ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Jonah Abbott There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

darbski **SPOILERS** This is a small thing, and I'm almost sorry to think that I'd complain. However, complain I must, don't you know? The movie had three of my favorite actresses, of course Loretta Young is beautiful and charming as always (even when she plays a bad girl, she's charming), Sara Haden, and the delightful Elsa Lanchester. Niven obviously has a stick up his British bum, and Cary Grant simply can't make a mistake in this story. Being an angel, he better not. Monty Wooley is just as he is supposed to be, and all's right with everything else. The only problem I have, and keep in mind several small miracles, is that on Christmas Eve, the Bishop and his wife don't take their daughter to services with them. This is not only ridiculous, it's just insupportable. Everything else, no problems at all; a terrific movie. The end, without their beloved daughter? Sorry.. a 9.

l_rawjalaurence Yes, this is a sentimental piece with an overtly Christian message, but it is a very fine movie nonetheless.Viewers can savor the expert characterizations of Cary Grant as Dudley the angel, contrasted with David Niven's stressed-out bishop Henry Brougham. Their acting-styles are very different: Grant moves languidly across the screen, as if in control of everything he does. The only time when self-doubt enters his mind is when he inadvertently falls for Hanry's wife Julia (Loretta Young). At that moment director Henry Koster frames him in close-up looking longingly as the viewer, making us realize just how attracted he is to her. But no matter; as an angel, he cannot savor the delights of corporeal existence, and must return to heaven to undertake God's bidding. By contrast Niven's Bishop is full of nervous tics; his hands shake as he picks up a teacup (having discovered Dudley's true identity), and he tries to impose his will on Dudley by wielding a stick of celery. In one memorable sequence he finds that he is stuck to a chair in Mrs. Hamilton's (Gladys Cooper's) house, and he waddles around the room like an angry duck, desperately trying to remove it, before sinking down into a corner and picking up the telephone.The two male stars' comic talents are shown to greatest effect in a dinner-scene, where the Bishop stretches out his hand to stroke his pet St. Bernard dog, yet finds to his horror that the dog has moved over to Dudley's side. The Bishop looks up and scowls at Dudley; Dudley simply raises his eyebrows, forcing the Bishop to climb down to avoid having an unseemly argument. Both Niven and Grant possessed fine comic abilities, and Koster allows them full rein to exercise their range of facial expressions.The film benefits from a strong supporting cast, including Young as a harassed housewife redeemed from drudgery by Dudley's intervention; Monty Woolley as a distinguished professor who eventually admits that he has spent the last few years of his life in utter idleness; Elsa Lanchester as an unusually high-spirited parlor-maid; and James Gleason as a cab-driver learning how to skate once more.The subject-matter is very much of its time, as Mrs. Hamilton is dissuaded from giving $1m. for the building of a cathedral in her husband's honor, and to use the money instead to house the poor both in the United States and elsewhere. This was considered far more significant in the post-war world, where members of different nations were learning how to co-exist in peace and harmony as well as rebuild themselves. This perspective holds as true today as it did over six decades ago, especially in a world where the distinction between rich and poor seems to widen rather than contract.

Spondonman All in all this is a fantastic fantasy film, especially nice at Christmas but a charming tonic no matter the season. What's so wrong with depicting a world bathed in such a rosy black & white hue, and like craggy taxi driver James Gleason wistfully declares at one point helps restore your faith in human nature (if not your faith).At a difficult fund raising moment bishop David Niven's prayer for guidance is answered by angel Cary Grant appearing, who then also appears to step into the bishop's shoes, scarf, business and marriage to loyal wife Loretta Young. Naturally, or unnaturally angel Dudley makes an electrifying positive difference in the life of everyone to whom he speaks in his mission to help, but finds one of the mere mortals far too interesting and he gets amusingly sidetracked apparently enjoying red blood in his ethereal veins again. Favourite bits among many: Grant's not only suprahuman but superhuman powers even if sparingly used; Gladys Cooper's beautifully decorated and opulently furnished mansion, even if with somewhat tightly fitting chairs; the pivotal ice skating scenes, even if mainly performed by doubles; the boys choir gradually taking their places in front of conductor Grant even if they didn't seem to know why; Niven asking for and receiving an example of a miracle even if he still couldn't believe it.The schmaltz is laid on thickly and with a trowel, but do you really expect anything else from a family Christmas movie which actually mentions Christ? Maybe it's problematic to cynics and atheists, and fundamentalheads because they consider film to be the invention of the Devil, however to the vast majority of us it should be a simple unpretentious joy to watch.

HillstreetBunz I discovered this movie on TV many years ago, never having heard of it previously, but what a joy, being able to call on such talents as Niven, Grant and Loretta Young, not to mention stalwart supporting players such as Gladys Cooper, Monty Woolley and Elsa Lanchester, gave the studio a head start of course. The movie might be seen as sentimental nowadays (though why that's a pejorative I don't know). In fact I think a better word is sensitive. It's apparently simple tale of an Angel being sent down to help a misguided but essentially good Bishop who has lost sight of the real Christian way, is given a human edge and saved from schmaltz by having the Bishop become jealous of the Angels affections for the Bishops wife, and with reason, indeed the Angel does have human feelings for her! Sensitivity is the mark of its treatment of the characters and their flaws, the atheist, the rich widow etc. if even in our secular world Christmas encourages us to reevaluate our priorities in light if Christian teaching, it's a good checkpoint in our too busy and often misguided lives. This movie is a warm hearted and entertaining nudge in the same direction, and we need it. After all were only human!