CompleteMartialArts.com - The Bishop's Wife
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List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $9.99
Your Save: $ 4.99 ( 33% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Starring: Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven, Monty Woolley, James Gleason
Directed By: Henry Koster
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: GRANT,CARY
EAN: 9780792849148
Format: Black & White
ISBN: 0792849140
Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Number Of Items: 1
Picture Format: Pan & Scan
Publisher: MGM (Video & DVD)
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2001-03-06
Running Time: 109
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Theatrical Release Date: 1948-02-16
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Editorial Reviews:
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Heavenly bells are ringing, jubilant choirs are singing and Christmas joy is blanketing the world like freshly fallen snow. But the Yuletide spirit has yet to warm Bishop Henry Brougham's Victorian home. Struggling to raise funds for a new cathedral, the preoccupied young clergyman has neglected his loving wife Julia, and now only divine intervention can save their marriage! But the powerful and handsome angel sent from above has a mind of his own and teaching mortal Henry an immortal lesson inromance isn't all he's got planned! Starring Oscar(r) winners* Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven, and featuring "a stellar supporting cast" (The Hollywood Reporter) that includes James Gleason and Monty Woolley, this delightful romantic comedy is wondrous, witty andtruly divine! *Grant, Honorary Oscar (1969); Young, Actress, The Farmer's Daughter (1947); Niven, Actor, Separate Tables (1958)
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: The Bishop's Wife DVD
Comment: I have loved this movie for a long time, and was thrilled to find it available on Amazon in DVD format. It is a great "old" movie classic.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Talk about brilliant casting
Comment: This movie has one of the most brilliant bits of casting ever. I mean, (from a woman's perspective) if an angel were to appear on earth, what better form could he possibly manifest than that of Cary Grant?
Originally, Grant was supposed to play the part of the Bishop, which is well-played by David Niven, and Niven was supposed to play Dudley the angel. Grant reportedly insisted on taking the angel's part, however. He plays it to perfection, right down to the soulful look in his liquid brown eyes.
This is one of the best classic holiday movies. It is not shown as much as "It's a Wonderful Life," and though it is warm and sentimental, it not too sticky-sweet to tolerate.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A classic
Comment: If you enjoy Christmas classics, you must add this one to your collection. Great storyline.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Classic DVD
Comment: Very satisfied with packaging, shipping and promptness of delivery. Was also thrilled at the availability of this film.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Near-Perfect
Comment: This is one of my very favorite Christmas classics. Though I hadn't heard of and didn't see the film until 1980, it immediately joined the ranks of my holiday favorites - at the top of the list. Here's why:
1. Cary Grant as an angel. This is perfect casting and the elegant Mr. Grant plays Dudley with effortless aplomb and grace. The role was made for him and without him the film would probably not be the classic it is (who else could've played an angel and not seemed ridiculous?). Watching each woman in the film fall under his charismatic and kindly spell is special fun.
2. A wonderful supporting cast: Loretta Young, David Niven, James Gleason, Gladys Cooper, Elsa Lanchester, Monty Woolley, Sara Haden, Regis Toomey. This is a splendid ensemble cast and every member delivers. I especially enjoy the great Glady's Cooper's arrogant and demanding aristocrat, Mrs. Hamilton, who becomes putty in Dudley's presence, and the always excellent James Gleason as the cabby, Sylvester. But Niven, Lanchester, Woolley and Haden are all standouts. Loretta Young's soft and astonishing beauty assist her well in the title role as the rather sheltered and innocent but increasingly unhappy wife of a bishop (Niven) who is in the process of losing his way.
3. A good old fashioned Christmas message. The moral of the story is that Christmas is about peace on earth and goodwill toward others, not material objects (gifts, cathedrals, etc.) or personal glory. The plot delivers this message gently and well.
4. It's a Sam Goldwyn film, so it's first rate. Aside from the long, deep list of stars and solid supporting actors, the production is sleek and goodlooking, the plot is engaging, the script facile and often clever and amusing.
Since I first saw "The Bishop's Wife," I've become aware of other classic holiday films (THANKS TO TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES) that were unknown to me before: "Meet Me in St. Louis" (Judy Garland) and "Christmas in Connecticut" (Barbara Stanwyck) in particular. In fact these three are my favorites. Add the 1984 TV version of "A Christmas Carol" starring George C. Scott and the 1970 musical, "Scrooge," with Albert Finney and you have five peerless Christmas classics.
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