The Bishop's Wife 1947

On Christmas Eve, the stores are full of gifts, fluffy snow is falling, and the townspeople are admiring the lights on the Christmas trees and the sparkle of the tinsel. Only Henry Brogham—a bishop who dreams of a new cathedral and devotes all his time to collecting donations from wealthy townspeople for its construction—is oblivious to the pre-holiday hustle and bustle. Absorbed in his dream, he pays almost no attention to his beautiful wife, Julia, or his daughter. He prays constantly for a sign of good fortune to help him realize his project. One evening, a stranger named Dudley appears before the bishop and assures him that he is an angel who has descended from heaven to help him. The newcomer quickly becomes the best friend of Julia and her daughter Debbie; this charming gentleman also tells the townspeople instructive stories about life and faith, and soon becomes a familiar face in the town. The bishop cannot believe in the existence of an angel, but the small miracles that occur force Henry to reflect on the futility of his life and reevaluate his relationships with his loved ones, friends, daughter, and beloved wife...