We tumble headlong into the 1940s next, with Henry Koster’s old-time favourite The Bishop’s Wife from 1947. This one sees dejected, down-on-his-luck bishop Henry (David Niven) visited by Dudley (Cary Grant) who claims to be an angel, offering to help turn his fortunes around. The bishop is skeptical, but takes handsome Dudley on as his assistant in the run up to Christmas and is soon fuming when his smooth new aide attracts the attentions of his long-suffering wife Julia (Loretta Young).
Grant shines here, masterfully dancing along the fine line between super-cool dude and smug cocky cock, in a heart-warming, inspiring tale of wintery whimsy. Dudley is a heaven-sent smoothy who makes everything he touches turn to gold. He’s masterfully introduced sauntering through a bustling big city crowd of Christmas shoppers, casually saving a runaway pram then helping an old blind guy cross the street while cars appear to magically stop for him as he swaggers out in front of them.
He enters the life of Bishop Henry, who is so completely lost in his work, he can’t see he’s neglecting his poor wife and young daughter. The fun begins as Angelic Dudley uses his supernatural powers and charm to subtly help the family, allowing them to be happy again. In doing so, he gets dangerously close to lonely Julia, leading to some tantalising ‘will-they- won’t-they?’ flirtatiousness, including a show-stoppingly sublime ice-skating scene. Dudley’s show-offy athletic skating moves have me initially hating his guts, but Grant is so alluring here that he totally wins me over. He’s just too damn smooth. It also probably helps that Amelia is watching Frozen for about the hundredth time in the next room and the overly familiar melody of ‘Let It Go’ just happens to almost perfectly synchronise with Dudley’s silky skating routine. It’s weirdly magical.
Dudley’s divine gifts allow for some enchanting, effects-led set-pieces, such as using his powers to decorate the tree without touching it, magically refill empty brandy glasses and make rolodex cards fly through the air and miraculously sort themselves. I had no idea that 1940s effects could be so impressive.
It’s an intriguing tale as it’s very easy to root for this married woman to dump her well-meaning but overworked hubbie and shack up with the handsome newcomer who treats her right. It’s all a bit sacrilegious but also deliciously good fun.
I do start to worry for poor the poor Bishop but, of course, good old Dudley helps to teach everyone a lesson about what they’ve been missing in life, bringing the family closer again After all, any true angel – even an unusually horny one – knows it would suck to break up a family, especially at Christmas!#
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