Watched The Bishop's Wife tonight. In the grand scheme of things this is a more recent entry into our Christmas movie-watching cannon. I'd say it's probably about 10 years ago that Dale caught it on TCM during one of his summer months on Madeline Island. He recommended we watch it at Christmas of that year. I was surprised I'd never heard of it before. It's since become one of my most favorites.
Everyone's in it. Of course, there's Cary Grant as the debonair angel, Dudley.
Loretta Young as Julia Brougham, the bishop's wife.
David Niven as Henry, the overworked and overstressed Bishop Brougham.
Monty Woolley as Professor Wutheridge. Woolley also appears in the Christmas themed movie The Man Who Came to Dinner.
Elsa (Bride of Frankenstein) Lanchester as Matilda, the Brougham's housekeeper.
Gladys Cooper as Mrs. Hamilton.
Karolyn Grimes plays little Debbie Brougham, Julia and Henry's daughter. Of course, Grimes also plays Zuzu in that other big Christmas movie, It's a Wonderful Life.
However, Grimes isn't the only actor to appear in this movie from It's a Wonderful Life. Robert J. Anderson who played young George Bailey in the other film here has a cameo as the defense captain in the snowball fight scene.
And then there's James Gleason as the charmingly optimistic cabbie, Sylvester. Note: Gleason also plays alongside Grant in Arsenic and Old Lace.
I've heard over the years that the parts of the film were shot here in Minneapolis. I've tried to do a little research and according to the Wikipedia page for The Bishop's Wife, "Location shooting was in Minneapolis, Minnesota." However, more specific information is not given. According to IMDB it was the snowball fight scene that was shot in Minneapolis. Other filming was done at the Samuel Goldwyn Studios in West Hollywood.
Very evocative of Loring Park is the skating scene. Dudley, Julia, and Sylvester skate on what looks very much like what could be Loring Pond however I'm sure these parts were filmed on a sound stage.
I can also very much picture the rectory, Mrs. Hamilton's mansion, and Michel's Restaurant being in either Kenwood or the Loring Park area of Minneapolis.
The themes of hope, renewal, faith, optimism, and transformation in the film resonate with me strongly.
