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Oh, God!

1977 film by Carl Reiner

Oh, God! (1977, stylised onscreen as "Oh, God!") is a comedy film about an unassuming supermarket manager named Jerry Landers who is chosen by God to spread His message despite the scepticism of the media, religious authorities, and Landers's own wife.

I don't like to brag, but if I appeared to you just as God—how I really am, what I really am—, your mind couldn't grasp it.  ~ God
He had a bad memory.  ~ God
Trust me, like it says on the money.  ~ God
You think I don't know what you got?  That was another little goof of mine: shame.  I don't know why I thought we needed shame.  ~ God
I gave you a world and everything in it.  It's all up to you.  …  Free will.  All the choices are yours.  ~ God
Oh, uh…I-I-I-I'm-I must have drove through, uh, a car wash wi-with my windows open?  ~ Jerry Landers
Put down that man—and women persons—their existence means exactly and precisely, not more, not one tiny bit less, just what they think it means, and what I think doesn't count at all.  ~ God
If you find it hard to believe in me, maybe it would help you to know that I believe in you.  ~ God

It inspired two sequels, Oh, God! Book II (1980) and Oh, God! You Devil (1984), both of which featured George Burns reprising his role as God.

Directed by Carl Reiner.  Screenplay by Larry Gelbart.  Based on the novel of the same title by Avery Corman.
It's an almighty laugh! (taglines)

God

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  • I don't like to brag, but if I appeared to you just as God—how I really am, what I really am—, your mind couldn't grasp it.
  • Trust me, like it says on the money.
  • It's a policy of mine: I try not to work with more than one saviour at a time.
  • I don't do miracles.  They're too flashy.  And they upset the natural balance.  …  The last miracle I did was the 1969 Mets. Before that, I think you have to go back to the Red Sea. That was a beauty.
  • I only know what is.  Also, I'm very big on what was.  On what isn't yet, I haven't got a clue.
  • I'll tell ya something never came out:  I made Adam seventeen.  Eve was fifteen—sixteen, tops.  I figured then sixteen, seventeen was middle aged, you know.  Who knew people would live so long?  Trees I figured had the best chance.  Now I realise they were kids—babies.  Young people can't fall from my grace; they're my best things.  Put that down.
  • Jesus was my son.  Buddha was my son.  Muhammad, Moses, you, the man who said there was no room at the inn was my son.
  • Put down that man—and women persons—their existence means exactly and precisely, not more, not one tiny bit less, just what they think it means, and what I think doesn't count at all.
  • If you find it hard to believe in me, maybe it would help you to know that I believe in you.
  • I know how hard it is in these times to have faith. But maybe if you could have the faith to start with, maybe the times would change. You could change them. Think about it. Try. And try not to hurt each other. There's been enough of that. It really gets in the way. I'm a God of very few words and Jerry's already given you mine. However hopeless, helpless, mixed up and scary it all gets, it can work.

Jerry Landers

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  • Oh, uh…I-I-I-I'm-I must have drove through, uh, a car wash wi-with my windows open?
  • Your Honour, I would like to call to the stand the Lord God.

Bobbie Landers

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  • I went to empty the garbage and two people blessed me. And then one of them blessed the garbage. And then he asked me if our children were conceived immaculately.

Dialogue

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Jerry Landers:  Who are you?
God:  [speaking through an intercom]  You read the note.
Jerry Landers:  Who's that, Artie?
God:  God.
Jerry Landers:  Come on, Artie.
God:  No, it's me, God.
Jerry Landers:  God.
God:  Right, God.  God Almighty.  Big G.
God:  [speaking through an intercom]  How often do you talk with God?
Jerry Landers:  Practically never.
God:  [speaking through an intercom]  Well, you're not allowed to see me.
Jerry Landers:  Why not.
God:  Because.
Jerry Landers:  That's no answer.
God:  Sue me.
God:  [speaking through an intercom]  Tobacco was one of my big mistakes.
Jerry Landers:  Mistakes?
God:  You try.  Ostriches were a mistake.  Silly-looking things.  Avocados, made the pit too big.  Like I say, you try.
Jerry Landers:  I don't belong to any church!
God:  [speaking through an intercom]  Neither do I.
God:  [speaking through Jerry's car radio]  Jerry.  [Jerry, surprised, begins fiddling with the nobs]  Do you want me to talk louder?
Jerry Landers:  Oh, God!
God:  I thought you didn't believe in me.
Jerry Landers:  Uh…that's just an expression.
God:  I'm more than that, and I want you to spread the word.
Jerry Landers:  You want me to tell people I've spoken with God?
God:  [speaking through Jerry's car radio]  Yes.
Jerry Landers:  They'll put me away.
God:  [speaking through Jerry's car radio]  You can do it, it's only one message.  Moses had to handle ten.
Jerry Landers:  B-but you gave him tablets.
God:  He had a bad memory.
God:  Come take a look.
Jerry Landers:  I can't.  I'm naked.
God:  You think I don't know what you got?  That was another little goof of mine: shame.  I don't know why I thought we needed shame.
Jerry Landers:  You don't control our lives?!
God:  I gave you a world and everything in it.  It's all up to you.
Jerry Landers:  I don't believe the Red Sea, and I don't believe six days to create the world.
God:  You're right.
Jerry Landers:  I am?
God:  Tell you the honest truth, I thought about it for five days and did the whole job in one.
Jerry Landers:  How can you permit all the suffering that goes on in the world?
God:  Ah, how can I permit the suffering?
Jerry Landers:  Yeah!
God:  I don't permit the suffering, you do.  Free will.  All the choices are yours.
Bobbie Landers:  Oh, God "doesn't care about religion"?
Jerry Landers:  Well, that's what He said.
God:  Last question.
Jerry Landers:  Thank God!
God:  You're welcome.
Court Clerk:  You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
God:  So help me, Me.

Taglines

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Quotes about the film

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  • Carl Reiner's "Oh, God!" is a treasure of a movie:  A sly, civilized, quietly funny speculation on what might happen if God endeavored to present himself in the flesh yet once again to forgetful Man.  He comes back this time looking and talking a great deal like George Burns, an improvement on his earlier cinematic incarnations.  And as his contact on Earth, he selects a common man—John Denver, to the manner born.

Cast

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Oh, God! series
  Oh, God! · Oh, God! Book II · Oh, God! You Devil  
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