Reliving ‘Groundhog Day’ in Woodstock
Screenwriter Danny Rubin reflects on film’s legacy during return to city
When you write a story about how “Groundhog Day” is your favorite film, you soon discover that a lot of other people in the world feel the same way.
Danny Rubin, who wrote the screenplay for the 1993 movie that starred Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, celebrated Groundhog Day Thursday in Woodstock, where director Harold Ramis shot much of the film.
The 30th anniversary of the film’s release marked only the second time Rubin has returned to Woodstock since he visited during filming and his first since 2014. He talked about the screenplay and fielded questions from fans during a 75-minute talk in the Woodstock Opera House.
I introduced myself to Rubin. We’ve corresponded after participating in a teleconference panel discussion during the pandemic about the existential and spiritual aspects of the film he wrote. I looked forward to listening to his talk, I told him.
“But you’ve heard this all before,” the creator of “Groundhog Day” replied, completely without irony.
Isn’t that the point of the movie, though, and of life? We’re challenged to find ways to keep things fresh and discover new wonders every day, especially when days involve repetition.
Actually, I learned a lot about the film and thoroughly enjoyed Rubin’s discussion with moderator Rick Bellairs, who chairs a committee that organizes Woodstock’s annual Groundhog Day celebration.
Rubin is a great listener and engaging speaker. He’s been asked the same questions over and over yet responds with humor, grace and humility. Rubin onstage is more of a performer than a lecturer, though he has taught screenwriting at Harvard University.
A capacity audience savored Rubin’s description of how he conceived the story about someone trapped in a time loop who repeats the same day over and over.
“I was so excited when it all came together in my head,” he said. “I started writing the next day.”
In order to write the script he had to decide when and where to
set the story.
“OK, it repeats. Which day? I had to pick one so I could start writing,” Rubin said.
“I opened the calendar and the first thing I saw was Groundhog Day. I came up with the idea at the very end of January some year in the past.”
The rest, as they say, is history. The beloved film elevated the holiday’s status and inspired annual festivals that draw large crowds. In the English lexicon, Groundhog Day came to mean any sort of tedious repetition.
Though it was filmed in Woodstock, “Groundhog Day” is set in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Prior to 1993, about 2,000 people would show up to an annual event to learn whether a groundhog would see his shadow and signal six more weeks of winter.
Nowadays about 15,000 people show up when Groundhog Day falls on a weekday and up to 30,000 when the holiday occurs on a weekend.
Rubin told the audience how he went with Murray to visit Punxsutawney and became caught up in the charismatic actor’s zeal for life.
“Once you get involved with Bill, he’s the center of the universe. He says, ‘Let’s go bowling,’ or ‘Let’s go shopping,’ and everybody comes with him,” Rubin said. “Being with Bill was amazing and sometimes took a lot of energy.”
A pivotal moment in the story is when Murray’s character, Phil Connors, discovers he is unable to save the life of an old man. The realization begins Phil’s transformation from a self-centered jerk to a kind person who cares about others.
“Phil, previously to that, was seeing himself as a god. ‘I can do anything. This is my town, this is my dominion,’ ” Rubin said. “The old man was the first sign to him that yes, he can do an awful lot, but there are some things you can’t do. That to me signaled him finding his humanity. That is very helpful to getting him out of the cycle.”
The movie’s theme of becoming a better person has appealed to romantics and thinkers all over the world.
They’re able to connect with some part of the story in their own way, in their own language, whatever their religion or philosophy is, it somehow works,” Rubin said.
The film’s comedic presentation masks its deeper themes.
“The idea of Groundhog Day referring to this human experience I think reinforces peoples’ connection to and affection for the movie,” Rubin said. “Plus it’s entertaining. It’s a fun movie to watch, even if you’ve seen it before.”
Rubin adapted his script for an award-winning musical that was staged in London, on Broadway and at the Paramount Theatre in suburban Aurora last year.
“Within a year of when the movie came out they were asking me if I was interested in writing a sequel. I said no,” Rubin said. “I loved the movie and all the themes and ideas. I wanted the chance to retell the story in a different medium.”
The musical premiered in 2016. Rubin clearly values artistic integrity and declines invitations to churn out stories that follow canned Hollywood formulas.
“Generally they say they want something original and different but they really want something that is exactly like the last thing but it feels different,” he said. “I have been less and less interested in chasing that dream.”
Rubin showed patience and kindness in answering questions and greeting fans. Many celebrities are nice, while some can be rude and arrogant. It’s one thing if a famous athlete or entertainer is standoffish. But thank goodness the person who conceived a movie about treating others with kindness is himself a kind person.
“The opportunities I’ve had, the people I’ve met, the knowledge I’ve gained from people explaining to me what I meant when I wrote it, it’s all just wonderful,” Rubin said. “This is a complete blessing.”
“Every time I feel myself getting a little annoyed with having another interview with somebody or being asked the same question again as if it’s the first time, I stop myself and say, ‘Look at your life, man. This is amazing.’ I’m so appreciative,” he said.