Angel Movies

The Bishop’s Wife (1947) is a Samuel Goldwyn romantic comedy feature film starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven in a story about an angel who helps a bishop with his problems. It was released by RKO. The film was adapted by Leonardo Bercovici and Robert E. Sherwood from the novel of the same name by Robert Nathan, and was directed by Henry Koster.

The film won the Academy Award for Sound, and was nominated for Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture and Best Picture.

It was remade in 1996 as The Preacher’s Wife starring Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, and Courtney B. Vance.

Production

Production was not without troubles. Producer Samuel Goldwyn replaced director William A. Seiter with Henry Koster to create a completely new film. In early previews, audiences disliked the film, so Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett made uncredited rewrites.

Although no denomination is mentioned in the film, the characters are clearly members of the Episcopal Church

Cast

• Cary Grant as Dudley
• Loretta Young as Julia Brougham
• David Niven as Bishop Henry Brougham
• Monty Woolley as Professor Wutheridge
• James Gleason as Sylvester, a sympathetic taxi driver
• Gladys Cooper as Mrs. Hamilton
• Elsa Lanchester as Matilda
• Sara Haden as Mildred Cassaway
• Karolyn Grimes as Debby Brougham
• Tito Vuolo as Maggenti
• Regis Toomey as Mr. Miller
• Sarah Edwards as Mrs. Duffy
• Margaret McWade as Miss Trumbull
• Anne O’Neal as Mrs. Ward
• Ben Erway as Mr. Perry

Niven was originally cast as the angel, Dana Andrews as the bishop, and Teresa Wright as his wife. However, Wright had to bow out due to pregnancy. According to Robert Osborne, Andrews was lent to RKO in order to obtain Loretta Young. Koster then brought in Cary Grant, but he wanted to play the angel, so the role of the bishop was given to Niven.