THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947) ** You know, I think we miss something by not appreciating these old silly, schmaltzy, hopelessly sentimental flicks. Not this one so much as others, but just the whole idea of making a movie with the intent of making the audience feel good and happy at Christmas time. I know it's an outdated concept, but to some extent the issues involved aren't outdated at all: who doesn't wish a nice angel would come and turn all the corporatistas good? I sure do. Again, I'm not saying that it's a brilliant plot, or even wonderfully executed, but it could have been a lot worse without the famous faces moving around in it. Cary Grant is no doubt best as the angel, but standing around smiling is only one of his long suits, and the only one played here. Still, she does a good enough job that it's not laughable when he says that Loretta Young is one of those rare earthlings with the ability to create "heaven on earth." David Niven is so convincing at being bland that he's effectively eclipsed in every shot that he shares with the dog, but my concern is more that he doesn't seem to snap out of it at the point where I assume he was supposed to. If you get mad at this kind of movie, don't watch this one.
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