On this day June 13, 1980, Wholly Moses premiered in theaters. Directed by Gary Weis, the biblical spoof starred Laraine Newman and featured a large ensemble cast including James Coco, Paul Sand, Jack Gilford, Dom DeLuise, John Houseman, Madeline Kahn, David Lander, Richard Pryor and John Ritter.
The film followed a man named Herschel who believed he was chosen by God, only to find out he was mistaken for someone else. Playing off stories from the Old Testament, Wholly Moses used satire, slapstick and absurd humor in a style that aimed to echo the success of other religious parodies like Monty Python's Life of Brian.
With a budget of 12 million dollars, the film brought in 14.1 million at the box office, earning a modest return. While it did not receive widespread acclaim, the film gained attention for its cast and comedic ambition.
80s insight: Wholly Moses showed how the 80s continued the 70s trend of challenging traditional stories through parody. Though not a major hit, it captured the era’s willingness to poke fun at sacred subjects with bold, irreverent humor.
The film followed a man named Herschel who believed he was chosen by God, only to find out he was mistaken for someone else. Playing off stories from the Old Testament, Wholly Moses used satire, slapstick and absurd humor in a style that aimed to echo the success of other religious parodies like Monty Python's Life of Brian.
With a budget of 12 million dollars, the film brought in 14.1 million at the box office, earning a modest return. While it did not receive widespread acclaim, the film gained attention for its cast and comedic ambition.
80s insight: Wholly Moses showed how the 80s continued the 70s trend of challenging traditional stories through parody. Though not a major hit, it captured the era’s willingness to poke fun at sacred subjects with bold, irreverent humor.
