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The Bishop's Wife (1947)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.5/10
Reviews Counted: 19
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 4

The Bishop's Wife succeeds thanks to the strength of winning performances from a stellar cast, which includes Cary Grant and Loretta Young.

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 2

The Bishop's Wife succeeds thanks to the strength of winning performances from a stellar cast, which includes Cary Grant and Loretta Young.

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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 7,260

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Movie Info

When Episcopalian bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven) prays for divine guidance in his efforts to raise the necessary funds for a new cathedral, his prayers are answered in the form of a handsome, personable guardian angel named Dudley (Cary Grant). Establishing himself as a Yuletide guest in the Brougham home, Dudley arouses the ire of Henry, who, unaware that his visitor is from Up Above, assumes that Dudley has designs on the bishop's wife Julia (Loretta Young). Eventually, the lives of both

Unrated, 1 hr. 49 min.

Drama, Romance, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

Directed By: Henry Koster

Written By: Leonardo Bercovici, Robert Nathan

In Theaters: Feb 16, 1948 Limited

On DVD: Mar 6, 2001

RKO Radio Pictures

Cast

Cary Grant
Dudley
Loretta Young
Julia Brougham
David Niven
Henry Brougham
Monty Woolley
Prof. Wutheridge
Gladys Cooper
Mrs. Hamilton
James Gleason
Sylvester
Elsa Lanchester
Matilda
Claire Du Brey
Second Lady
Sarah Edwards
Mrs. Duffy
Ben Erway
Mr. Perry
Karolyn Grimes
Debby Brougham
Sara Haden
Mildred Cassaway
Teddy Infur
Attack Captain
Isabel Jewell
Hysterical Mother
David Leonard
Blind Man
Margaret McWade
Miss Trumbull
Anne O'Neal
Mrs. Ward
Kitty O'Neil
Hat Shop Customer
Almira Sessions
First Lady at Michel's
Regis Toomey
Mr. Miller
Dorothy Vaughan
Delia
Tito Vuolo
Maggenti
Margaret Wells
Hat Shop Proprietress
Erville Alderson
Stevens
Florence Auer
Third Lady
Eugene Borden
Michel
Edgar Dearing
Policeman
Edythe Elliott
Saleslady
Joseph J. Greene
Santa Claus
Bobby Anderson
Defense Captain

Critic Reviews for The Bishop's Wife

All Critics (19) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (4) | DVD (6)

It is a big, slick production. The only thing it lacks is taste.

December 8, 2008 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

| Comment (1)

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

There must be some excuse for this but I can't imagine what it is.

November 27, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

While a fantasy, there are no fantastic heavenly manifestations. There's a humanness about the characters, even the angel, that beguiles full attention.

November 27, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

We cannot recommend you to a more delightful and appropriate Christmas show.

March 25, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Top Critic

A typically sanctimonious Hollywood Christmas fantasy that works mainly because of the charm of the performers...

December 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

Cary Grant's suave, charismatic angel is the main reason to see craftsman Koster's sentimental, verbose serio-comedy about a bishop (David Niven) struggling with marriage and funds for new church; A Christmas staple along with It's a Wonderful Life.

February 12, 2008 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

A warm, sentimental comedy-fantasy.

November 27, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Cary's charm works as successfully upon audiences as it does upon the film's characters, and his relaxed wit plus Loretta Young's delicate loveliness makes for a frothily touching comedy.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Its feel-good sentiment ends up drowning the film in saccharine.

January 17, 2006 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

| Comment

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

Holiday classic still charms.

October 30, 2004 Comment

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan Source: Kansas City Kansan

Agreeable Xmas comedy with first-rate cast

November 5, 2002 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

A decent little romantic comedy that doesn't possess enough vitality to live up to its accolades.

August 21, 2001 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide

| Comment

Brian Webster

Apollo Guide

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Bishop's Wife

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Number 9 in the quest for 30, though netflix is making it harder by raising there rates. A lost and forgotten movie from long ago with an all star cast of Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven. Cary Grant plays the angel Dudley who has come to earth to help a bishop in his dream of a church, along the way the

November 23, 2010

Bruce Bruce

Super Reviewer

Grant is an angel, now both literally and in this movie. How could you not like this movie? It's precious, I love it.

September 5, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

The Bishop's Wife Quotes

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1. Dudley: The only people who grow old were born old to begin with.
– Submitted by Brigita S (49 days ago)

Submit a Quote from 'The Bishop's Wife'

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