The Bishop's Wife (1947)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Henry Koster

Writers:

Leonardo Bercovici (writer)
Robert Nathan (book)
(more)

Release Date:

16 February 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Plot:

A bishop trying to get a new cathedral built prays for guidance. An angel (Cary Grant) arrives, but his guidance isn't about fundraising.

Plot Keywords:

Bishop | Angel | Christmas | Ice Skating | Benefactor

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Cary Grant	...	Dudley
Loretta Young	...	Julia Brougham
David Niven	...	Bishop Henry Brougham
Monty Woolley	...	Prof. Wutheridge
James Gleason	...	Sylvester
Gladys Cooper	...	Mrs. Hamilton
Elsa Lanchester	...	Matilda
Sara Haden	...	Mildred Cassaway
Karolyn Grimes	...	Debby Brougham
Tito Vuolo	...	Maggenti
Regis Toomey	...	Mr. Miller
Sarah Edwards	...	Mrs. Duffy
Margaret McWade	...	Miss Trumbull
Anne O'Neal	...	Mrs. Ward
Ben Erway	...	Mr. Perry
Erville Alderson	...	Stevens
Robert J. Anderson	...	Defense captain (as Bobby Anderson)
Teddy Infuhr	...	Attack Captain
Eugene Borden	...	Michel
Almira Sessions	...	Lady #1 at Michel's
Claire Du Brey	...	Lady #2 at Michel's
Florence Auer	...	Lady #3 at Michel's
Margaret Wells	...	Hat shop proprietress
Kitty O'Neil	...	Hat shop customer
Isabel Jewell	...	Hysterical mother
David Leonard	...	Blind man
Dorothy Vaughan	...	Delia
Edgar Dearing	...	Policeman
The Robert Mitchell Boy Choir		(as The Mitchell Boychoir)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edythe Elliott	...	Saleslady (uncredited)
Joseph J. Greene	...	Santa Claus (uncredited)

Directed by
Henry Koster

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Leonardo Bercovici		writer
Charles Brackett		uncredited
Robert Nathan		book
Robert E. Sherwood		writer
Billy Wilder		uncredited

Produced by
Samuel Goldwyn	....	producer

Original Music by
Hugo Friedhofer
Emil Newman
Herbert W. Spencer

Cinematography by
Gregg Toland

Film Editing by
Monica Collingwood

Art Direction by
Perry Ferguson
George Jenkins

Set Decoration by
Julia Heron

Costume Design by
Irene Sharaff
Adrian		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Marie Clark	....	hair stylist (as Maria Clark)
Robert Stephanoff	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Leon Fromkess	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)
Raoul Pagel	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph Boyle	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Dorothea Holt	....	illustrator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Fred Lau	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
John P. Fulton	....	special photographic effects (as John Fulton)
Harry Redmond Jr.	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ralph Goge	....	grip (uncredited)
Hal McAlpin	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Bert Shipham	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Edgar De Lange	....	lyrics
Charles Henderson	....	vocal director
Jerome Moross	....	music arranger: orchestral arrangements
Emil Newman	....	musical director

Other crew
Samuel Goldwyn	....	presenter
Irene Carson	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Sam Freedle	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Edgar Peterson	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1947) (USA) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1948) (France) (theatrical) (as R.K.O. Radio Films S. A.)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (VHS)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (USA) (DVD)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Nelson Entertainment (laserdisc)
• Pioneer Entertainment (laserdisc)

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Canada:G (Ontario) | Australia:G | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | UK:U

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Trivia:

In the version of the Christmas sermon dictated to the typewriter by Dudley, the following is shown typed onto the paper: "You give me a tie. I give you a book." However, in the pulpit on Christmas morning the Bishop reverses these two sentences when he reads, "I give you a book. You give me a tie."

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Obvious stunt double when Dudley shows Julia how he can spin on the ice; he appears shorter.

Quotes:

Henry Brougham: Are you expecting a letter?
Dudley: Well, you never know. If I did get one, the stamp would certainly be worth saving.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'It's a Wonderful Life' (1990) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Noël

One of the top 3 best Christmas movies of all time.

I discovered this wonderful movie quite by accident. It was Christmas time many years ago, late at night, I was cruising the channels one last time before retiring for the night. when I saw Cary Grant's face flash on the screen. I had to pause my frenzied surfing. Cary is one of my all time favorite movie stars. Fortunately the movie was just beginning, so I sat back to watch, and was treated to a wonderful Christmas surprise.

Cary is at his wide screen best. All of his charm, wit, and charisma. Endowed by heavenly powers, he bestows his angelic persona upon a small town bishop who is overwhelmed by his mis-guided quest to build a magnificent "earthly" cathedral to glorify God. In frustration at the difficulty in building this false edification to God, he prays to God for guidance. The bishop's prayers are answered in the form of "Dudley", as Cary's angelic character in called.

Dudley proceeds to weave a benign spell over a whole cast of wonderful characters to remind them of the true meaning of Christmas. 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. It has become his favorite Christmas movie. He even requested to watch it last summer at age 12. I recommend this film for the whole Family. Put a fire in the fire place, light the scented candles, cuddle up with your love ones, and have a Merry "Cary" Christmas.