The Bishop’s Wife (Henry Koster, 1947): USA

Reviewed by Byron Potau.  Viewed on DVD.

Though, it garnered a Best Picture nomination in the weak year of 1947, The Bishop’s Wife does not seem to have aged as well as other holiday classics.  Yet, it is still a pleasant film if not a great one.

Bishop Brougham (David Niven) is trying to get the new cathedral built, but he does not want to give into the demands of the project’s chief financial contributor, Mrs. Hamilton (Gladys Cooper) who is making the cathedral more in the honor of someone else rather than God.  When the Bishop prays for guidance angel Dudley (Cary Grant) shows up.  Everyone he meets seems to light up, especially the Bishop’s wife Julia (Loretta Young), much to the chagrin of the Bishop.  As Dudley spends more time with Julia he finds himself falling for her.

The film seems a bit run of the mill and does not have the same allure as other Christmas classics.  David Niven is good as the Bishop, but Cary Grant does not seem to imbue his role as Dudley with his usual charm.  Likewise, Loretta Young is sweet as Julia but nothing more.  The film has an overall niceness about it, but one nothing especially memorable about it.  If it’s Christmas movies you’re after then this is a decent one, but I doubt this will be your favorite.