Oh, God! (1977)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Carl Reiner

Writers:

Avery Corman (novel)
Larry Gelbart (writer)

Release Date:

7 October 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy

Tagline:

"It's true. People have trouble remembering My Words. Moses had such a bad memory I had to give him tablets."

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.

Plot Keywords:

God | Supermarket | Evangelist | Miracles | Newspaper

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

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

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Finland:S | Iceland:L | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

In his autobiography, Larry Gelbart said he initially envisioned two of his old "Caesar's Hour" co-writers, 'Mel Brooks (I)' and Woody Allen, in the parts eventually played by, respectively, George Burns and John Denver.

Goofs:

Continuity: Location of shaving cream while shaving.

Quotes:

God: I know how hard it is in these times to have faith. But maybe if you could have the faith to start there, maybe the times would change. You could change them. Think about it. Try. And try not to hurt each other. There's been enough of that. It really gets in the way. I'm a God of very few words and Jerry's already given you mine. However hopeless, helpless, mixed up and scary it all gets, it can work. If you find it hard to believe in me, maybe it would help you to know that I believe in you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "I Love the '70s: Volume 2" (2006)

Good writing and a great cast

I saw this during it's initial theatrical release but I don't what would have caused me to go to see it. I guess I always liked those fantasy films that were popular from the 1940's and this seemed to fall in that genre. I did enjoy it and I've seen it a couple times on television since. This is probably the best of the Carl Reiner directed films of his that I've seen. I never saw The comic or Where's Poppa but his four comedies that stared Steve Martin were forgettable. Martin alone saved them from being total loses. I've seen glimpses of Reiner's other films on television before I switched channels but Oh God has a great cast and some great writing from Larry Gelbart. Gelbart of course is legendary as a writer and developer coming from Sid Ceasars Show of Shows in the 50's, writing A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Tootsie and the television series M*A*S*H. This screenplay is adapted from the novel by Avery Corman who also wrote Kramer vs. Kramer, earned Gelbart an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay and a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Adaptation. John Denver stars as a supermarket manager who is visited by God to spread the word that things can work for mankind on earth. God is played by George Burns who appears to Denver in the form of a casually dressed old man, kind of like George Burns on vacation. Burns while not being quite old enough to actually be God comes close enough. In the large supporting cast are a great ensemble of actors in Teri Garr, Ralph Bellamy, Paul Sorvino, Barnard Hughes, Barry Sullivan, Donald Pleasence, Dinah Shore, David Ogden Stiers and William Daniels. An interesting group of actors where the careers of some were on their way up while others were on their way down. Denver himself, though remaining a recording artist never had another role this big on film and would in fact over the next 20 years only make two more theatrical films and four made-for-TV movies. Victor J. Kemper is the film's cinematographer. He was hot property in the 70's with his work on the film's The Hospital, They Might Be Giants, The Candidate, The Eyes of Laura Mars, Magic, Dog Day Afternoon and Oh God. He would never again match on film the success he enjoyed in that decade. This is a good movie and worth a look and I would give it a 7.5 out of 10.