IMDb > Oh, God! (1977)
Oh, God!
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Oh, God! (1977) -- When God appears to an assistant grocery manager as a good natured old man, the Almighty selects him as his messenger for the modern world.

Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   3,572 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 23% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Carl Reiner
Writers:
Avery Corman (novel)
Larry Gelbart (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Oh, God! on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 October 1977 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Fantasy more
Tagline:
"It's true. People have trouble remembering My Words. Moses had such a bad memory I had to give him tablets." more
Plot:
When God appears to an assistant grocery manager as a good natured old man, the Almighty selects him as his messenger for the modern world. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations more
User Comments:
Still Stands Up more (36 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
John Denver ... Jerry Landers

George Burns ... God

Teri Garr ... Bobbie Landers

Donald Pleasence ... Doctor Harmon
Ralph Bellamy ... Sam Raven
William Daniels ... George Summers
Barnard Hughes ... Judge Baker

Paul Sorvino ... Reverend Willie Williams
Barry Sullivan ... Bishop Reardon

Dinah Shore ... Herself
Jeff Corey ... Rabbi Silverstone
George Furth ... Briggs

David Ogden Stiers ... Mr. McCarthy, District Produce Manager
Titos Vandis ... Greek Bishop Markos
Moosie Drier ... Adam Landers
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Additional Details

Runtime:
98 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Filming Locations:
Burbank, California, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
When Jerry is in the hotel room about to give God a quiz, "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961), created by Carl Reiner is playing on the TV. Reiner directed this movie. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: Jerry's body suit visible when he steps out of shower to talk to God. more
Quotes:
Jerry Landers: How can you permit all the suffering that goes on the world?
God: Ah, how can I permit the suffering?
Jerry Landers: Yes!
God: I don't permit the suffering. You do. Free will. All the choices are yours.
Jerry Landers: Choices? What choices?
God: You can love each other, cherish and nurture each other or you can kill each other. Incidentally, "kill" is the word. It's not "waste." If I had wanted "waste" I would have writen "thou shalt not waste." You're doing some very funnny things with words...
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Alice: Oh, George Burns! (#2.10)" (1978) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful.
Still Stands Up, 20 May 2003
Author: Art (Bbennet1@aol.com) from Boston, MA

I was a little apprehensive renting the DVD of this movie after all of these years since its original release, but most of it holds up remarkably well.

On the DVD commentary tract, the makers of the film, looking back on it after 25 years, seem to be equally as surprised. The director, Carl Reiner, points to an eight-minute scene in which it is just Denver and Burns talking in a bathroom. There is no music, no fast cuts, no special effects, and the scene simply holds our attention on its own. Mr. Reiner indicates that there is no way that the scene would be made that way today.

Some scenes are timeless, such as Jerry's first encounter with the Almighty via intercom in the all-white room. Also classic is the infamous scene in the bathroom in which God first reveals himself in the flesh to a humbled and still somewhat disbelieving John Denver.

Unfortunately, not all of the movie holds up as well. Some things, especially exteriors, seem very dated. And even though it is quaint, it is hard to believe that an intelligent and capable husband and wife team would cherish a Supermarket Assistant Manager Job so much. Ah well, it was another time when people still believed in sticking with one company and working their way up through the ranks.

I wish that the film would explore some of the harder questions of religion a little more seriously, but one wonders if the film would collapse if taken out of its sweet, feel-good movie formula in which it is helplessly trapped forever.

If anything, rent it for the performances of the two leads. George Burns, playing the role at 83, is so good, that it is, (not to be cliched,) awesome. However, what is equally as unbelievable is the performance of John Denver in his first and only acting gig. He hits some of his notes perfectly, and it really shows a significant skill and timing to play straight man to a legend like Burns.





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