Dudley, the angel, comes to earth to teach a thing or two to the people of this town, or so it seems. He touches everyone he encounters in a positive way. The message is how we humans get so involved in things that are so unimportant that we miss the big picture.

This film, directed by Henry Koster, is a classic. In fact, I am surprised it doesn't play more during Christmas, or maybe I have missed seeing it around that time of the year that is the setting for the angel's appearance. It seems as though Dudley is pointing to the arrival of Christmas at a time, perhaps, when the season had still a non-commercial aspect and it was, after all, a family affair.

The cast was exceptional. Cary Grant is Dudley, the man/angel who turns everything he touches into a lesson on how to be kind. Julia, the bishop's wife, plays the neglected woman with conviction. David Niven plays the preoccupied bishop who is trying to bring the moneyed people of town to his side in order to erect his monument to his own ego.

Gladys Cooper is also a distinguished face in the film. She is Mrs. Hamilton who learns a thing or two about humility. Elsa Lanchester was a happy figure in whatever film she appeared. Monty Woolley, as the professor is also effective. James Gleason was one of the most prolific character actors of his generation. He is excellent as Sylvester, the taxi driver who befriends Julia and Dudley. Their ice skating sequence is one of the best things of the film.

This is a film to treasure.

How on earth did it take me so long to see 'The Bishop's Wife?' Actually can't really find an excuse really as to why it wasn't seen or heard of sooner, but part of me is feeling a little ashamed for not doing so. Love Christmas films, love feel good films, Cary Grant is one of my favourites and there is a great cast here. The story also sounded very charming. Henry Koster is not a favourite director of mine, but he was responsible for 'Harvey' (am very fond of that film).

After such a nightmare of a year, thank goodness this little miracle came along and in all honesty brightened up what was turning into a fairly bleak life. 'The Bishop's Wife' is easily one of Koster's best and one of the few of his to wow me. It is also a fine example of how to do a feel good film, which it epitomises, gives off the festive feel beautifully and it contains not just one of Grant's best performances it also contains one of his finest lines. Any signs of a troubled production is not obvious at all.

'The Bishop's Wife' is beautifully made for one thing, with some very stylishly beautiful photography. Both Grant and Loretta Young look fabulous in the various close ups and long shots and the darker lighting is very atmosphere. Not to mention the wintry scenery and the simple but impressive visual effects (wisely kept at minimum). Koster provides some of his most accomplished directing, this is much more than just competent but undistinguished level but is instead very skilled and sensitive. Nicely scored too, in good keeping with the gentle mood.

Can't find anything to fault the script for, it's thoughtful and lovingly balanced dialogue that is neither too heavy and complicated or too frothy and simplistic. There is some lovely gentle and genuinely amusing humour here as well as an emotional impact that never goes overboard on the sentimentality and an endearingly good nature impossible to resist. Any darker elements, where Dudley does become not as likeable, don't feel jarring or distasteful. It doesn't feel preachy either, even in the moral dilemma plot strand where it had the biggest danger of being, and flows naturally. The standouts being the last lines and Dudley's "the only people who grow old were born old to begin with."

Furthermore, the story is very warm-hearted and made me smile and well up in equal measure. Was also very surprised that 'The Bishop's Wife's' story is a lot more eventful structurally and emotionally complex than most films that fit under the feel good category, feel good done with substance. The moral dilemma is especially well done, though the skating scene is very amusing and sweet and nothing feels too forced or too neat. The substance is not just there in the story but also in the characters, these characters are a lot more complex than what they seem on paper initially and the film handles the characterisation in a way that is not cliched or one-dimensional (all having shades of light and dark, not just beige).

Grant gives one of his best performances in a tough role, personality-wise it is vintage Grant (charming, subtle, endearingly mischievous, warm in presence but with a tough edge) while with a lot of nuance and honesty. Young matches him beautifully in the charm department and the performance is full of allure and sensitivity without being bland. Their chemistry is pure magic. David Niven is suitably cynical yet sympathetic. James Gleason, Monty Woolley and Elsa Lanchester flesh out what could have been stock roles beautifully and Gladys Cooper relishes playing a dragon of a character.

Concluding, wonderful film. 10/10

The year before this film came out another heavenly visitor in the person of Henry Travers visited earth after getting a complete and thorough briefing on his client James Stewart in It's A Wonderful Life. But other than learning that Travers liked a flaming rum punch we didn't learn too much about him.

Just as James Stewart prayed for guidance, David Niven who's a man of the cloth prays for it in The Bishop's Wife. Instead of lovable old Henry Travers, Niven gets as his aide, Cary Grant.

Niven proves to be a difficult client, but rather than expose him to an alternate universe, Grant does what he can in this world. Of course the woman who plays the title role, Loretta Young, is quite the distraction and Cary's having difficulty focusing.

Niven's a good man who's been raised to the post of bishop due to rich parishioner Gladys Cooper. He's to do her bidding and she bids that a cathedral be raised as a monument to her late husband. The burden of his conscience and dealing with Cooper has caused Niven to lose sight of what's really important in the world.

This is a Christmas season film so you know that everything will work itself out. If Cary Grant were an angel than I imagine he's very much like Dudley this minute. If I had a problem this Yuletide season, I'd kind of like Cary Grant to help me out, if I couldn't get Bing Crosby.

Loretta Young is radiant as the woman who causes Cary's halo to slip and David Niven is as charming as he always is. I also liked Monty Woolley as the professor and James Gleason as the cabdriver.

Make The Bishop's Wife a must for the Yuletide season. And see it back to back with the version that stars Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, and Courtney B. Vance.