A beloved Christmas classic from Hollywood's Golden Age is set to bring festive cheer to British television screens this morning. The Bishop's Wife, the 1947 romantic comedy fantasy, will be broadcast on BBC Two at 9.15am today, November 8.
A Stellar Cast in a Festive Fantasy
This cinematic treasure features an enviable cast led by the legendary Cary Grant, widely considered one of Hollywood's greatest actors. He is joined by Loretta Young and David Niven, with formidable support from Gladys Cooper, Monty Woolley, Elsa Lanchester, and James Gleason.
The film tells the heartwarming story of an angel who intervenes to guide a troubled bishop through his personal and professional difficulties. It was adapted by Leonardo Bercovici and Robert E. Sherwood from Robert Nathan’s 1928 novel of the same name.
From Box Office Struggle to Beloved Classic
Despite its now-classic status, The Bishop's Wife initially struggled at the box office. Market research from the time revealed that audiences were avoiding the film because they believed it would be overly religious, based solely on its title.
The studio devised a clever marketing strategy to counter this. For a section of the US market, they retitled the film 'Cary and the Bishop's Wife', prominently featuring the star's first name. They even added a provocative black text box to posters asking, "Have you heard about Cary and the Bishop's Wife?".
This simple change proved remarkably effective, increasing the film's business by almost 25 per cent and setting it on the path to becoming a perennial favourite.
Critical Acclaim and Lasting Legacy
The film's quality was officially recognised with five Oscar nominations, including for the top prizes of Best Motion Picture and Best Director. It ultimately won the Academy Award for Best Sound Recording.
Its critical reputation remains strong decades later, holding an impressive 85 per cent score on the Tomatometer at the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes. Critics and audiences alike praise its delightful charm.
One critic celebrated the film as "a joyous film", while another noted, "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 review highlighted the star power, stating, "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."
The film's legacy was further cemented by its successful 1996 remake, The Preacher's Wife, which starred Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, and Courtney B. Vance.
For viewers in the UK, this is a perfect opportunity to experience or rediscover this heartwarming Christmas masterpiece on national television.
