THE PREACHER'S WIFE
(1996)

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Directed by
Penny Marshall 

Tagline: They needed help. What they got was a miracle.

Cast (in credits order) verified as complete
Denzel Washington .... Dudley
Whitney Houston .... Julia Biggs
Courtney B. Vance .... Rev. Henry Biggs
Gregory Hines .... Joe Hamilton
Jenifer Lewis .... Margueritte Coleman
Loretta Devine .... Beverly
Justin Pierre Edmund .... Jeremiah Biggs
Lionel Richie .... Britsloe
Paul Bates .... Saul Jeffreys
Lex Monson .... Osbert
Darvel Davis Jr. .... Hakim
William James Stiggers Jr. .... Billy Eldridge
Marcella Lowery .... Anna Eldridge
Cissy Houston .... Mrs. Havergal
Aaron A. McConnaughey .... Teen
Shyheim Franklin .... Teen
Taral Hicks .... Teen
Kennan Scott .... Teen
Jernard Burks .... Pizza Man
Michael Alexander Jackson .... Robber
Jaime Tirelli .... Liquor Store Owner
Shari Headley .... Arlene Chattan
Lizan Mitchell (I) .... Judge
Robert Colston .... Bailiff
Victor Williams .... Robbie
Juliehera Destefano .... Receptionist
Charlotte d'Amboise .... Deborah Paige
Delores Mitchell .... Mary Halford
David Langston Smyrl .... Hanley's Waiter
Harsh Nayyar .... Christmas Tree Man
Mervyn Warren .... Pianist
Roy Haynes .... Drummer
George Coleman (I) .... Sax Player
Ted Dunbar .... Guitar Player
Jamil Nasser .... Bass Player
Helmar Augustus Cooper .... Johnson Keeley
Mary Bond Davis .... Bernita
Toukie Smith .... Teleprompter Operator
Mozelle Hawkins Allen .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Eloise Beasley .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Yolanda Beasley-Prime .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Cassondra M. Breedlove .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Dirk Chaney .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Brenda J. Childs .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Anthony Dean Copeland .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Hayward Cromartie .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Betty Cromartie Davis .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Valerie Inez Edwards .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Kimberley M. Garrett .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Rutha Harris .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Carolyn Henry .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Gary Nuckles-Holt .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Teretha G. Houston .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Angela L. Jones .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Morris Vernon Jones .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Rose Merry Jordan .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Jacqueline Martin .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Betty Matthews .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Reverand Corey McGee .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Naguanda Miller .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Sharon A. Mitchell .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Beverly S. Nixon .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Krishna Presha .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Jacqulyn V. Saunders .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Constance Small .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Troy L. Sneed Sr. .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Reverand Lawrence K. Thomas .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Ulisa A. Thomas .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
V. Ranaldo Welcome .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Berta J. Williams .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Kimberly L. Wright .... St. Matthew's Choir & Band Member
Steven Brown (II) .... Drummer
Rick Carter (II) .... Bass Player
Sterling Holloman II .... Lead Guitar Player
Reverand Kenneth Paden .... Pianist
Dwain L. White .... Organist
Aaron Jordan (II) .... Eldridge Kid
Yakin Manassah Jordan .... Eldridge Kid
Joshua Jordan .... Donkey - Nativity Choir
Tiffany Joseph .... Shepherd - Nativity Choir
Jessica Malloy .... Mary - Nativity Choir
Amia Hart .... Beverly's Child
Brittany Anderson .... Sheep - Nativity Choir
Christopher Malloy .... Angel - Nativity Choir
Andal Fequiere .... Joseph - Nativity Choir
Mark Gilbert .... Wise Man - Nativity Choir
Michael Marshall (I) .... Wise Man - Nativity Choir
Shaun Purefoy .... Wise Man - Nativity Choir
Tiffiny Monet Graham .... Angel - Nativity Choir
Khalia Hamilton-Montoute .... Angel - Nativity Choir
Marquis Bowen-Wallace .... Shepherd - Nativity Choir
Lakeya Enos .... Shepherd - Nativity Choir
Christine Lameisha Koon .... Camel - Nativity Choir
Anthony Biggham .... Lamb - Nativity Choir
Taleah Enos .... Ox - Nativity Choir
Jerry Brunsin .... Painting Singer
Anthony Burnett (I) .... Painting Singer
Kevin Mitchell (I) .... Painting Singer
Phillip Mitchell (I) .... Painting Singer
Directed by
Penny Marshall
Writing credits (in credits order)
Robert E. Sherwood (screenplay The Bishop's Wife) and
Leonardo Bercovici (screenplay The Bishop's Wife)

Nat Mauldin and
Allan Scott (II)

Todd Graff (uncredited)
Produced by
Elliot Abbott (executive)
Timothy M. Bourne (co-producer)
Debra Martin Chase (co-producer)
Samuel Goldwyn Jr.
Robert Greenhut (executive)
Bonnie Hlinomaz (associate)
Amy Lemisch (co-producer)
Original music by
Mervyn Warren (songs)
Hans Zimmer
Cinematography by
Miroslav Ondrícek
Film Editing by
George Bowers
Stephen A. Rotter
Casting
Paula Herold
Production Design by
Bill Groom
Art Direction
Dennis Bradford
Set Decoration
George DeTitta Jr. (as George DeTitta)
Costume Design by
Cynthia Flynt
Makeup Department
Larry M. Cherry .... hair stylist
Edna Sheen .... makeup artist
Kenneth Walker (I) .... hair stylist (as Ken Walker)
Ellie Winslow .... makeup artist
Production Management
Amy Lemisch .... unit production manager
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
H.H. Cooper .... second assistant director
Dale M. Nielsen .... second second assistant director (as Dale Nielsen)
Barry K. Thomas .... first assistant director (as Barry Thomas)
Sound Department
Dennis Drummond .... supervising sound editor
Ryan Eldred .... assistant sound editor
Galen Goodpaster .... first assistant sound editor
Darren King (I) .... sound editor
Jonathan Klein .... foley artist
Les Lazarowitz .... production sound mixer
Karen Minahan .... assistant sound editor
Stunts
Jalil Jay Lynch .... stunts
Other crew
Susan Bradley .... title designer
Michael Caracciolo .... camera operator
Xiomara Comrie .... second assistant camera: "b" camera
Jeff Coopwood .... adr voice (uncredited)
James Durante .... assistant editor
Elizabeth Feldbauer .... wardrobe supervisor
Ken Ferris .... camera operator
Rolf Fleischmann .... first assistant editor
Deirdre Horgan .... script supervisor
Whitney Houston .... gospel music production
Sam Hutchins .... assistant location manager
Billy Kerwick .... key rigging grip
Eric M. Klein .... carpenter (uncredited)
Nicholas Lundy .... assistant art director
Geary McLeod .... camera operator: "b" camera
Alan Meyerson .... dubbing mixer
score mixer
Douglas Pellegrino .... assistant camera: "b" camera
Juliet Polcsa .... assistant costume designer
Pamela Rittelmeyer .... second assistant camera
Dana Robin .... location manager
Ari David Schwartz .... set dresser (uncredited)
Jonathan Schwartz (II) .... wardrobe production assistant
Eric Swanek .... first assistant camera
steadicam assistant camera
Arthur Szefer .... camera loader
Jeffery J. Tufano .... additional camera operator
Mervyn Warren .... music supervisor
Rick Washburn .... weapons coordinator
Joseph Zolfo .... location scout

Production Companies

  • Buena Vista Pictures [us]
  • Mundy Lane Entertainment
  • Parkway Productions
  • Samuel Goldwyn Company [us]
  • Touchstone Pictures [us]

 

Distributors

  • Buena Vista Pictures [us]
  • Lauren Film [es] (Spain)
  • Samuel Goldwyn Company [us]
  • Touchstone Pictures
Runtime: USA:124 / UK:125
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Color (Technicolor)
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Certification: USA:PG / UK:U / Netherlands:AL / Portugal:M/6 / Spain:T / Sweden:7 / Australia:G / Germany:U

 

Awards for The Preacher's Wife
Academy Awards, USA
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
1997 Nominated Oscar Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score
Hans Zimmer

 
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
1998 Nominated Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Soundtrack


 
Image Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
1997 Won Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture
Whitney Houston

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Loretta Devine

Nominated Image Award Outstanding Motion Picture


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Jenifer Lewis

Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress
Justin Pierre Edmund

 
YoungStar Awards
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
1997 Nominated YoungStar Award Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film
Justin Pierre Edmund

 


Leonard Maltin Summary for The Preacher's Wife

From Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide.

Appropriately old-fashioned remake of 1947's THE BISHOP'S WIFE concerns a semi-addled angel sent down here to assist a personally and professionally troubled clergyman only to become smitten with the latter's lovely spouse. Not exactly cutting edge for the '90s, and much too leisurely and long, but a notable showcase for its black superstars, and a rare contemporary Christmas movie to recapture the spirit of vintage holiday classics. With Houston as the wife, the gospel numbers have zing.
**½

 

 

Memorable Quotes from The Preacher's Wife

Dudley: You have no idea what the competition is like just to be sent down here.

Rev. Henry Biggs: She wasn't that fat.
Julia Biggs: Policeman saw your mama come walking down the street, he'd yell, "break it up."

Marguerite Coleman: Things haven't changed since Adam, and he gave up one of his ribs so
he'd have somebody to keep things from.

Jeremiah Biggs: Just because you can't see the air doesn't keep you from breathing.
And just because you can't see God doesn't keep you from believing.

Movie References

remake of
Bishop's Wife, The (1947)
references
Lion King, The (1994)
features
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
 

Business Data for The Preacher's Wife

Opening Weekend

$7.649m (USA) (15 December 1996) (1,783 screens)

Gross

ITL 282,213,000 (Italy) (23 February 1997)
JPY 106,139,200 (Japan) (5 January 1997)
JPY 85,635,700 (Japan) (29 December 1996)
JPY 54,112,300 (Japan) (22 December 1996)
£300,320 (UK) (19 January 1997)
$48.093m (USA) (20 April 1997)
$48.049m (USA) (13 April 1997)
$47.966m (USA) (6 April 1997)
$47.792m (USA) (30 March 1997)
$47.557m (USA) (23 March 1997)
$47.207m (USA) (16 March 1997)
$46.618m (USA) (9 March 1997)
$46.122m (USA) (2 March 1997)
$46.083m (USA) (23 February 1997)
$46.016m (USA) (17 February 1997)
$45.862m (USA) (9 February 1997)
$45.596m (USA) (2 February 1997)
$45.053m (USA) (26 January 1997)
$41.985m (USA) (12 January 1997)
$38.655m (USA) (5 January 1997)
$27.942m (USA) (29 December 1996)
$15.287m (USA) (22 December 1996)
$7.649m (USA) (15 December 1996)

Admissions

200,298 (Germany) (26 January 1997)
16,228 (Portugal) (13 March 1997)
9,997 (Portugal) (6 March 1997)

Rentals

$21.65m (USA)

 

Release dates for The Preacher's Wife

Country Date
USA 13 December 1996
Japan 21 December 1996
Germany 16 January 1997
UK 17 January 1997
New Zealand 20 February 1997
South Africa 21 February 1997
Spain 21 February 1997
South Korea 22 February 1997
Taiwan 22 February 1997
Australia 27 February 1997
Portugal 28 February 1997
Estonia 7 March 1997
Turkey 21 March 1997
Brazil 4 April 1997
Singapore 24 April 1997
Argentina 22 May 1997
Mexico 30 May 1997
Belgium 30 October 1997
Sweden 21 November 1997
France 24 December 1997
Hungary 25 December 1997
Finland 29 April 1998 (video premiere)

 

Filming Locations for The Preacher's Wife

Portland, Maine, USA
 
Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
 
Paterson, New Jersey, USA
 
Tarrytown, New York, USA
 
Lake Success, New York, USA
 
Yonkers, New York, USA


 

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