Oh, God! (1977)

Director:

Carl Reiner

Writers:

Larry Gelbart (screenplay)
Avery Corman (based on the novel by)

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:

Supermarket | Evangelist | God As Human | Depiction Of God | Speaker Phone

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 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
Rachel Longaker	...	Becky Landers
Jerry Dunphy	...	Himself
Mario Machado	...	TV Reporter
Connie Sawyer	...	Mrs. Green (Store Customer)
Jane Lambert	...	Mrs. Levin (Store Customer)
Kres Mersky	...	Check-out Girl
Byron Paul	...	TV Engineer
Hector Morales	...	Room Service Waiter
Wonderful Smith	...	Court Clerk
Murphy Dunne	...	Court Stenographer
Boyd Bodwell	...	Religious Fanatic
Zane Buzby	...	Girl
Dennis Kort	...	Norman, Store Clerk
Bob McClurg	...	Mechanic
Celeste Cartier	...	2nd Check-out Girl
Carl Reiner	...	Dinah's Guest
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Ashton	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Directed by
Carl Reiner

Writing credits
Larry Gelbart		(screenplay)
Avery Corman		(based on the novel by)

Produced by
Jerry Weintraub	....	producer

Original Music by
Jack Elliott

Cinematography by
Victor J. Kemper

Film Editing by
Bud Molin

Casting by
Dianne Crittenden

Art Direction by
Jack Senter

Set Decoration by
Stuart A. Reiss		(as Stuart Reiss)

Makeup Department
Ruby Ford	....	hair stylist
Leo Lotito Jr.	....	makeup artist (as Leo Lotito)

Production Management
Howard Roessel	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Birnbaum	....	assistant director (as Bob Birnbaum)
Victor Hsu	....	second assistant director
David Nicksay	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Edward Alona	....	property master (as Eddie Alona)
William Ladd Skinner	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Wayne Artman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Don Cahn	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jim Cook	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Wagner	....	sound mixer

Stunts
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt double: John Denver
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ray De La Motte	....	camera operator
Richard Hart	....	gaffer (as Richard T. Hart)
Carl Manoogian	....	key grip
Robert Marta	....	assistant camera
Ed Natividad	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael J. Harte	....	wardrobe
Nancy McArdle	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Ron Spang	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer

Production Companies

• Warner Bros

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1977) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1979) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Warner Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Ed Norton Music Service  music editing
• Pacific Title  titles
• Solters & Digney  publicity
• Stevens Editorial  sound effects

Also Known As:

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 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

La Fayette Park - 601 South La Fayette Park Place, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

When Jerry is in the hotel room about to give God a quiz, "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961), is playing on the TV. Carl Reiner -- the director of this movie -- created "The Dick Van Dyke Show".

Goofs:

Continuity: When God makes it rain in Jerry's car, shots taken from Jerry's left show his hair dry, but shots taken from his right show his hair soaking wet. These shots alternate several times, always with the same inconsistency.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Jerry Landers:Uh, sometimes, uh, now and then, couldn't we just talk?
God:I'll tell you what. You talk, I'll listen.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Parker Lewis Can't Lose: Rent-A-Kube (#1.14)" (1990)

Do they make em like that anymore?

I was reminded of this wonderful gem of a movie the other night when I watched Bruce Almighty again with some friends. That's been a favorite of mine in these last few years. Anyway it reminded me a little of Oh God for obvious reasons, the references to God, and the thought provoking quality mixed with wit and intelligent comedy.

Oh God was one of my favorite comedies growing up. It definitely is the kind of comedy that doesn't get made anymore unfortunately. I have yet to read the other reviews of this and hope to find some tens besides me, because while this was by and large a comedy, it was a delightful one and one that still lingers in my thoughts which is obviously why I decided to do a review. Comedies, when they are perfectly made, deserve 10's.

This is a 10 and one of the most thought provoking and beautiful comedies ever made. I am sure there are many growing up now, whole hosts of people, who have yet to discover this and I hope they do, particularly those who are fans of Bruce Almighty and are not aware of this wonderful movie from the 70's.

And not being a sequel person, I was a bit surprised that the sequel to this was just as good. My vote is 10 of 10 for excellent.