MovieChat Forums > The Bishop's Wife (1948) Discussion > Whose prayer did Dudley answer?

Whose prayer did Dudley answer?

posted 18 years ago by slpearce
10 replies | jump to latest

I have seen this movie many, many times. I thought I knew it backward and forward, however....a series of messages from this site made me look at it a-new. There is a thread of posts regarding Dudley's "coming on" to Julia towards the end of the the film.

Well, I had to check that part out again...and I noticed for the first time that at one point in the exchange between Dudley and Julia, Dudley says, "Please don't send me away." Well, who could send the angel away other than the person who prayed for help. Did Julia's prayer bring Dudley? Earlier in the film, when the Bishop is asking Dudley who he is and where he's from, Dudley answers, "You're a good man. Your prayer has been heard." (or something like that - I'm paraphrasing.) However, doesn't Dudley spend a lot of time helping Julia adjust to her responsibilities as the Bishop's Wife?

So, I'm asking this group - which prayer was answered, Henry's prayer for a way to build a new catheral (which didn't happen), or Julia's prayer for, perhaps, the happiness that they knew (when Henry headed up St. Timothy's)?

[–] roghache 18 years ago

A good question! My sense was that Dudley was sent specifically to answer Henry's prayer for help and guidance, although his answer didn't come in the form he might have anticipated in terms of building a new cathedral. However, Julia had undoubtedly also been praying for the happiness she and her husband used to have in their St. Timothy's days, so ultimately both their prayers were answered.

[–] kga58 18 years ago

Not to get too deep here, but in short, I agree with roghache. Henry THOUGHT what he wanted was for the cathedral to be built, but in his soul he wanted guidance and was missing the contented life he and Julia had before he became the Bishop. Getting that back was his true desire, but he was so immersed in all the turmoil of the cathedral he didn't know how to get back to it. There's no doubt Julia was praying for the same thing and Dudley appeared before Henry actually prayed his prayer. He was sent because the need was known already, but I guess Henry had to realize there was a need. In the Bible it speaks of the Holy Spirit within us giving utterance to our deepest prayers when we are unable to even articulate them(okay, so I got too deep). As I said on another thread, I don't see anything sleazy in Dudley being attracted to Julia. In making Henry see what he was throwing away with his blind pursuit of the cathedral, Dudley realized what he was missing by being an angel and not a human. In spite of his "don't send me away" speech, I doubt in the long run that he would've stayed. He knew even then it could never be. And made Henry see how blessed he really was. Possibly he said all that more to galvanize Julia and her marriage to Henry and jolt her out of her attraction to him(Dudley). He had to know her well enough to know she wouldn't leave Henry

[–] roghache 18 years ago

Very well stated, kga58.

[–] eden_echo 17 years ago

Both Henry and Julia did pray for something (a new cathedral and happiness basically), but in the beginning, we see Dudley just wandering the streets and then he sees Julia for the first time; really he answered both but in the end, he had to make haste in a way, since he developed feelings for Julia which makes him an imperfect angel.

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

[–] slpearce 16 years ago

Just checking back to see if anyone else responded, and saw your reply.

..."he developed feelings for Julia which makes him an imperfect angel."

...Ain't we all?

[–] jashobeam5 15 years ago

No, we aren't angels at all. We are truly imperfect though.

[–] gayspiritwarrior 15 years ago

Henry is confused to the point that he finally forgets he didn't pray for the completion of the cathedral but for guidance. It's Dudley who reminds him of that very fact. Dudley is the answer to his prayer for guidance. Being an angel, he also helps everyone else he comes in contact with.

"The value of an idea has nothing to do with the honesty of the man expressing it."--Oscar Wilde

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jackboot 14 years ago

Also, take notice of the other person whom Dudley really targeted, the Professor. We never hear Julia's prayer and I'm thinking that maybe the Professor had more than a little doubt about his non-beliefs and in moments of weakness, and possibly too much brandy, he too prayed for some kind of help and guidance. I loved seeing him go into St. Timothy's at the end of the story and how he paused, sensing something (Dudley's presence nearby) but not able to put a finger on what it was. A really nice moment.

Dudley's intervention with the Professor seemed a little more deliberate than just a passing good act, such as when he saved the baby in the baby carriage from getting hit by that truck.

[–] AZINDN 12 years ago

I think Dudley answered the many prayers of the major and minor characters in the movie. His job is to help humans and his task was to clear their hearts of the burdens of their particular life, whether it was the Bishop's need for guidance and to return love into his marriage to Julia, reestablish his role as father with his little daughter, and work positively with the cathedral building board, including Agnes. For the professor, he removes the fear of dying before he can write his history to completion, and for Julia, to bring the love back into her marriage to the Bishop who has taken her for granted for many years. Matilda and Mildred are made happier each by their brief exchanges with Dudley, who compliments them as they are often overlooked as servant and secretary. And for Sylvester, he brings new zest and joy into a routine job.
Debbie is a child with few wants but she too was temporarily pushed aside by Henry's burdens. Perhaps Dudley's prayer was also answered because in doing his job, he envied the human condition which he as an immortal could not become entrenched. Dudley was perhaps the spirit of the season which was not intended to be a materialistic commercial venture but one of higher inspiration.

-- Ew lover, you gonna make me clutch my pearls --