The Preachers Wife (1996). Photofest.
(Penny Marshall, US 1996, 123 min., 35mm)
Hollywood classic The Bishop’s Wife (1948) is updated to the 1990s with Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston. Henry Biggs (Courtney B. Vance) is the pastor of a small, struggling church in New York City. With membership declining, Henry is pulled in many different directions to keep the community vital, ultimately praying to God for help. That help comes in the form of an angel, Dudley (Washington), but Henry is skeptical, despite Dudley’s candor about his mission. Dudley focuses his attention on Henry’s wife, Julia (Houston), who is the leader of the church choir. But when Dudley finds himself falling for Julia, it complicates his plans to help Henry. A heartwarming tale of holiday spirit in the classical mold, the film also provides Houston with several opportunities to highlight her voice in a gospel choir, where she got her start singing.