30 Years Ago, Groundhog Day Emerged as a Hit

When director Harold Ramis and producing partner Trevor Albert stumbled upon the screenplay for Groundhog Day, no one knew it would become a film that viewers would (voluntarily) watch over and over. Having followed National Lampoon’s Vacation with 1986’s underperforming Club Paradise, Ramis wanted his next project to aim outside the box. CAA’s Richard Lovett tipped him off to Danny Rubin’s spec script for a philosophical comedy about a jaded TV weatherman who gets snowbound covering the Groundhog Day festival in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania; he soon finds himself unable to stop reliving the titular holiday. Ramis considered several stars for the lead role, including Tom Hanks and Michael Keaton — but the part went to Bill Murray, Ramis’ longtime collaborator on such films as Caddyshack and Ghostbusters. Albert recalls that Murray appeared to be in a tough place at the time, and a rift developed between star and director. “It was unfortunate and probably made the movie considerably less fun to make,” the producer tells THR. “But you can still make a very good movie when people are not in perfect harmony.” Andie MacDowell, who played producer Rita Hanson, calls it the favorite of her films and praises Murray for delivering lines in ways that were “always fresh.”

Groundhog Day impressed critics upon its release, with THR’s review touting “Ramis’ even-handed, smartly tilted direction.” Cinematographer John Bailey credits the director, who died in 2014, for its unique balance of heart and laughs: “The script is really wonderful, but

Harold Ramis’ soul is guiding the film all the way through.”