The Bishop's Wife

Henry Koster's The Bishop's Wife opens with Dudley (Cary Grant) walking among the many Christmas shoppers, committing small good deeds as he passes them. Then he notices Julia Brougham (Loretta Young) gazing at a shop widow, and later on in the film they're introduced properly.

It turns out (as the title implies) that Julia's husband Henry (David Niven) is a bishop and he's trying to raise funds for a new cathedral. Henry prays for spiritual guidance, and enter Dudley. Why him? He's a guardian angel, that's why.

Released the same year as Miracle on 34th Street (and the year after It's a Wonderful Life), The Bishop's Wife is easily one of those films that you could get comfortable with during the the Christmas season. You know, the one you can watch either by yourself or with the family once the frenzy of the holiday season starts to die down. (And honestly, there's no better remedy for the holiday woes than a movie.)

The trio of Grant, Young and Niven is what makes The Bishop's Wife work so well. (To think the original cast would've featured the likes of Niven, Teresa Wright and Dana Andrews.) The charm of the actors are brought out to the fullest. (What else would you expect from the future director of Harvey?)

Anyway, The Bishop's Wife is deeply endearing, exactly the kind of film one needs during the holiday season. It's gotten lost in the shadow of It's a Wonderful Life and it deserves a re-discovery. Honestly, it does.

My Rating: *****

My Cousin Rachel

Henry Koster's My Cousin Rachel is different from most costume dramas of the time. Rather than focusing on a romance of some sort, it's a fine thriller.

In a sense, My Cousin Rachel is sort of a reversed Jane Eyre. It focuses on a mysterious person and another person who falls madly in love with them. Just keep that in mind as you watch it.

In his first Hollywood production, Richard Burton makes one hell of an impact. As Philip Ashley, he showcases a bravura that can be manipulated by the right kind of person. His performance is also the foundation of many great performances to come.

As the title character of Rachel Sangalletti, Olivia de Havilland possesses a side of her acting ability that no one had seen before My Cousin Rachel. de Havilland at that time was known for playing the good girl. Here, she's in a darker role. And I must say, it's a great one.

My Cousin Rachel is a great movie. It starts off rather slow, but it picks up just as quickly. Burton and de Havilland give some of their best performances within this film. And to think this is was made by the same man responsible for Harvey.

My Rating: ****1/2

Harvey

Jimmy Stewart is always an enjoyable actor to watch. He has worked with notable directors such as Frank Capra, Alfred Hitchcock, George Cukor and Otto Preminger, each time he played the likable leading man (well, maybe not for Vertigo).

Elwood P. Dowd (Stewart) is a mild-mannered man who has conversations with a 6'3" pooka named Harvey. Elwood's sister Veta (Josephine Hull) is fed up with hearing about Harvey and plans to have him committed.

What better way to start my movie watching for 2011 than with a movie like Harvey? Stewart, like I said in the intro, is a joy to watch. His performance in Harvey gets up there with his work in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington as a favorite. Hull also gives an enjoyable performance. In short, I just adored Harvey. It had me smiling long after it was over.

My Rating: *****