MovieChat Forums > The Bishop's Wife (1948) Discussion > Open Window

Open Window

posted 16 years ago by eliwire
13 replies | jump to latest

At the end of the movie, the bishop's wife opens the window to her little girl's room as she is sleeping. It appears to be the dead of winter! I am very confused why she would do this since I would assume it could make the room very cold--too cold for a child, and also it seems expensive on their heating bill. In our house we try not to waste money and simply turn the heater down at night. What gives? Anybody have any ideas? Was this something that was normal back when this movie was made, or was there something I am missing in the movie? Thanks in advance!

[–] mjbayles 16 years ago

Fresh air was thought to be essential for health, even if it was cold. That's why many people slept on "sleeping porches" in that period, even in the dead of winter. You read about it a lot in memoirs of the period, for instance those of Emily Kimbrough.

[–] eliwire 16 years ago

Oh! Thanks mjbayles! Interesting to know that, especially in light of "sick buildings" nowadays where you read about a place being so sealed off that people are actually getting sick from the air!

[–] johnd70978 16 years ago

Could it be that the Loretta Young character might be trying to kill her daughter? Remember that just a few scant years before "The Bishop's Wife" the film "Mildred Pierce" was released. In that classic picture mother and daughter, Mildred and Veda, share a smarmy lover and the tension between the two females results in murder. You don't have to pry too deep to see the same relationship budding between Loretta and her daughter. Watch the young girl's eyes as she leers lasciviously at Dudley. You can almost feel her heat. No wonder Loretta wanted to 'freeze' her.

[–] kitnwithawhip 13 years ago

You need medication.

[–] DreamingDarlin 12 years ago

Oh no! I've never laughed so hard at any comments as I have at this one. I do think you're joking but if you were into fan fiction like me you could see the possibilities, twisted though they may be. I enjoyed this comment tremendously even though I adore this movie and it's obvious none of this would ever happen. The thing I enjoy most about the movie is that it is so simple, so sweet, so magical and yet so real. I wish they still made movies like this.

Btw, I think I recall that Katharine Hepburn would sleep with her window cracked. Brrrr. :D

[–] djkrsztoff 15 years ago

I can tell you've never lived in a place with old fashion radiators. See, you turn on the boiler in October or so and the heat builds and builder an by late December it is like 98 degrees near those things. A little draft is the only thing that keeps you from having your skin melt off in your sleep.Living in an old house is sweet, but only if you can really adjust the heat, otherwise it fells like you live in the center of Hell.

[–] OlLineRebel 13 years ago

My grandparents had a wonderful old 3-story Vic (built 1908) and we were there frequently, for holiday gatherings and sometimes when they watched me for my parents. I don't remember ever feeling too hot (except that grandma - as many old people - often felt cold so would turn up the heat). When I was around it was oil-furnace radiator heat. Never forget those, or that scary-looking furnace (originally was coal).

[–] Bruce7 15 years ago

It was common for decades to do so until "sealed" homes. Now there is a health reason for airing out from time to time. In the dead of winter, not for moi.

Can you fly this plane?
Surely you can't be serious.
I am serious, and don't call me Shirley

[–] Blondfashionisto 14 years ago

I certainly like to sleep in a cool room and I think it is healthy. As for this scene, I think Loretta was also trying to hear the Christmas bells ring, too.

‘Six inches is perfectly adequate; more is vulgar!' (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Re: An open window).

[–] creek_girl 13 years ago

I noticed when I lived in England they were crazy about their "fresh air". I had a window fight with my English roommate who would have the window open no matter if it were freezing outside.

"Psychos do not explode when sun light hits them, I don't give a *beep* how crazy they are!"

[–] wrenskibaby 13 years ago

My mother was about the same age as the little girl the year this movie came out, and mom always slept with her bedroom window open a bit, even when it was blizzarding outside. I do think it was the fresh air she wanted, but I agree with the radiator heat theory too.

[–] hankaaron 12 years ago

Probably too warm in Debbie's room. Hot air travels upstairs. In order to keep downstairs warm, the upstairs living quarters will become too hot. Opening the window drops the temp down a few degrees.

BTW, I took note of that scene too.

[–] cold_sky 12 years ago

I often air out a room with an open window, no matter what weather, unless it's precipitating. Dead of winter, I love opening the window too. Just a crack gets a nice cool breeze. I noticed the scene but figured it was more historically correct than my own selfish purposes.

http://imgur.com/zmJ4ZR4