The Bishop's Wife Overview:

The Bishop's Wife (1947) was a Comedy - Drama Film directed by Henry Koster and produced by Samuel Goldwyn.

The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Robert Nathan published in 1928.

SYNOPSIS

A harassed bishop's prayers are answered when an angel (played by Grant) is sent from heaven to help him raise money for a new church. A delightful holiday comedy that was remade in 1996 by Penny Marshall as The Preacher's Wife.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

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Academy Awards 1947 --- Ceremony Number 20 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best DirectorHenry KosterNominated
Best Film EditingMonica CollingwoodNominated
Best Music - ScoringHugo FriedhoferNominated
Best PictureSamuel Goldwyn ProductionsNominated
.

BlogHub Articles:

FAVOURITE MOVIES: The Bishop's Wife, 1947

on Dec 13, 2019 From Caftan Woman

Robert Nathan's (Portrait of Jennie) 1928 story The Bishop's Wife became the movie project of independent producer Samuel Goldwyn, and a costly one. Originally cast with Teresa Wright, Cary Grant as the Bishop and David Niven as the Angel, and directed by William Seiter (If You Could Only Cook), Gol... Read full article


My thoughts on The Bishop's Wife (1947)

By Vanessa on Dec 24, 2012 From Stardust

My thoughts on The Bishop's Wife (1947) Okay, so I watched The Bishop's Wife (1947) last night on TCM for the first time and despite the fact that I enjoyed the movie immensely, one thing stood out and really unnerved me about the film: am I the only one who found it REALLY weird that Dudley... Read full article


“The Bishop's Wife”: A True Holiday Classic

By Stephen Reginald on Nov 20, 2010 From Classic Movie Man

“The Bishop's Wife”: A True Holiday Classic Losing His Religion and His Wife Bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven) is consumed with the construction of a new cathedral. His wife, Julia (Loretta Young), feels she is losing her husband’s affection as he attempts to raise the... Read full article


“The Bishop's Wife”: A True Holiday Classic

By Stephen Reginald on Nov 20, 2010 From Classic Movie Man

“The Bishop's Wife”: A True Holiday Classic Losing His Religion and His Wife Bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven) is consumed with the construction of a new cathedral. His wife, Julia (Loretta Young), feels she is losing her husband’s affection as he attempts to raise the... Read full article


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Quotes from

Dudley: Sometimes angels rush in where fools fear to tread.


Henry Brougham: Are you expecting a letter?
Dudley: Well, you never know. If I did get one, the stamp would certainly be worth saving.


Dudley: The only people who grow old were born old to begin with.


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Facts about

One scene shows Cary Grant and Loretta Young in a conversation. Director Henry Koster staged this with the two facing each other, but both complained that this showed the "wrong" side of their faces. In order to show the "right" side, they both had to be looking screen left, which made a face-to-face talk impossible to film. Koster had a window set piece brought in, and he filmed it from outside, with both looking out in the same direction, Grant behind Young. The next day, producer Samuel Goldwyn visited the set after seeing dailies and berated Koster for shooting the scene in that manner. Koster replied by asking Young and Grant to explain why the scene was shot that way. After both told Goldwyn about the "right" and "wrong" sides of their faces, Goldwyn said "Look, if I'm only getting half a face, you're only getting half a salary!" and stormed off the set. The subject of "right" and "wrong" sides never came up again.
"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on December 19, 1949 with David Niven reprising his film role.
William A. Seiter was the original director, but producer Samuel Goldwyn didn't like what he had shot and brought in Henry Koster to shoot a completely new film. The preview audience didn't like the new version, so Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett had to rewrite a couple of scenes without screen credit.
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