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The Bishop’s Wife
Dec. 21st, 2019 11:22 amLast night we watched ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ (1947) a romantic comedy directed by Henry Koster and starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven. Grant plays Dudley, and angel sent to Earth to assist Niven’s Bishop Brougham, a man obsessed with rearing a magnificent cathedral, to the detriment of his relationship with his wife Julia, played by Loretta Young.
I really enjoyed this film, there’s some great moments of comedy, particularly from Grant who deploys his easy charm to great effect as a contrast with Niven’s waspish and perpetually harassed performance. The relationship between Dudley and Julia is the central concern of the movie, as Dudley works to remind Julia of how life used to be before her husband became swallowed by his cathedral project it becomes clear that his attachment to her is pushing the boundaries of a professional, albeit supernatural, relationship. There’s an excellent supporting cast and one of the film’s strongest features is how well developed the supporting characters are, whether that be the wealthy and embittered benefactor Niven is trying to tap for building funds or an ageing cabbie who is reminded of the simple pleasures of ice skating. It all takes place at Christmas time, the traditional time of year for screen miracles to take place, but this adds a strange air of pressure to events. The approach of Christmas Day adds a tension, a sense of a looming deadline even though there is no particular reason why events should need to be wrapped up by a specific time. There’s also a lovely generosity of spirit to proceedings with Dudley helping everyone he comes into contact with as if by reflex. Cary Grant unsurprisingly makes for a very warm angel. It’s highly sentimental of course, this is a heartwarming Christmas movie made in 1947 after all but that very earnest tone is married to some fine gags which helps the syrupy morality go down a little more easily. It is only slightly marred by a genuinely hideous hat. It’s currently available on the BBC iPlayer.
By way of contrast I also watched Albert Pyun’s Nemesis from 1992 yesterday. This at is not a festive film, it’s 90 minutes of economy cyborgs shooting at each other punctuated by occasional conversations in which characters grimly exchange exposition with one another. I thoroughly enjoyed it, it’s like an idiot made Terminator for a fraction of the price.
I really enjoyed this film, there’s some great moments of comedy, particularly from Grant who deploys his easy charm to great effect as a contrast with Niven’s waspish and perpetually harassed performance. The relationship between Dudley and Julia is the central concern of the movie, as Dudley works to remind Julia of how life used to be before her husband became swallowed by his cathedral project it becomes clear that his attachment to her is pushing the boundaries of a professional, albeit supernatural, relationship. There’s an excellent supporting cast and one of the film’s strongest features is how well developed the supporting characters are, whether that be the wealthy and embittered benefactor Niven is trying to tap for building funds or an ageing cabbie who is reminded of the simple pleasures of ice skating. It all takes place at Christmas time, the traditional time of year for screen miracles to take place, but this adds a strange air of pressure to events. The approach of Christmas Day adds a tension, a sense of a looming deadline even though there is no particular reason why events should need to be wrapped up by a specific time. There’s also a lovely generosity of spirit to proceedings with Dudley helping everyone he comes into contact with as if by reflex. Cary Grant unsurprisingly makes for a very warm angel. It’s highly sentimental of course, this is a heartwarming Christmas movie made in 1947 after all but that very earnest tone is married to some fine gags which helps the syrupy morality go down a little more easily. It is only slightly marred by a genuinely hideous hat. It’s currently available on the BBC iPlayer.
By way of contrast I also watched Albert Pyun’s Nemesis from 1992 yesterday. This at is not a festive film, it’s 90 minutes of economy cyborgs shooting at each other punctuated by occasional conversations in which characters grimly exchange exposition with one another. I thoroughly enjoyed it, it’s like an idiot made Terminator for a fraction of the price.
