A Classic - The Bishop's Wife (1948) Discussion

[–] roghache 18 years ago

This is the first time I've seen this movie but would agree that it's a wonderful old holiday classic. My favourite Christmas movies are the various traditional versions of A Christmas Carol (especially the 1951 starring Alastair Sim), also It's a Wonderful Life and The Bells of St. Mary's.

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[–] macemace 18 years ago

Although "The Bishop's Wife" is certainly one of my favorite Christmas movies, a little known gem starring Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov and Aldo Ray called "We're No Angels" tops my list of favorite Christmas movies. Bogart, Ustinov and Ray star as 3 convicts who escape from Devil's Island at Christmas time. They are mistakenly thought to be on "work release" by shop manager Leo G. Carroll, but instead the escapees intend to steal him blind. Basil Rathbone also has a good turn in this movie. Check it out!

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[–] macemace 18 years ago

I also like most of the "comedy" Christmas movies, like "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and "Scrooged". I've never been able to figure out the fascination with "A Christmas Story".

Can anyone think of other Comedy Christmas movies?

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] eden_echo 17 years ago

What are you favourite christmas movies, everyone?

It's A Wonderful Life (obviously )
The Bishop's Wife (very good film, very underrated)
Remember The Night (Stanwyck and MacMurray)

"I promise you, before I die I'll surely come to your doorstep"

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[–] BlondeVixen 17 years ago

Wouldn't it be great to have your own personal Dudley in your life?

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[–] mlee1919 17 years ago

Wouldn't it be funny if you already did and didn't know it? (Like almost everybody in the movie!) Merry Christmas.

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[–] marvel88 17 years ago

I watched it for my second year and again found myself wondering, "Why is this not widely considered a classic?"

But it surely is! A wonderful, heart-warming movie.

"I know you're in there, Fagerstrom!"-Conan O'Brien

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[–] Jgatewood1440 17 years ago

I would like to ask the people that read these postings -- what do you consider to be a 'Christmas' movie. To me a true Christmas movie is one in which the storyline is directly related to atleast one of three things:
a) the religious aspect
b) the fantasy aspect (santa, rudolph etc...)
c) the commericalism aspect
There are so many movies out there that consider themselves 'Chrsitmas' movies but there just simply movies that uses Chrsitmas as a back drop.
I would be interested in knowing what others think.

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[–] macemace 17 years ago

By your criteria, neither "It's a Wonderful Life" nor "The Bishop's Wife" could be considered. Jimmy Stewart's character could have had his crisis any time of the year and been visited by Clarence. Same goes for David Niven's character being visited by Dudley.

by Jgatewood1440 wrote:

I would like to ask the people that read these postings -- what do you consider to be a 'Christmas' movie. To me a true Christmas movie is one in which the storyline is directly related to atleast one of three things:
a) the religious aspect
b) the fantasy aspect (santa, rudolph etc...)
c) the commericalism aspect
There are so many movies out there that consider themselves 'Chrsitmas' movies but there just simply movies that uses Chrsitmas as a back drop.
I would be interested in knowing what others think.

"The same thing we do every day, Pinky, TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!"

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] casual-observer 16 years ago

I love this one (probably my fav) and also Chrismas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwyck. I like A Christmas Story and Scrooged with Bill Murray too. Could spend from Thanksgiving through Christmas watching those four.

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[–] 4thlake 16 years ago

It's A Wonderful Life
The Bishop's Wife
A Christmas Story
Remember The Night (I think I saw that this will be airing this x-mas eve on TCM)
Beyond Tomorrow (I found this at K-Mart a few years ago for $2. It's pretty good, but has a lower production level than The Bishop's Wife)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
The House Without a Christmas Tree (made for TV in 1972)
The Great Rupert (kind of a fun holiday movie and another K-Mart find)

I'd really like to see The Holly and The Ivy, a British Christmas movie starring Ralph Richardson, but the last time I checked it wasn't available on dvd in the US and TCM either doesn't have it or isn't showing it this season.

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[–] mjr1114 15 years ago

I'll list my favorite 'what I feel to be' holiday films -

Meet John Doe (#1) (rest are not in any particular order)
Holiday Inn
Holiday Affair
Christmas In Connecticut
Susan Slept Here
The Bishop's Wife
Going My Way
Miracle On 34th Street (original)
Bachelor Mother
Little Women (any version)
A Christmas Carol (any version, including George C Scott vehicle)
Old Scrooge
Any of the old Disney holiday cartoons
Meet Me In St. Louis
White Christmas
It's A Wonderful Life
Love Actually
Santa Clause: The Movie
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph's Shiny New Year
'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Frosty The Snowman
Santa Clause Is Coming To Town
The Year Without A Santa Clause
Jack Frost (the claymation version, of course)
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon version)
Elf
Gremlins
3 Godfathers
Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
Stepmom
Charlie Brown (holiday specials)
The Family Stone
The Shop Around The Corner ...

Absolutely despise 'Christmas Story', even though it was made when I was young.
Not a big fan of the 'Home Alone' franchise, either.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] bnwfilmbuff 9 years ago

We watch "The Man Who Came to Dinner" and "Jesus of Nazareth" every Christmas. The Bishop's Wife, Christmas in Connecticut, A Christmas Carol (Sim version) and Holiday Inn are all semi regulars.

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