As mentioned in a previous post, It’s a Wonderful Life was originally designed as a vehicle for Cary Grant but Grant was working on another project. That other project was this sweet 1947 film, The Bishop’s Wife. The Bishop’s Wife was released in December of 1947 and was directed by German-born director Henry Koster. Koster’s film won the Academy Award for Sound. It was also nominated for Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Best Score, and Best Picture. The Bishop’s Wife was remade in 1996 as The Preacher’s Wife, a film that starred Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston.
Originally, William A. Seiter was the intended director of The Bishop’s Wife. Producer Samuel Goldwyn was unhappy with Seiter’s work early on in production, however, and asked that he be replaced. Koster was brought in to create an entirely new film from the ground up. David Niven was originally cast as the angel and Cary Grant was originally cast as the bishop, but Koster switched the roles. As the film took to early previews, audiences did not respond well. As a result, Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett were brought in to make a few uncredited touch-ups to the script.
The Bishop’s Wife stars Cary Grant in his 51st film. He played Dudley, an angel brought down from heaven to be the answer to the prayers of the bishop (David Niven). The bishop, Henry Brogham, is struggling with the demands of his occupation and is dealing with the demands of sponsors during the construction of a new cathedral. Dudley’s mission is not simply to help the bishop get the cathedral built, however. He is also there to help other aspects of the bishop’s life, including his relationship with his wife (Loretta Young). As the bishop’s wife is feeling neglected and ignored by the bishop, Dudley must show both individuals the beauty of relationships and friendships. Along the way, Dudley falls in love with the bishop’s wife and the bishop must stand up for himself, winning the heart of his wife back again.
It’s interesting to see how a film like this changes with the passage of time. One wonders if a film of this type would work on today’s cynical audiences, as The Preacher’s Wife was largely ignored at the box office. The Bishop’s Wife is a sweet, life-affirming, and light comic film with a nice romantic tone to it. Nothing is overdone. There is no innuendo or spice to it, either. It is the epitome of tenderness on screen and the performances signify the quiet sensibility of the film overall. This is pleasant Goldwyn-produced whimsy that should be heartwarming enough to those willing to take the plunge, but will likely be like poison (as one snot-nosed kid put it) to those not willing to do so.
Cary Grant is highly entertaining in this film as the suave angel Dudley, whose ridiculous amounts of charm seem to be competition for anyone else in the room. There is no better candidate for this role than Grant, as his sense of timing and allurement make him idyllic for a heaven-sent rescue worker. Niven, on the other hand, is the opposite of Grant’s confident swagger. He is downtrodden and worn out, playing the bishop with the burden of his parishioners on his shoulders and the neglectful nature of his choices along for the ride. Niven’s bishop has a tender heart and will fight for right, if and when he must, but for the most part he appears to be merely sleepwalking through life before Dudley shows up. Loretta Young is also highly entertaining as the bishop’s wife.
The Bishop’s Wife won’t move many mountains, but it is a charming enough film to provide just the right touch of fantasy and light charm during the holidays. It is tender, loving, and compassionate within its own scope. The lessons learned by the characters might now be lampooned as being sappy or sugary sweet, but the essence of the film’s classic character won me over enough to recommend it. I found Koster’s film to be a light and fluffy variation of classic romance and Cary Grant’s performance was tender enough to rely on. It was David Niven, however, that won the prize as highlight of the film as the straight man to Grant’s setups. Niven’s innate ability to portray real people is on display here, as his flaws and faults are laid out all in time for the ultimate resolution. For these reasons, The Bishop’s Wife is an above average and charming classic comedy.
7/10
Trailer (this is a treat! They don’t make them like this very often):
