They work with Reiner, and with Larry Gelbart's screenplay, to create a movie that takes a really risky comic gamble, and wins. John Denver, too, is well-cast: Sincere, believable, with that face so open and goofy. And he has such quiet authority, such wonderfully understated humor, such presence. God, as Burns, recalls some of his miracles (the 1969 Mets), some of his mistakes (tobacco, giraffes, and avocados - "I made the seeds too big"), and some common misconceptions about himself ("To tell you the truth, I spent the first five days thinking and created everything on the sixth"). "I took this form," God explains, "because if I showed myself to you as I am, you wouldn't be able to comprehend me." He chose his form well. Reiner is superb at establishing the right tone for this very difficult material, and the casting of George Burns as God is an inspiration. As an idea, indeed, "Oh, God!" must have seemed almost impossibly supplied with ways to go wrong. So there was reason to anticipate a showdown again this time between the sacred and the profane. And that we should try being a little nicer to one another.Ĭarl Reiner's credits as a director include the immortal " Where's Poppa?" (1970), a masterpiece of comic bad taste. That we have everything here on Earth that we need to bring a happy ending to our story.
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You're better than some people, and worse than others, but you came across the bridge at the right time." The message God wants to remind his creatures of is a simple one: That things can turn out all right, although they will not necessarily or automatically do so. Unable to gain any professional momentum as a musician, Bobby Shelton (Ted Wass) casually says he would be willing to sell his soul for success. Why did he pick Denver? "You're like the lady who's the millionth person across the bridge and gets to meet the governor. God is careful, throughout the movie, to make his reasoning clear. Once Denver gets over his initial astonishment at being selected as God's spokesman, he makes a good job of it, justifying God's faith in the common man, which he, after all, put into production. After traveling and living in numerous locations while growing up in his military family, Denver began his music. Deeds, and those other Capra heroes who prevailed because they were decent, honest, and true. (Decem October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer-songwriter, actor, activist, and humanitarian whose greatest commercial success was as a solo singer. The John Denver character becomes a contemporary version of Mr. We strive for accuracy and fairness.It also makes you feel good, in the way some of the Frank Capra comedies did. Together they had one child, Jesse Bell.Ī longtime aviator, Denver died on October 12, 1997, when the plane that he was piloting went down over Monterey Bay, California, killing him instantly. Denver was married to Cassandra Delaney from 1988 to 1991. Together they adopted two children, Zachary and Anna Kate, before their divorce in 1983.
In 1967, Denver married Anne Marie Martell, a psychotherapist. Also in 1975, he was named the Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year. Awards and DeathĪmong numerous awards and recognition for his musical achievements, he received the Top Male Recording Artist Award from Record World magazine for 1974-75. In 1993, he won the Albert Schweitzer Music Award for humanitarian efforts. That same year, he won an additional six awards for Rocky Mountain Reunion, his documentary about endangered species. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan presented Denver with the Presidential World Without Hunger Award. In 1965, after traveling to New York City and successfully auditioning for the Chad Mitchell Trio, he began performing with the group until 1968. He attended Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) from 1961-64, but dropped out before completing his studies. As a teenager, Denver received his first guitar, a 1910 Gibson acoustic, as a gift from his grandmother. Once convinced, Jerry has a hard time convincing his family and the rest of the world that he hasnt gone insane. Singer-songwriter John Denver was born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., on December 31, 1943, in Roswell, New Mexico, to parents Henry John and Erma. Oh God (DVD) George Burns stars as God when He comes to Earth, business card in hand, but has a hard time convincing his chosen messenger Jerry Landers (John Denver), an assistant manager of a local supermarket, that he is really God. A longtime aviator, he died in a plane crash in 1997. Denver was an activist for environmental causes and founded the World Hunger Project. Peter, Paul and Mary recorded his "Leaving on a Jet Plane" in 1967 and his, "Rocky Mountain High," became an official song of the state of Colorado.
John Denver was a folk music singer-songwriter who had numerous hits including "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Rocky Mountain High." Who Was John Denver?Īfter dropping out of college, John Denver traveled to New York City and began his music career.