Oh, God! Book II (1980)

God asks a young girl to help spread his word and influence with a slogan.

Director:

Gilbert Cates

Writers:

Josh Greenfeld (story), Josh Greenfeld (screenplay)

Stars:

George Burns, Suzanne Pleshette, David Birney

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Burns	...	God
Suzanne Pleshette	...	Paula Richards
David Birney	...	Don Richards
Louanne	...	Tracy Richards
John Louie	...	Shingo
Conrad Janis	...	Charles Benson, School Principal
Anthony Holland	...	Dr. Jerome Newell
Hugh Downs	...	NBC Newscaster
Joyce Brothers	...	Self on NBC
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Judge Thomas Miller
Marian Mercer	...	Harriet Manley
Bebe Drake	...	Dr. Young, School Psychologist (as Bebe Drake-Massey)
Mari Gorman	...	Mrs. Hudson, Tracy's Teacher
Vernon Weddle	...	Superintendant Jeffrey Hodges
Alma Beltran	...	Rosa, Paula's Housekeeper

Storyline

Second "Oh, God!" movie has God appearing before eleven-year-old Tracy Richards to ask for her help to spread his word and influence over the world which she suggests the slogan "Think God". Naturaly, Tracy's divorced parents Paula and Don think Tracy's just crazy and plot to halt her "heaven-sent" mission to spread God's word.

---

Plot Keywords:

man wears eyeglasses | god as human | exclamation point in title | numbered sequel | religion | 

---

Taglines:

That's right, I made another movie. You know me, I can't stop creating.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

---

Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The studio initially suggested to the producers that John Denver reprise his role as Jerry Landers from the first film continuing the original's story, but the suggestion was ignored, as producers thought it would be funnier and more original if the sequel contained entirely different characters. With the exception of George Burns in the title role, none of the original film's characters appear in this movie or Oh, God! You Devil (1984).

---

Goofs

When Tracey and her father are riding to the restaurant in his Jeep, they are not wearing seat belts. This is obvious when Tracey kisses her father on the cheek. In 1980, there were no mandatory seat belt laws. The first mandatory seat belt law was enacted in New York State in 1984.

---

Quotes

God: [answering Tracy's question about why there is so much suffering in the world] I know this sounds like a cop-out, Tracy, but there's nothing I can do about pain and suffering. It's built into the system.
Tracy Richards: Which You invented.
God: Right. But my problem was I could never figure out how to build anything with just one side to it.
Tracy Richards: One side?
God: You ever see a front without a back?
Tracy Richards: No.
God: A top without a bottom?
Tracy Richards: No.
God: An up without a down?
Tracy Richards: No.
[...]

---

Alternate Versions

At least three scenes appear in the broadcast TV version that do not appear on the DVD release: 1) Tracy buys an ice cream cone from God, who is working as an ice cream vendor in a park. 2) Later in the movie, in the sequence where Tracy is looking for God, she sees an ice cream vendor that she mistakes for God, and the man asks her what flavor she wants. 3) Some dialogue between Tracy and God in which they discuss having a "business lunch". The first scene is referred to by Dr. Newall when he is discussing Tracy with her parents, and then later by Tracy herself at her hearing. The third scene is indirectly referenced by Tracy's father remarking to her that if he were going to "sell the high qualities of a person, he would take that person to lunch."

---

Connections

Features The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

User Reviews

The right slogan and a child shall lead them

Of the creative people who brought us Oh God only George Burns returns for the sequel. Larry Gelbart's adopted script which got an Oscar nominations was a very profound statement on the human condition. This one is a nice PG rated kids film with the Deity himself now using a little girl played by Louanne to spread His word with the good advertising training her father David Birney has given her.

Starting with her schoolmates she gets them to graffiti the world with 'Think God' and the simple idea spreads. The best ideas are often the most simple ones.

Burns puts Louanne in some heavy company with people like Socrates, Gandhi, Lincoln and Martin Luther King. Her sanity is questioned and like John Denver in the original who went before a select group of theologians Louanne's very future at stake.

This is a pleasant remake of a real classic. Burns is as droll as ever. Suzanne Pleshette is fine as Louanne's mother. But it's just a pale imitation of the first.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tracy and Friend

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,439,846, 5 October 1980

Gross USA:

$14,504,277

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,504,277

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1