Film Review
Although it ultimately ended up as a polished and highly enjoyable
picture,
The Bishop's Wife
was one of Samuel Goldwyn's more troubled productions. Right from
the start, the three lead actors were unhappy with their roles,
particularly David Niven, who was under the misapprehension that he
would play the angel when he signed his contract. Loretta Young
was a last-minute replacement for Teresa Wright, who was noticeably
pregnant by the time filming was due to commence. Cary Grant was
merely filling in after another project had fallen through and felt he
was underpaid and woefully miscast. Hampered with three
disgruntled actors and a mediocre screenplay, it is no wonder that
director William Seiter failed to deliver the goods. When Goldwyn
previewed Seiter's work, he sacked him immediately and put the filming
on hold for six weeks whilst he went looking for a new director and
writing team - something that did little for the morale of the three
star players.
With director Henry Koster at the helm and with the benefit
of a completely revised script,
The
Bishop's Wife began to resemble a half-decent picture, but preview
audiences still disliked the middle part of the film.
Consequently, Goldwyn roped in Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett (at
great cost) to make additional re-writes and, eventually, he ended up
with a film that he approved of and which he knew audiences would
like. As ever, Goldwyn's instincts were right and the film was a
hit, well-received by critics and public alike. It received five
Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture, although it only won the
award for Best Sound.
Loosely adapted from Robert Nathan's 1928 novel of the same title,
The Bishop's Wife
can't help resembling an inferior version of the Frank Capra classic
It's a Wonderful Life
(1946). It has basically the same story - an implausible-looking
angel comes to Earth to help a troubled man out of a hole he has made
for himself - and has a similar anti-materialistic message. Whilst
the film undoubtedly has a great deal of charm and has stood the test
of time (thanks mainly to Cary Grant's presence as the Devil-may-care
angel), it lacks the substance and visceral emotional bite of Capra's
film. Still, it's more digestible than Penny Marshall's 1996
remake
The Preacher's Wife, whuich starred Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston and Courtney B. Vance.
© James Travers 2010
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Film Synopsis
Bishop Henry Brougham has become so preoccupied with raising funds to
build his dream cathedral that he has neglected his wife and his more
important clerical duties. In a moment of desperation, he offers
a prayer for divine intervention. The bishop can hardly believe
his eyes when a dapper young man suddenly appears behind him and
introduces himself as Dudley, an angel sent from Heaven to give him a
helping hand. Brougham is uncertain what to make of the stranger
but hastily adopts him as his clerical assistant. His suspicions
over Dudley's real motives grow as the so-called angel takes an all too
earthly interest in his wife Julia...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.