nathan's original novel, and after forcing myself through the very depressing, extremely different story, I was filled with even more admiration for the film! I know I'm not heaping quite enough praise on this movie, so I'll try to compliment it some more. In the book, the characters are completely different, and frankly, not who you'd want to waste your time caring about up on the big screen. Sherwood and Bercovici's adaptation of the very difficult novel is incredible. Agnes Moorhead's character, whom some would argue is the most important part of the movie, isn't even in the book! Monty Woolley's character only talks philosophy and history with the angel; he isn't given any other dimensions to his character. In the film, he banters with an old friend, accepts religion in others even though he has none of his own, describes his regret over losing the love of his life, and bolsters the bishop when needed. Some would argue he has the most important role in the film. The character of the angel is also completely different. Can you imagine Cary Grant moping around for two hours, losing his faith and depressing everyone around him? Of course not; it's Cary Grant! He's supposed to put people at ease instantly and make their burdens lighter. His famous smile plays an integral role in the movie, making the story better than Robert Nathan intended. The title character is the only one who's relatively similar to the story; Loretta Young has moments of unexplained depression and disappointment in her life because she either read the original novel or was told to act that way by someone who had. I don't understand how she could be unhappy being married to The Niv, but that's just me. And finally, the bishop. In the novel, he's barely in the story! He's cold and consumed by his work and barely talks to anyone. Bercovici wrote David Niven a wonderful and meaty part, one he plays wonderfully. No one can act out "I'm so frazzled I can't take it anymore!" like David Niven can. On the other side of his face is deep sorrow, one that isn't explained in the film but can be imagined by the audience. Perhaps his character was disappointed by aspects of his life, perhaps he inserted unwritten frustrations to back up his character's inner crisis, or perhaps he was completely unaware of that element of his performance. In real life, he'd just suffered a terrible tragedy, so it's possible his own sadness subconsciously added to his onscreen character.The Bishop's Wife holds a special place in my family's Christmas tradition, and not just an annual viewing of the film. David Niven gives a Christmas sermon, and he talks about the true spirit of the season, reminding his listeners that as they hang up everyone's stocking, there's one stocking that remains unhung. At our house, because of that speech, we hang up an extra stocking every year. Just another thing to think about as you watch this delightful Christmas staple, with a supporting cast of James Gleason, Elsa Lanchester, Sara Haden, Robert Keith, and two children also seen in It's a Wonderful Life, Bobby Anderson and Karolyn Grimes.

"The Bishop's Wife" of 1947 is one of the best Christmas movies that combines comedy with drama. Like many of the early films, it also has faith overtones and a well-crafted moral woven throughout the script. It's based on a 1928 novel of the same title by Robert Nathan. All of the cast of this superb film give top performances. As this cast shows, early films of Christmas themes had many stars of the day and top supporting Hollywood casts. Few holiday films today have casts with the big stars of the day in leading roles. This film doesn't have just one, or even two top stars of the day, but three. Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven all were great box office draws and at the peak of their careers. Grant plays Dudley, Young is Julia Broughham, and Niven is Bishop Henry Brougham. All give wonderful performances. This movie also has a cast of leading Hollywood supporting actors of the day. Monty Woolley is superb as professor Wutheridge, James Gleason is very good as taxi driver, Sylvester. Elsa Lanchester and Sara Haden are very good as the bishop's maid and secretary, respectively – Matilda and Mildred. Gladys Cooper is excellent as Mrs. Hamilton, and Regis Toomey is very good as Mr. Miller. The film had production problems at the time. Samuel Goldwyn replaced the director and changed the screenplay. After a slow start, it caught on and received six Academy Award nominations, winning the Oscar for best sound. The direction, camera work, sets and special effects all are superb. A boys' choir (The Mitchell Boychoir) sings a couple of beautiful hymns. This is a Christmas movie with a story that's as timeless as Christmas itself. The whole family should enjoy "The Bishop's Wife."Here are a few of my favorite lines from the film.Julia, "I never know whether you're joking or serious." Dudley, "I'm at my most serious when I'm joking."Julia, "Well, you should have seen him with Professor Wutheridge. He knows more about history than the professor." Henry, "He's been at it longer."Mrs. Hamilton, "Now, that large window depicting St. George and the dragon …" Henry, "Yes?" Mrs. Hamilton, "I should very much like the countenance of St. George to suggest my late husband." Henry, "Uh, who do you see as the dragon?" Mrs. Hamilton, "Oh … oh, any dragon."Julia, "I am wicked." Dudley, "If you are, so am I. And that's impossible."Dudley, "Well, if you had sent me to represent you with Mrs. Hamilton, I would've gone. You didn't. So I represented you with your wife." Henry, "Is that part of the normal duties of a … of an angel?" Dudley, "Sometimes, Henry, angels must rush in where fools fear to tread." Henry, "I haven't the faintest idea what that means. I don't want it explained to me."Dudley, "When an immortal finds himself envying a mortal entrusted to his care, it's a danger signal… Take her in your arms and hold her tight."

A delightful Christmas classic that ranks not only among my favorite Cary Grant films but my favorite films period. It's beautiful and funny and touching in ways movies seldom are anymore. 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. He's charming and handsome and has great chemistry with all of his co-stars. David Niven does a fine job as the stressed and slightly neurotic Henry, who finds himself in the unenviable position (particularly for a Bishop) of being jealous of the very angel sent to help him. With good reason, too, as even angelic Dudley can't resist falling for the heavenly Loretta Young. For her part, lovely Loretta positively glows as the sweet and faithful Julia. Scene-stealing turn from the great Monty Woolley, but when did this guy not shine? Every movie of his I've seen is made better just by his presence. The rest of the wonderful supporting cast includes Elsa Lanchester, James Gleason, Regis Toomey, Sara Haden, and Gladys Cooper. 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. It's a heartwarming seasonal fantasy film. Not to belabor a point I touched on before but it's the type of movie they don't really make anymore. It's the rare and magical movie you watch with a smile etched on your face the whole time. Definitely recommended for fans of the stars or those who love gentle, old-fashioned Christmas films.

The Bishop's Wife has quite typical plot that had been done better many times during the decade, the editing is so-so due to a lot of dragged parts and the direction should have been better, but the film succeeds mostly thanks to its evident charm and childlike innocence as well as very likable and charming characters and of course superb performances all around with Grant being terrific in this unusual role for him. It is lacking in terms of technical aspects and storytelling, but it has good characterization and excellent acting leading to an enjoyable and endearing movie. If you want to read more, you can also visit my blog www.simbasible.com