Touched by An Angel: Celebrating the Christmas Classic “The Bishop’s Wife.”

By Michael Lyons

When the term “classic Christmas movies” is used, titles ranging from 1946’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” to 1996’s “Jingle all the Way’ (yikes!) are often mentioned.  Seldom does the title “The Bishop’s Wife” ever make it into that conversation, which is a shame.

Starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven, “The Bishop’s Wife” is well known to film enthusiasts and Christmas movie purists, but beyond that, this undeappreciated classic has fallen off of the holiday radar, usually only discussed when the film’s remake, 1996’s “The Preacher’s Wife” is the topic.

Released December 9, 1947, this month marks the 70th anniversary of “The Bishop’s Wife.”   It seems the perfect time to make sure that the film returns to everyone’s Christmas watchlist.

The film tells the simple tale of an angel named Dudley (Grant), a Bishop named Henry (Niven) and his wife, Julia (Young).  Dudley has been sent to Earth just prior to Christmas, to assist the bishop, who is experiencing a crisis of faith while struggling to fund and build a new cathedral.

While assisting Bishop Henry, Dudley finds himself becoming attached to Julia and suffering somewhat of a crisis of faith himself.

Directed by Henry Koster (who would go on to helm the famous biblical epic “The Robe” in 1953), “The Bishop’s Wife” is as charming as movies get.  In the role of Dudley, Grant exudes his trademark suave style, as never before.  It’s no wonder that he seems to have so many in the film under an angelic spell.  It makes one hope and wish that all guardian angels could be Cary Grant.

Grant plays perfectly off of the frustrated Niven, as the Bishop, who is the only one allowed to know the truth about Dudley being an angel.  They have some great, quiet comedic moments together.

And, as the title character, Young, in what could have been a thankless role, plays Julia as sympathetic and vulnerable.  As the audience, we root for all to work our for her and her family.

Adding to this are two wonderful supporting roles from then-veteran character actors Monty Woolley and James Gleason.

With scenes in which Dudley “magically” decorates a Christmas tree and also conducts a choir as they practice for Christmas services, “The Bishop’s Wife” runneth over with the joys of the season.

Best of all, the movie also connects with the message of Christmas, summed up perfectly in the sermon that Dudley writes for the Bishop, which is used at the film’s conclusion:

“Tonight I want to tell you the story of an empty stocking. Once upon a midnight clear, there was a child's cry. A blazing star hung over a stable and wise men came with birthday gifts. We haven't forgotten that night down the centuries; we celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees, the sound of bells and with gifts. But especially with gifts. You give me a book; I give you a tie. Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer and Uncle Henry could do with a new pipe. We forget nobody, adult or child. All the stockings are filled... all that is, except one. And we have even forgotten to hang it up. The stocking for the child born in a manger. It's his birthday we are celebrating. Don't ever let us forget that. Let us ask ourselves what he would wish for most... and then let each put in his share. Loving kindness, warm hearts and the stretched out hand of tolerance. All the shining gifts that make peace on earth.”

Few films, classic or otherwise, make such a strong faith-based connection, along with a message of holding strong to those who mean the most to us, which is why “The Bishop’s Wife” deserves a solid place in everyone’s Christmas viewing rotation.

Here is wishing you and yours a Very Merry Christmas!

Sources: IMDb