Goldwyn's 1947 Yule log, opened
December 25 at Carthay Circle
in LA, which meant everyone else got the gift into '48 and after ornaments
had been taken down. So many patrons unwrapped holiday packages in the spring, a
consequence of run/zone/clearance policy that hoarded season-specific shows to
urban first-runs and left subsequents to faded tinsel. My own Liberty ad searches found Meet Me In St.LouisandWhite Christmasin similar circumstance, but then, maybe we were lucky to get
them at all. The Bishop's Wife was troubled in production. First director
William A. Seiter got the hook when Goldwyn was displeased with rushes, then
effort was made to lure Howard Hawks, who would at the least have given us
something new in Xmas giftery, but he passed and workmanlike Henry Koster
took over.
The story had angel Cary Grant doing what angels
presumably do, but with too-perfect charmer Grant wearing wings, you wonder (or
hope) he's up to dark mission along Hitchcockian lines, Koster as director the
assurance of all turningout conventionally right. Parts of The Bishop's Wife do
light up, Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder having been hired over a frenzied
weekend to punch up dialogue where needed. There is too a femme Scrooge in the person of
Gladys Cooper who is similarly redeemed. Speaking of punch-up, The Bishop's
Wife got one in ads redubbed as Cary and The Bishop's Wife, the extension
thought necessary to put spice in Goldwyn's eggnog. In fact, the yarn does
become a triangle between Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven, the latter which
might actually have been more effective as the angel. In any event, it was a
part Niven wanted and was piqued not to get. He was always better at charming
than priggish, the latter which he is here. Production has benefit of
Goldwyn super-sheen and there's a nice Hugo Friedhofer score. The Bishop's Wife
is of a polished sort that benefits from Blu-Ray presentation, lately tendered
by Goldwyn-handling Warners.
I enjoyed the post about THE BISHOP'S WIFE, John. David Niven recalled in his autobiography that he was originally cast as the angel, with Cary Grant as the troubled pastor. They switched roles, and if Niven was upset about it I don't recall him saying so in print. Howard Hawks was news to me; according to Niven, Goldwyn felt Seiter's scenes needed a lighter touch, and so Koster was recruited.
You make an excellent point about Christmas merchandise having somewhat less sparkle by the time it got to the neighborhood houses. How many seasonal movies were victimized on their first runs? The 1935 SCROOGE opened in New York in late December to excellent notices, only to flatten out completely after the holidays.
Your post may move me to finally play the Blue Ray I received as a part of a generous gift package last Xmas. Never really cared that much for this one. I know the concluding moral of the average Hollywood holiday fantasy is usually thin as wrapping paper, but Cary the Angel's 'lessons' don't even seem to meet that standard! Oh, well... Maybe I'm the Scrooge!
4 Comments:
I enjoyed the post about THE BISHOP'S WIFE, John.
David Niven recalled in his autobiography that he was originally cast as the angel, with Cary Grant as the troubled pastor. They switched roles, and if Niven was upset about it I don't recall him saying so in print. Howard Hawks was news to me; according to Niven, Goldwyn felt Seiter's scenes needed a lighter touch, and so Koster was recruited.
You make an excellent point about Christmas merchandise having somewhat less sparkle by the time it got to the neighborhood houses. How many seasonal movies were victimized on their first runs? The 1935 SCROOGE opened in New York in late December to excellent notices, only to flatten out completely after the holidays.
Your post may move me to finally play the Blue Ray I received as a part of a generous gift package last Xmas. Never really cared that much for this one. I know the concluding moral of the average Hollywood holiday fantasy is usually thin as wrapping paper, but Cary the Angel's 'lessons' don't even seem to meet that standard! Oh, well... Maybe I'm the Scrooge!
Interesting that the print ads do everything in their power not to let you know that Cary Grant's playing an angel.
Love this movie. And boy, could Cary and Loretta ice skate. LOL
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