La Bible ne fait pas le moine

Marty Feldman plays a meek monk who emerges from the monastery he's lived in all his life to get the money needed to save it. He travels to the big city and meets a number of characters who are obsessed with religion, money, or both. This movie manages to show devotion, delusion and hypocrisy with clarity and, yes, grace, while providing plenty of laughs. Blessed are the meek, for they get off easy in this one; the greedy and vicious are not so lucky. Andy Kaufman's performance as Armageddon T. Thunderbird is brilliant, chilling, and not to be missed.

A pretty good film,slow moving. Andy Kaufman steals the show as: Armageddon T Thunderbird a Televangelist.Andy Kaufman rehearsed for this role in London's "Hyde Park" and in New York City.

-May contain spoilers.

Many people only know Marty Feldman as Igor in 1974's "Young Frankenstein". And, I'll admit, unless one does some research, that's all one can really ever know. It's a shame that his other stuff, such as this film, has gone more unnoticed. Anyway...

"In God We Tru$t", from what I've heard and read really did horribly at the box office, and the critics just seemed to rip it to shreds! It's as if they couldn't find anything good about it. Well, I can. I really enjoyed this film. Maybe it wasn't well received because to me, in this movie, Feldman doesn't play his usual silly, comic relief based roles. I mean yes, he's funny in this film, but he has a much more straight role than in his other films, and yeah...he actually acts and emotes. Also, maybe romantic comedies weren't as big then, who knows? Or maybe the press just didn't think Marty Feldman had the right to play a serious, or semi-romantic role. Regardless, I feel that in this film, Feldman gets to showcase his real acting ability, and he's really great in this movie. And there's great support from the likes of Peter Boyle, Andy Kaufman, Richard Pryor, etc...

Looks-wise, Feldman was not the "conventional leading man", but in this film, I feel he makes it work. His "By the way, I think I love you...do you mind?" is delivered in an absolutely convincing and adorable way...

So yes, maybe this film is more a cute, sweet, sort of movie...but why did all of Marty Feldman's films have to be silly, manic, or zany? I think if anything the fact that he did different things shows his versatility. The concept of this film, a monk who really doesn't belong in the monastery, having to go out into the imperfect and corrupt world, falling in love with a prostitute, etc...I mean, it's great. All I can really see that is wrong with it, is simply the fact that unlike most Feldman movies that make one go, "HA HA!" this may make one go..."Awww".

Some deep lines too, such as "It may not be the best of all possible worlds but it's the only one we've got" and "Doubts are about the only certainties I have right now." Maybe I'm not with the popular opinion, but I enjoyed it and give it 8/10.

The late Marty Feldman's most notable directorial effort. The movie features an exceptional portrayal by Andy Kauffman of the Reverend Armageddon...who sports his blond pompador with great authority.

Most notable thing about the movie is the VERY clever writing. Much of the plot action is over the top slapstick, but sometimes the movie gets very sly and smart...especially when Andy is in the spotlight.

Fine funny performances from Peter Boyle and Louise Lasser.

"The meek shall inherit the earth" "Yeah, but only when the strong are through with it."

This thing cracks me up.

I saw it on TV when I was a child.

My parents recorded it and it became a staple of my viewing choices while growing up.

I only wish they would have included the original opening title theme, "Good for God".

I was very disappointed when I finally got a new video copy several years ago.

I was poised for my traditional sing-along only to be presented with a new opening title.

If anybody has the ability to see the original, I would recommend it.

Either way, the movie is good for quite a few laughs.