The Bishop's Wife (1947)
Country: US
Technical: bw 108m
Director: Henry Koster
Cast: Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven, Elsa Lanchester, Gladys Cooper, Monty Woolley
Synopsis:
Distracted from his other duties by the need to raise money for his cathedral, a bishop prays for guidance. Unfortunately, the suave angel sent to help him makes everyone he meets feel happy and validated, which only adds to the bishop's sense of inadequacy, especially since his wife seems to be succumbing to the interloper's charm.
Review:
Another post-war dip into the afterlife from RKO, gossamer light in handling and playing. There is just a frisson of doubt over the angel's honourable intentions, but an overriding sense of optimism that somehow we can all be the best version of ourselves. As a Christmas movie, the film very much follows the pattern of It's a Wonderful Life the previous year (and casts the star of A Matter of Life and Death), substituting Gladys Cooper's dark satanic cathedral for Pottersville.
Country: US
Technical: bw 108m
Director: Henry Koster
Cast: Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven, Elsa Lanchester, Gladys Cooper, Monty Woolley
Synopsis:
Distracted from his other duties by the need to raise money for his cathedral, a bishop prays for guidance. Unfortunately, the suave angel sent to help him makes everyone he meets feel happy and validated, which only adds to the bishop's sense of inadequacy, especially since his wife seems to be succumbing to the interloper's charm.
Review:
Another post-war dip into the afterlife from RKO, gossamer light in handling and playing. There is just a frisson of doubt over the angel's honourable intentions, but an overriding sense of optimism that somehow we can all be the best version of ourselves. As a Christmas movie, the film very much follows the pattern of It's a Wonderful Life the previous year (and casts the star of A Matter of Life and Death), substituting Gladys Cooper's dark satanic cathedral for Pottersville.
Country: US
Technical: bw 108m
Director: Henry Koster
Cast: Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven, Elsa Lanchester, Gladys Cooper, Monty Woolley
Synopsis:
Distracted from his other duties by the need to raise money for his cathedral, a bishop prays for guidance. Unfortunately, the suave angel sent to help him makes everyone he meets feel happy and validated, which only adds to the bishop's sense of inadequacy, especially since his wife seems to be succumbing to the interloper's charm.
Review:
Another post-war dip into the afterlife from RKO, gossamer light in handling and playing. There is just a frisson of doubt over the angel's honourable intentions, but an overriding sense of optimism that somehow we can all be the best version of ourselves. As a Christmas movie, the film very much follows the pattern of It's a Wonderful Life the previous year (and casts the star of A Matter of Life and Death), substituting Gladys Cooper's dark satanic cathedral for Pottersville.