Wholly Moses!
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Main otherScript error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other Wholly Moses! is a 1980 American Biblical spoof film written by Guy Thomas and directed by Gary Weis. Dudley Moore plays Old Testament-era idol maker Herschel, whose life and adventures seem to parallel that of the more famous Moses, all the while being misled to think he is the prophet of God. The film also stars Laraine Newman, James Coco, Paul Sand, Jack Gilford, Dom DeLuise, John Houseman, Madeline Kahn, David Lander, Richard Pryor, and John Ritter.
Plot
Harvey and Zoey, two tourists travelling through Israel, discover an ancient scroll describing the life of Herschel, the man who was almost Moses. Herschel thinks he hears God commanding him to go to Egypt, but actually, he has overheard God giving His instructions to Moses at the burning bush. He tries to obey this command, but Moses always seems to be one step ahead of him. Several other biblical stories, such as Lot and his wife, David and Goliath, and the miracles of Jesus, are also parodied in this story of the life of a man trying to follow the path to God, but somehow always seeming to lose his way.
Cast
- Dudley Moore as Harvey Orchid/Herschel
- Laraine Newman as Zoey/Zerelda
- James Coco as Hyssop
- Paul Sand as Angel Of The Lord
- Jack Gilford as Tailor
- Dom DeLuise as Shadrach
- John Houseman as Archangel
- Madeline Kahn as Sorceress
- David L. Lander as Beggar
- Richard Pryor as Pharaoh
- John Ritter as Devil
- Richard B. Shull as Jethro
- Tanya Boyd as Princess
- Ruth Manning as Landlady
- Walker Edmiston as God (voice)
Reception
The film received poor reviews.
Because of a production hiatus imposed on their television show by WTTW, Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel did not review the film on Sneak Previews upon its initial release. Of the film, Ebert wrote in print: Template:Main other
In another print review, Siskel wrote: Template:Main other
When the film was released on DVD, John Sinnott of DVD Talk echoed Siskel's comparisons: Template:Main other
In a guest review for Entertainment Weekly regarding the same DVD release, and that of another film starring Moore, Crazy People, Ty Burr of The Boston Globe gave the film a D grade, describing the film as a "wholly unfunny comedy".[1]
Five orthodox Jewish groups protested the film for mocking their religion.[2]
Wholly Moses holds a 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on eight reviews.[3]
References
External links
- Template:Trim/ Template:Trim at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:WikidataCheck
- Template:Trim Wholly Moses at Rotten TomatoesTemplate:WikidataCheckTemplate:Main other
- Template:Trim/ Wholly Moses at Box Office Mojo
- Pages with script errors
- 1980 films
- 1980 comedy films
- 1980s parody films
- American comedy films
- Columbia Pictures films
- Films scored by Patrick Williams (composer)
- Films set in ancient Egypt
- Religious comedy films
- Films directed by Gary Weis
- Portrayals of Moses in film
- 1980s English-language films
- 1980s American films