Starring Cary Grant alongside Loretta Young and David Niven, this Christmas film is being hailed a must-watch festive favourite — and it’s all set to air on television today.
A 1947 Christmas rom-com is being hailed a must-watch this festive season.
Starring Cary Grant — who many believe to be Hollywood’s greatest actor — alongside Loretta Young and David Niven, the film boasts a stellar cast supported by Gladys Cooper, Monty Woolley, Elsa Lanchester, and James Gleason.
Also known as Cary and the Bishop’s Wife, the fantasy comedy was directed by Henry Koster and initially didn’t perform too well at the box office. Market research showed filmgoers avoided the movie as they believed it would be too religious due to its title.
It was then the makers decided to retitle it to ‘Cary and the Bishop’s Wife’ for a section of US markets. They even added in a black text box on the movie’s posters, posing the question: “Have you heard about Cary and the Bishop’s Wife?”.
After adding Cary Grant’s first name to the film’s title, the movie fared much better at the box office, increasing its business by almost 25 per cent.
Fans of Cary Grant and Christmas movies can catch The Bishop’s Wife on BBC2 at 9.15am today, November 8.
The Bishop’s Wife is the story of an angel who intervenes to guide a troubled bishop through his difficulties. The film was adapted by Leonardo Bercovici and Robert E. Sherwood from Robert Nathan’s 1928 novel of the same name. In 1996, the movie was remade as The Preacher’s Wife, starring Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, and Courtney B. Vance, and went on to become a smash hit.
The Bishop’s Wife was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Motion Picture and Best Director, and won the Academy Award for Best Sound Recording. In fact, Cary Grant’s Christmas offering has even scored an impressive 85 per cent on the Tomatometer on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.
While one critic said that The Bishop’s Wife “is a joyous film”, another wrote: “With the formidable Gladys Cooper and Elsa Lanchester in supporting roles, it’s a sweet, funny, captivating, altogether delightful picture, which too often gets omitted from lists of greatest-ever Christmas films.”
A third reviewer said of the film: “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.”
One fan of the movie added: “This is among the most joy filled and inspiring films ever made. We begin every Christmas season by watching this film and cannot imagine Christmas without it. Solid gold cast. Great film! A Christmas classic!”
While another audience review said: “This film is absolutely my new Christmas favorite. Everything about it was delightful and inspirational, and the splendid cast told a beautiful story about faith, love, and what is most important to remember during the holiday season.”
A third viewer lauded the Christmas film, writing: “I watched it last night for the first time in years. It brought tears to my eyes a few times. What a phenomenal masterpiece!!! Great Christmas movie. I highly recommend it.”
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply