The Bishop's Wife
Director: Henry Koster
Year Released: 1947
Rating: 2.5
Bishop Henry (David Niven) prays "for guidance" in building his cathedral but can't raise the funds easily - in walks Servant of the Lord Dudley (Cary Grant) who platonically romances Henry's wife Julia (Loretta Young) by taking her shopping and ice skating which is supposed to teach Henry a lesson about his priorities. It has that classic Holiday Ambience about it - snowy streets, brisk weather, trees with angels on top - and Grant's so smooth and even-tempered he could be an angel, except it's also flimsy and drama-free, unless you count Niven pouting or acting snooty to be a source of great tension (Young, on the other hand, always looks like she's in a perpetual state of shock). Heaven, to me, is liquor bottles that refill themselves ... with no hangovers the next day.