The Oh, God! film series consists of American comedy movies, which explore Christianity in a contemporary setting. The plot, which is based on the novel of the same name by Avery Corman, centers around various characters as they encounter God and are asked to share their experiences with society, only for their sanity to be questioned by society. The movies star George Burns in the recurring role of the Supreme Being, and feature a different supporting cast in each installment.
| Oh, God! | |
|---|---|
 Official film series logo | |
| Based on | Oh, God! by Avery Corman |
| Starring |
|
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date | 1977-1984 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $87,104,323 (Total of 3 films)[1][2][3] |
Upon the films' release, the series overall was met with mixed reception. The original received critical acknowledgement, with its box office performance making the movie a surprise hit.[1] Its success overshadowed the performance of its sequel however, as the second movie was deemed by critics as inferior,[4][5] while its financial gains were also lower than expected.[2] The third installment, however, received warmer reception from critics who decided that though it wasn't as good as the first movie it was better than the second,[6][7] which was also reflected in its monetary performance.[3] Christian response to the premise of the series ranged between questioning the intentions of the product,[8] to praising the overall message for its audiences through the lens of contemporary comedy.[9][10][11][12]
The Oh, God! films were later released in a Blu-ray collection through Shout! Factory's Shout Select label.[13]
Origin
editThe original novel, Oh, God! by Avery Corman, serves as the basic premise for the film series, and was originally published by Bantam Books on January 1, 1971. With a plot similar to the movies, the story follows a struggling journalist who receives an offer in the mail to interview God. Though he initially believes this invitation to be a hoax, he pursues his curiosity and is pleasantly surprised to find the opportunity legitimate. Through a series of comedic circumstances, the value of Christianity in the modern-world is discussed, while God reveals that through various forms he is always present in mankind's lives.[14][15][16]
Film
edit| Film | U.S. release date |
Director | Screenwriter(s) | Story | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oh, God! | October 7, 1977 | Carl Reiner | Larry Gelbart | Jerry Weintraub | |
| Oh, God! Book II | October 3, 1980 | Gilbert Cates | Josh Greenfeld and Hal Goldman and Fred S. Fox and Seaman Jacobs and Melissa Miller |
Josh Greenfeld | Gilbert Cates |
| Oh, God! You Devil | November 7, 1984 | Paul Bogart | Andrew Bergman | Robert M. Sherman | |
Oh, God! (1977)
editJerry Landers works tirelessly as the assistant manager at a local supermarket. One day while he works, God appears to him in the form of an unsuspecting elderly man, and informs Jerry that after repeated attempts of contact the former has been chosen become a modern-day messenger in the vein of Moses from the Old Testament era of The Bible. Though initially reluctant, Jerry ultimately agrees to the assignment of telling the world about the visit from the Almighty Creator of all things. As Jerry begins to tell the people he comes into however, including his wife Bobbie, he discovers to his dismay that his sanity comes into question. Continuing to receive visits from God and asked to convey additional messages, Jerry continues to fulfill his calling as best as he can. After conducting an interview with a religious report for the Los Angeles Times, Jerry finds himself confronted with legal action and must prove himself in a court of law that he is innocent of the accusations from his accusers. Jerry prays earnestly that God will be with him throughout the trial.[17][18]
Oh, God! Book II (1980)
editOne day while a child named Tracy Richards is at a restaurant with her parents, she meets God in the form of an elderly man. Excited by her encounter and deeply impressed by the interaction she had, Tracy determines to start an advertisement campaign with the slogan of "Think God" spread throughout her city. While her intentions are for all of society to focus on God and shift their daily focus towards spiritual influences of their religion, she is surprised to receive a negative response from adults around her who believe that as a child she is inexperienced and doesn't understand life as they do. Refusing to state that her experience was a figment of her imagination, her divorced parents Don and Paula become concerned for her mental state and take her to see a doctor. As a panel of medical experts led by the psychiatrist Dr. Jerome Newell gives their extreme diagnosis and her parents pray for her, divine intervention comes to her aid when God reenters her life.[4][5]
Oh, God! You Devil (1984)
editBobby Shelton is an amateur musician, who despite every effort of his own can't attain the professional success that he and his family needs. One day after a particularly discouraging performance, he offhandedly states that he would sell his soul to be in a better situation. Later while performing at a client's wedding, Shelton is approached with a proposition by a man who introduces himself as a producer named Harry O. Tophet. Tophet states that Bobby will have seven years of fame and stardom, if he will sign a contract which sells his eternal destiny. Desperate to make ends meet Shelton signs the document, but immediately realizes his mistake as his signature transforms into something different the man reveals that he is actually the devil Satan. The devil explains that through his demonic powers Bobby Shelton is now a world renown rockstar named Billy Wayne, a celebrity he is familiar with. As he initially enjoys the success he has attained Shelton is horrified to discover that he and Wayne have traded lives when his wife, and his children do not recognize him. Learning that prior to these events, Wendy had become pregnant with a baby, Shelton calls out to a higher power through a prayer. Immediately approached by God in the form of an elderly man, Shelton is initially hesitant to find a physical resemblance of this form and the previously presented Tophet. Learning through a parable that he must be weary of those around him that may be wolves in sheep's clothing, Shelton is relieved that God has come to save his soul. As the devil reappears to keep the contract intact however, God agrees to a climatic poker game where the deceived man's eternal destiny is at stake.[19][6][20][7]
Main cast and characters
editThis section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.
- An empty grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
- V indicates a voice-only role.
| Character | Films | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Oh, God! | Oh, God! Book II | Oh, God! You Devil | |
| God | George Burns | ||
| the Devil "Harry O. Tophet" |
George Burns | ||
| Jerry Landers | John Denver | ||
| Bobbi Landers | Teri Garr | ||
| Adam Landers | Moosie Drier | ||
| Becky Landers | Rachel Longaker | ||
| Dr. Harmon | Donald Pleasence | ||
| Sam Raven | Ralph Bellamy | ||
| George Summers | William Daniels | ||
| Judge Baker | Barnard Hughes | ||
| Tracy Richards | Louanne Sirota | ||
| Don Richards | David Birney | ||
| Paula Richards | Suzanne Pleshette | ||
| Judge Thomas Miller | Wilfrid Hyde-White | ||
| Charles Benson | Conrad Janis | ||
| Dr. Barnes | Hans Conried | ||
| Bobby Shelton "Billy Wayne" |
Ted Wass | ||
| Wendy Shelton | Roxanne Hart | ||
| Bobby's daughter | Brandy Gold | ||
| Arthur Shelton | John Doolittle | ||
| Bea Shelton | Julie Lloyd | ||
| Billy Wayne "Bobby Shelton" |
Robert Desiderio | ||
| Charlie Gray | Eugene Roche | ||
Additional crew and production details
edit| Title | Crew/Detail | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composer | Cinematographer | Editor | Production companies |
Distributing company |
Running time | ||
| Oh, God! | Jack Elliott | Victor J. Kemper | Bud Molin | Warner Bros. Pictures | Warner Bros. | 1 hr 38 mins | |
| Oh, God! Book II | Charles Fox | Ralph Woolsey | Peter E. Berger | 1 hr 34 mins | |||
| Oh, God! You Devil | David Shire | King Baggot | Andy Zall | 1 hr 37 mins | |||
Reception
editBox office and financial performance
edit| Film | Box office gross | Box office ranking | Total home video sales |
Worldwide gross total income |
Budget | Worldwide net total income |
Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Other territories | Worldwide | All-time North America |
All-time worldwide | ||||||
| Oh, God! | $51,061,196 | — | $51,061,196 | #1,830 | #3,033 | Information not publicly available | >$51,061,196 | $2,100,000 | >$48,961,196 | [1][21][22] |
| Oh, God! Book II | $14,504,277 | — | $14,504,277 | #4,582 | #6,464 | Information not publicly available | >$14,504,277 | Information not publicly available | ≤$14,504,277 | [2][23] |
| Oh, God! You Devil | $21,538,850 | — | $21,538,850 | #3,665 | #5,254 | Information not publicly available | >$21,538,850 | Information not publicly available | ≤$21,538,850 | [3][24] |
| Totals | $87,104,323 | — | $87,104,323 | x̄ #6,718 | x̄ #4,917 | >$0 | >$87,104,323 | >$2,100,000 | ≤$28,334,774 | |
Critical and public response
edit| Title | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|
| Oh, God! | 75% (28 reviews)[25] | 56/100 (9 reviews)[26] |
| Oh, God! Book II | 43% (7 reviews)[27] | 35/100 (6 reviews)[28] |
| Oh, God! You Devil | 36% (11 reviews)[29] | 49/100 (7 reviews)[30] |
References
edit- ^ a b c "Oh, God! (1977)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Oh, God! Book II (1980)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Oh, God! You Devil (1984)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Variety staff (December 31, 1979). "Oh, God! Book II". Variety. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
Absence this time of John Denver, his chemistry with lead George Burns, and the original's solid comedy material lead to a bland, unstimulating film.
- ^ a b Ebert, Roger (January 1, 1980). "Oh, God! Book II". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
...if the rest of the movie had been equally willing to take chances with its approach, Book II could have been worth seeing.
- ^ a b Ebert, Roger (July 3, 2024). "Roger Ebert Reviews Oh God You Devil (1984) 😈😈: A Heavenly Comedy - Movie Review". The Official Roger Ebert. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ a b Maslin, Janet (November 9, 1984). "MOVIES: BURNS IN 'OH GOD! YOU DEVIL'". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
The latest film in the Oh God! series is at least as commendable for what it doesn't have - John Denver - as for what it does. George Burns goes it alone in Oh God! You Devil, and it turns out that he's better off that way.
- ^ Siddons, Philip A. (December 30, 1977). "Refiner's Fire: 'Oh, God!' Oh, Carl Reiner!". Christianity Today. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
Oh, God!, a new Carl Reiner film, has received wide publicity and is creative enough to attract a wide audience. But its theological statements leave me uneasy.
- ^ McNulty, Ed (June 12, 2015). "Oh, God! (1977)". Read the Spirit: Visual Parables. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
Oh, God! reminds us that although 'faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen'...
- ^ Brussat, Frederic & Mary Ann Brussat (2006). "Oh, God!". Spirituality & Practice. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
Salutes human responsibility for making the world a better place and takes justifiable pot shots at holier-than-thou hotshots.
- ^ Brussat, Frederic & Mary Ann Brussat (2006). "Oh, God! Book II". Spirtuality & Practice. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
...offers plenty of food for thought on the nature of God, the meaning of faith, the limits of psychiatry, and the importance of story-telling.
- ^ Brussat, Frederic & Mary Ann Brussat (2006). "Oh, God! Book II: A Values & Visions Guide". Spirituality & Practice. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ "The Oh God! Collection". Shout! Factory. Shout! Studios. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ "Oh, God!". GoodReads. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ "Oh, God!". Open Road Media. 5 February 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ "Oh, God! by Avery Corman". Kirkus Reviews. Simon & Schuster. October 1, 1971. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (January 1, 1977). "Oh, God!". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (October 8, 1977). "The Screen: 'Oh, God!' is a Joke". The New York Times.
Oh, God! is either a one-joke movie or a two, depending upon how you feel about John Denver's acting debut.
- ^ Variety staff (December 31, 1983). "Oh, God! You Devil". Variety. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
After two turns as an amusing Supreme Being, George Burns proves to be an equally diverting demon in Oh God! You Devil. Director Paul Bogart and writer Andrew Bergman have let Burns loose as Lucifer and relegated Burns as God to little more than a cameo. ...By the time Burns as God heeds Wass' plea for salvation, it's almost too much for even Him to iron out satisfactorily.
- ^ "Oh God! You Devil! - Movie Review". University of California, Los Angeles. UCLA.edu. 1984. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
Well, *I* didn't ask for another Oh God movie, but someone must have, because here it is ...your enjoyment of the film will depend entirely on how charming you find George Burns, and how much nonsense you're willing to sit through to get to him. I sort of like George Burns, so I almost enjoyed the film. Oh! God You Devil is a real good film to catch on cable TV when you have nothing better to do.
- ^ "Oh, God! (1977)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Oh, God! (1977)". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Oh, God! Book II (1980)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ "Oh God, You Devil! (1984)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ "Oh, God!". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Oh, God!". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Oh, God! Book II". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Oh, God! Book II". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Oh, God! You Devil". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Oh, God! You Devil". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 29, 2024.