12 Days of Christmas Films | Day 8: The Bishop's Wife (1947)
Directed by Henry Koster, The Bishop's Wife (1947) concerns the tribulations of Bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven) and his increasingly desperate attempts to raise money from his wealthy parishioners for a new cathedral. To do so, he ignores everything and everyone else, including his beautiful wife, Julia (Loretta Young). His prayers are literally answered by an angel named Dudley (Cary Grant), who reveals his identity only to Henry. However, Dudley's mission is not to help build a cathedral, but to spiritually guide Henry and the people around him. While Henry is annoyed by Dudley's presence, the angel soon charms everyone, including the Broughams' maid, Matilda (Elsa Lanchester), and even the non-religious Professor Wutheridge (Monty Wolley). In the days that follow, Dudley persuades the wealthy parishioners, particularly widowed Agnes Hamilton (Gladys Cooper), to contribute the needed funds not to construct the cathedral, but to help the needy instead, much t...