Oh, God! (1977)
Trivia
Briefly ended Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)'s fifteen-week reign at the number one spot at the box office in October of 1977, before Star Wars returned to the top spot the following week.
According to screenwriter Larry Gelbart, director Carl Reiner initially envisioned his oft-partner Mel Brooks playing God, and Woody Allen playing Jerry Landers.
DIRECTOR CAMEO (Carl Reiner): As Dinah's Guest.
When Jerry is in the hotel room about to give God a quiz, The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961), is playing on the television. Director Carl Reiner created and acted in The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961).
The first of two times that Teri Garr plays a woman who is married to a man who is sane, but considered crazy because of something he saw. The other being Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).
Though George Burns was given top billing in the opening titles and all publicity, John Denver was given top billing on the end credit roll.
The first of three "Oh, God!" movies starring George Burns.
Included among the American Film Institute's 2000 list of the 500 movies nominated for the Top 100 Funniest American Movies.
Most of Donald Pleasence's role was cut from the final film. Hence, he is fourth-billed, despite being in only one scene and having very little dialogue.
Throughout all three movies in the series, all of the main characters have something in common: a background in music. John Denver was a famous folk and country singer. Louanne got her start with the starring role in a musical theater production of Annie. Ted Wass also began his career with stage musicals. Even George Burns himself got his start as a street performer and eventually vaudeville.
Even though George Burns was given top billing in the opening credits, and you hear from him after ten minutes into the film; you don't see him however physically until a half an hour after the opening credits.
The film's release date was October 7, 1977 which, in America & Canada would be abbreviated as 10/07/77, so the last three digits would read "777". This is another rift on The Omen; which this movie is meant to, in a sense, parody, contrast, and also neutralize. The Omen was released on the sixth day of the sixth of 76: 666. This is meant to be released on 777 which is a holy number by contrast.
George Burns as God knocks at Suite 2700 to help Jerry Landers with his test questions, saying, 'They forgot the ketchup.' George Burns was a great fan of ketchup, and Gracie Allen made sure a bowl of ketchup was set by his plate at dinner. Source: Gracie: A Love Story by George Burns.
In a way, The EXORCIST can be seen as the flip side of OH GOOD BOOK TWO. The Exorcist is a movie about a little girl overtaken by the Devil, or a demon, with the purpose to spread the word that Satan is gaining power, will be destroying the world soon, and to make people despair, etc. In Oh Good Book Two the little girl is overtaken by the presence of God to spread his message of hope, to inspire people. In Oh God Book Two George Burns even says to the girl, Tracie, (Played by LuANNE), "I don't like to mess with kids. There are so many movies about kids going through so much trouble, having so much stuff happen to them... Terrible things. I figure kids have enough to worry about. I don't need to mess with them to spread my word." This is a direct reference to how the demon terrorizes Linda Blair in The Exorcist, and how the Oh God movies are a response to that, in a sense.
Barry Sullivan (who plays Bishop Reardon) was born on August 29, the fictional date of Judgment Day from Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). The irony is that someone born on "Judgment Day" plays a clergyman.
Filmed five days after M*A*S*H: Hawk's Nightmare (1976)(#5.13;December 21, 1976) aired. David Ogden Stiers who appears in this film as Jerry Landers' boss starred as Major Charles Emerson Winchester in M*A*S*H* starting with M*A*S*H: Fade Out, Fade In (1977)(#6.1; September 20, 1977). Stiers would play many manager type roles in the 70s. He did in The Charlie's Angels pilot; he played a recurring role as a manager on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and he plays a manager in this movie; all very similar parts.
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.
The ending where God comes in and testifies on Jerry's behalf is like the ending of 'Miracle on 34th Street' when Santa Claus testifies in the court.
