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 | Evangelist | Supermarket | Miracle | Divine Faith

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

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:

According to screenwriter Larry Gelbart, Carl Reiner initially envisioned his oft-partner Mel Brooks playing God, and Woody Allen playing Jerry Landers.

Goofs:

Continuity: Location of shaving cream while shaving.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Alice: Oh, George Burns! (#2.10)" (1978)

30 years later,"Oh,God!" is still relevant. (Even if the fashions aren't)

One of the benefits of posting from a library,is that some of the movies I talk about are right downstairs from the PC room. This movie is one of them and I had not seen it in over a decade at the very least. I grew up seeing this movie on TV and have always liked everything about it.

First thing would of course be it's overall message. That our world can work if we (the nations of the world and individuals who occupy them)learn to work together for the common cause. Not just the cause of world peace but of just simply getting along together and to stop taking the world we live in for granted.

In the film George Burns,as God,sees the world he created being smothered by a brown cloud of pollution,his rivers & oceans being poisoned by either chemical dumping or by humans mis-using them as a toilet or trash can. He also talks about how people go around saying he never existed in the first place.

(Note: Believing in God has to come from undeniable,unyielding feeling of faith by an individual,which is part of "free will".)

That said,the second thing is the story of how God chooses Jerry (John Denver) as his modern day Moses by sending him an invitation in the mail. Casting him as the recipient of this task was a great move because John looks like someone you'd see on the street (if he hadn't been famous).

Jerry's home and work and entire life are turned upside down by his declaration that he has seen and talked directly to God. Even people in religious organizations think he's a lunatic. Terri Garr is very effective as his loving but distressed wife who just wants her husband to stop it all and be the way he was.

The sight gags are good in making us believe this really is God Jerry is speaking too. The 27th floor on a ten story building,God on the car radio & the rain in Jerry's (seen to be believed) Pacer and God's appearance,in coming to Jerry's aid,in the courtroom near the end of the movie.

Pretty simple special effects but God most likely (as Burns said) doesn't need flash. This film doesn't either,it may be filmed in simple form but that's the idea here. The message is a simple but important one and you don't need a million dollar budget to send it out.

Now here in 2007,kind of sad to say,this is still the exact same message we still need to hear. Basically,if anything,to remind ourselves how human we are and how easily it all could be gone.

It may be set in 1977 and the Pacer car and fashions outdated but the story & message are timeless. I just hope one day,the message wont necessarily be needed.

Ten stars for all of it(including the great extra of commentaries by Terri Garr,Lary Gelbart & Carl Reiner. (END)