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.

While I didn't quite know how to take the film the first time I saw it, after viewing it three different times, and letting a lot of time pass, my ripening sense of humor absolutely adored the hilarious jabs at religion - primarily Christianity - in all its contemporary marketing in the U.S. The bumbling monk from the monastery who just isn't in touch with the real world but must learn how to deal with it; the itinerant preacher in a modified flivver with a steeple and amplified speaker driving around "enticing" money from the crowds he can gather on the street; and the glowing puffery of the TV evangelist - who has more evil behind him than the good he portrays to his public. GREAT HUMOR. Well acted by Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle and Andy Kaufman. Contains a very interesting twist.

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.

This flick (one of the least-seen comedies EVER, I believe) tries to be, at once, a slapstick chase comedy, an offensive religious comedy, a leering sex comedy and an expose of evangelists who exploit the faith of their naive audiences! The results are uneven, but not horrible. Apart from the much-mentioned already Andy Kaufman, there is a standout performance by Louise Lasser, as a warm-hearted hooker. Richard Pryor, as God, is underused, though. (**)

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."