Oh, God! (film series)

### Oh, God! (1977)

> *"Anybody who could turn Lot's wife into a pillar of salt, incinerate Sodom and Gomorrah and make it rain for forty days and forty nights has got to be fun guy."*
>
>

***Oh, God!*** is a 1977 American Technicolor comedy film starring George Burns and John Denver. Based on a novel of the same name by Avery Corman, the film was directed by Carl Reiner from a screenplay written by Larry Gelbart. The story centres on unassuming supermarket manager Jerry Landers (Denver), chosen by God (Burns) to spread his message despite the skepticism of the media, religious authorities, and Landers' own wife (Teri Garr).

Released October 7, 1977 (US)

The film inspired two sequels, Oh, God! Book II (1980) and Oh, God! You Devil (1984), both of which featured Burns reprising his role, but with no other recurring characters from the original story.

#### Plot Summary

Jerry Landers, a supermarket assistant manager and a good yet non-religious person, suddenly finds a note in the mail one day that grants him an "interview" with God. Thinking it to be a hoax he tosses it away, but when it keeps reappearing he finally gives in. Skeptical at first, he ends up carrying His personal message - that the world can work with what God's given us. [IMDb.com]

#### Notable Cast

* George Burns as God
* John Denver as Jerry Landers
* Teri Garr as Bobbie Landers
* Donald Pleasence as Doctor Harmon
* Ralph Bellamy as Sam Raven
* William Daniels as George Summers
* Barnard Hughes as Judge Baker
* Paul Sorvino as Reverend Willie Williams
* Barry Sullivan as Bishop Reardon

### Oh, God! Book II (1980)

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

***Oh, God! Book II*** is a 1980 American comedy film and a sequel to the 1977 film Oh, God!. It was directed by Gilbert Cates, and stars George Burns, Suzanne Pleshette, David Birney and Louanne Sirota. Joyce Brothers and Hugh Downs also made cameo appearances in the film.

Oh, God! Book II was followed by Oh, God! You Devil in 1984. Burns was the only cast member who appeared in more than one of the films.

Released October 3, 1980 (US)

#### Plot Summary

In this sequel, God asks the help of 11-year-old Tracy Richards (Sirota) to help promote Himself. Tracy creates the slogan "Think God" and soon has her friends spreading the message by posters, graffiti and other ways. But Tracy's parents and psychiatrists think the young girl is just insane. God is the only one that can straighten out the situation. One of the memorable scenes showed God riding a motorcycle, with Tracy riding in the sidecar, where there were scenes that showed nobody on the motorcycle, which baffled the two policemen.

#### Notable Cast

* George Burns ... God
* Suzanne Pleshette ... Paula Richards
* David Birney ... Don Richards
* Louanne Sirota ... Tracy Richards
* Wilfrid Hyde-White ... Judge Thomas Miller
* Conrad Janis ... Charles Benson, School Principal

### Oh, God! You Devil (1984)

> *"That's funny, they both look like George Burns. He meets his match in one hot comedy."*
>
>

***Oh, God! You Devil*** is a 1984 American comedy film starring George Burns, Ted Wass, Ron Silver and Roxanne Hart. Directed by Paul Bogart and produced by Robert M. Sherman. The screenplay is by Andrew Bergman. Oh, God! You Devil is the third and final instalment in the Oh, God! film series following Oh, God! (1977) and Oh, God! Book II (1980), based on the novel of the same title by Avery Corman.

George Burns received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance.

Released November 9, 1984 (US)

#### Plot Summary

George Burns is back as God, but oops, here he is as Satan, too. A young rock star (Wass) is ready to sell his soul to Satan, and Satan is all too happy to oblige. Oops! Seems the fellow was watched over by God as a baby, so now the almighty and his nemesis have to duke it out over the soul. [IMDb.com]

#### Notable Cast

* George Burns as God and the Devil (Harry O. Tophet)
* Ted Wass as Bobby Shelton
* Ron Silver as Gary Frantz
* Roxanne Hart as Wendy Shelton
* Robert Picardo as Joe Ortiz
* James Cromwell as Priest