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.

Director:

Carl Reiner

Writers:

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

Stars:

John Denver, George Burns, Teri Garr

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations.

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	...	Dinah Shore
Jeff Corey	...	Rabbi Silverstone
George Furth	...	Briggs
David Ogden Stiers	...	Mr. McCarthy
Titos Vandis	...	Greek Bishop Markos
Moosie Drier	...	Adam Landers

Storyline

Married to Bobbie Landers with two pre-teen children, Adam and Becky, living in Tarzana, California. Mild-mannered Jerry Landers is a hard working Assistant Manager at a Food World supermarket outlet. He's always trying to do his best at his job. But his generally uneventful life takes a turn when he receives a hand delivered note in the mail to attend an interview with God. Believing it a gag from his friend Artie Coogan, Jerry decides to go to the interview based on circumstances which compel him to do so. Based on further circumstances of the interview, Jerry, despite not being a religious person, ultimately does believe that who he meets with, initially only a voice, is indeed God, who eventually does show himself in a physical form to Jerry. God wants Jerry to be his messenger, much like a present day Moses, to pass along to the human race that "he" has provided all the necessary components of a successful existence, and it is up to the human race to do with those components as ...

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Plot Keywords:

reference to louis pasteur | speaker phone | exclamation point in title | religious fanatic | card trick | 

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Taglines:

It's an almighty laugh!

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Terri Garr plays two very similar parts in 1977 movies. In both she is the skeptical housewife of a husband who is touched by a supernatural presence, and married to a man the world thinks is crazy. In this movie she winds up being supportive; in Close Encounters, the other movie, she winds up leaving him.

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Goofs

When Jerry (John Denver) tells his wife (Terri Garr) about the interview with God, she serves him a full bowl of chicken soup, which she sets on the table. When he sits the first time, the soup is there; then he gets up to pace and when he returns to the table, the bowl is gone. The next shot is over Jerry's shoulder and he eats 3 spoons of soup. The camera switches back to a front shot and the bowl is empty.

Jerry gets up, and then sits down in a different chair. He then moves the bowl of soup in front of him.

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Quotes

George Summers: What is this seein' God crap all about?
Jerry Landers: Well, it's not crap, Mr. Summers. I've seen him.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Steve Guttenberg/The Pretenders (1986)

User Reviews

I'd like to think God is just like George Burns in this movie

A very good movie with a nice message. It's not preachy, overly religious or anti-religious. It's more inspirational and shouldn't offend anyone.

George Burns is terrific as God taking the form of a kind old man. God (Burns) asks a man (John Denver) in the 1970s to relay His message to the world: that, despite the tough times, "it can work" if people get their act together. The man is put in the unenviable position of trying to convince people that he really is God's messenger. In the end, it's not about politics or who's right and who's wrong; it's a friendly reminder that we shape the world in which we live, and we can make it good again.

Carl Reiner's film seems like a fairly realistic (if comical) portrayal of the difficulties that would arise if God appeared to only one man in today's modern society. There's a satirical side to it. But the God in this film isn't concerned with who believes and who doesn't. He realizes He can't win over everybody, but He remains in good humor. He watches over the universe in a hands-off manner.

Personally I'm not very religious, but Burns is the kind of God I'd like. Great casting.

In terms of entertainment value, OH, GOD! might not be the *best* choice for a movie night, but I enjoyed it. I wouldn't want to watch it over and over again, but it's nice to check out once every so often. And I think it's definitely worth seeing once.

7/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

7 October 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Oh, God!

Filming Locations:

111 North Hope Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,040,920, 9 October 1977

Gross USA:

$41,687,243

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$41,687,243

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1