THE BISHOP’S WIFE

Name: THE BISHOP’S WIFE
Item: THE BISHOP’S WIFE
Author: Aaron Minguez

"A Little Heaven on Earth"

Content: +3 Some minor questionable elements. (Media-wisdom is suggested to discuss.)

Entertainment Quality:

	None	Light	Moderate	Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

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What You Need To Know:

THE BISHOP’S WIFE is the comical fantasy of an angel named Dudley, who comes down to earth with orders to help a bishop re-prioritize his life during Christmas. Dudley tells the Bishop’s daughter stories of David and takes the Bishop’s wife, Julia, on the walks the Bishop has neglected to take her. Eventually, Dudley no longer wants to be just an angel, but longs to be with Julia. The Bishop becomes jealous of the attention Dudley receives from Julia.

THE BISHOP’S WIFE is a delightful, winsome fantasy. Cary Grant delivers an enchanting performance, and his charm empowers the story. Loretta Young is beautiful as the Bishop’s wife, and David Niven is excellent as the increasingly exasperated Bishop. The movie manages to center its story around Scripture without coming off as cheesy or poorly written. It ends with a marvelous sermon about the meaning of Christmas, delivered with passion by David Niven. The music, cinematography and cute special effects greatly add to this beloved classic. MOVIEGUIDE® commends this movie to people of all ages. Its timeless beauty will capture the heart of everyone.

Content:

(CCC, BBB, V, A, M):

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:

Very strong Christian, moral worldview with a faith based Christian worldview, scenes in a church with a boy’s choir rehearsal, several scriptural references throughout, and the Bishop is responsible for building a new cathedral Foul language: None

Violence:

Light comic violence such as falling down ice skating, and man gets magically stuck to a chair

Sex:

No sex, but the angel character expresses his dreams of a family with the bishop’s wife even though he knows it’s impossible

Nudity:

No nudity

Alcohol Use:

The angel character gives an elderly professor a bottomless bottle of sherry that always fills up and ,they and the Bishop’s wife drink from the bottle Smoking and or drug use: No smoking or drugs; and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:

Bishop gets jealous of an angel who comes to help him but ingratiates himself with Bishop’s wife and daughter, Bishop is focused on material things rather than spiritual ones but learns the true meaning of Christmas and gives an inspiring message on it to his congregation, and women begin to gossip when angel and the Bishop’s wife have lunch together at a restaurant.

More Detail:

THE BISHOP’S WIFE is the classic comical fantasy of a handsome angel who comes down to earth with orders to help a bishop re-prioritize his life during Christmas. THE BISHOP’S WIFE is an award-winning movie which is delightful at any time of the year for the whole family. There are many morally based truths in the movie and Media-Wise® content for everyone to enjoy.

The movie opens up on the city streets as the angel Dudley (Cary Grant) performs random acts of kindness foreshadowing his role in the movie. Julia the bishop’s wife is in a Christmas tree shop and is speaking to a Professor. Dudley remains outside watching the scene unfold. As Julia makes her way into her house from the Christmas tree shop, her husband, the Bishop, is in the midst of a heated discussion with the cathedral committee who are discussing the funds, blueprints and dedication of the cathedral. Julia is late, which upsets the Bishop.

While they finish dinner, the Bishop retreats into his office for prayer. As he prays Dudley miraculously appears proclaiming that he is an angel sent to him by heaven, a physical and immediate answer to prayer. Dudley wants to help out in any possible way he can. Although the Bishop knows that Dudley is an angel, he’s incapable of telling other people so.

Julia and Debby their daughter, grow very fond of Dudley as he fulfills many of the duties of a father. Dudley tells Debby stories of David and takes Julia on the walks the bishop has neglected to take her. Eventually, Dudley realizes he no longer wants to be just an angel, but longs to be with Julia. Meanwhile, the Bishop becomes jealous of the attention Dudley receives from Julia.

THE BISHOP’S WIFE is a delightful, winsome fantasy. Cary Grant delivers an enchanting performance, and his natural charm moves the story forward. Loretta Young is beautiful as the Bishop’s wife, and David Niven is excellent as the increasingly exasperated Bishop. The movie manages to center its story around Scripture without coming off as cheesy or poorly written. It ends with a marvelous sermon about the meaning of Christmas, delivered with passion by David Niven. The music, cinematography and cute special effects greatly add to this beloved classic. MOVIEGUIDE® commends this movie to families with children of all ages. Its timeless beauty will capture the heart of everyone.