The Bishop’s Wife (1947)
The Bishop’s Wife is a fantastically sparkling movie that, like many on this list already, could only exist in Hollywood.
The film follows beleaguered pastor Henry Brougham (played by David Niven), who’s desperate to get the funds to build a new cathedral. He sends out a prayer for help and is answered by a charming angel, Dudley (Cary Grant). Dudley is determined to help Henry achieve his dreams, but the angel finds himself continually distracted by Henry’s wife, Julia (Loretta Young). In interacting with Julia, Dudley starts to realize the joys of being human, while Henry starts to wonder if he’s losing his family.
If the story sounds familiar, you might recall Disney remade The Bishop’s Wife in 1996 with Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington as The Preacher’s Wife. The remake is fine, particularly because of Washington, but the original is the MVP. Cary Grant and David Niven have a perfect push-pull relationship. The character of Dudley is perfectly suited to Grant’s persona as a debonair ladies’ man, but the actor is also given the ability to show his empathy as an angel raised on watching others but never having a life of his own. It’s a unique film about appreciating life and being unafraid to ask for help. Watch it for the scene of Dudley and Julia ice-skating. It’ll leave you howling.
Rent on YouTube, Google Play, and Vudu.