And while we appreciate some good tom cruise action, the plot looks a whole lot like groundhog day with a lot more explosions. Jan 31, 2020 5 things you probably didnt know about groundhog day. No matter how many times youve seen bill murray in groundhog day, there are still tons of facts you dont know about the movie, director. A bunch of other actors almost played phil connors. Sep 23, 2019 the film groundhog day was released almost 26 years ago, on feb.
The earliest mention of groundhog day is an entry on february 2, 1840, in the diary of james l. Groundhog day is a 1993 american fantasy comedy film directed by harold ramis and written. This is his fourth year on the story, and he makes no effort to hide his frustration. Its groundhog day all over again as jeep brand debuts a big game spot starring bill murray in his firstever national television commercial.
In 1993, columbia pictures released the film groundhog day starring bill murray and andie macdowell. If the groundhog, punxsutawney phil, sees his shadow, were stuck with six more weeks. However, the release of the 1993 columbia pictures film groundhog day starring bill murray caused those numbers to jump to 35,000. Read cnn s fast facts about groundhog day, an american tradition that is meant to predict when spring will arrive. Explore groundhog days shadowy history as well as interesting facts about the custom. We share groundhog day s offscreen story, and some fun easter eggs. The comedy stars bill murray as a cranky weatherman covering the annual groundhog day festival but finds himself waking up on the same day over and over. In the united states the most popular event occurs in pennsylvania and centers on a groundhog designated punxsutawney phil. In honor of groundhog day last week when punxsutawney phil predicted an early spring so we got that going for us and, yes, i am mixing my bill murray movie references gallagher pinpointed the exact number of groundhog days murrays phil connors endures in groundhog day.
It is a part of popular culture among many americans and it centers on the idea of the groundhog coming out of its home to predict the weather. On awaking the following day he discovers that its groundhog day again, and again, and again. First he uses this to his advantage, then comes the realisation that he is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in the same place, seeing the same people do the same thing every day. By the huffington post groundhog day is held on feb. Pennsylvania governor ed rendell attended groundhog day ceremonies in 2003, making him the first sitting governor ever to do so.
Bill murray was not the original choice for the lead role. Feb 20, 2020 10 behindthescenes facts about the making of groundhog day. While the film depicts the reallife events and takes place in punxsutawney, producers decided to film the movie in a location more accessible to a major metropolitan center. If youre unfamiliar with the tradition, it goes like this. As successful as those movies are, they all owe a lot to the original timeloop gem, groundhog day. That ambiguity is probably a big part of the film s popularity. There had already been tension between the two during the making of 1989s ghostbusters ii, their fifth film together. Morris of morgantown, in pennsylvania dutch country, according to the book on the subject by don yoder. Bill murray and andie macdowell in groundhog day 1993. Not filmed in punxsutawney, pennsylvania, but actually in woodstock, illinois just fifty miles from bill murrays hometown of wilmette, illinois. At the time of the release, the population of punxsutawney itself was less than 7,000. Entertainment 10 crazy facts about groundhog day you never knew but should punxsutawney phil was once a delicious meal and the film starring bill murray was not even filmed in pennsylvania. Groundhog day falls on february 2 in the united states, coinciding with candlemas. We share groundhog days offscreen story, and some fun easter eggs.
It grew from a somewhat successful bill murray comedy to a cultural phenomenon such that when you hear the term. On this day, 25 years ago, the classic movie, groundhog day was released. So, they chose it as the official animal and the day began to be known as groundhog day. Just like murrays phil connors trapped in the same day, its a movie worth revisiting again and again. Falling midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, february 2 is a significant day in several ancient and modern traditions. Tobolowsky based his character on his own insurance agent. Why bill murray hated the movie groundhog day readers digest. Here are some fun facts about groundhog day history, north carolina groundhogs and other animals that predict the weather.
Its groundhog day in america, but apart from the bill murray film what does that mean. Why bill murray hated the movie groundhog day readers. Also, at the climax, phil pinches rita to prove that tomorrow has finally arrived, and in the novel that inspired edge of tomorrow 2014, the. Feb 02, 20 its groundhog day in america, but apart from the bill murray film what does that mean. In fact, the spring celebration has nothing to do with living the same day on repeat. Feb 02, 2020 its groundhog day all over again as jeep brand debuts a big game spot starring bill murray in his firstever national television commercial. After the release of the 1993 film starring bill murray, attendance to. Check out these outrageous facts about bill murray. After the movies release, the agent called tobolowsky to thank him for portraying. Groundhog day the celebration, which began as a pennsylvania german custom in southeastern and central pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient european weather lore, wherein a badger or sacred bear is the prognosticator as opposed to. Every february 2, tens of thousands of spectators attend groundhog day events in punxsutawney, a borough thats home to some 6,000 people. Fun fact films is all about helping you discover fun facts about your favorite g, pg, and.
Here are 5 littleknown facts about the 1993 comedy classic groundhog day. Ifcs simon gallagher estimates bill murrays character in the classic film groundhog day. Groundhog day stars bill murray as a crabby weatherman who is tired of his job, tired of his life, and especially tired of covering the annual groundhog day celebration in punxsutawney. Groundhog day is a 1993 american fantasy comedy film directed by harold ramis and written by ramis and danny rubin. The average draw had been about 2,000 until the 1993 movie groundhog day, which is set at the festivities in punxsutawney, after which attendance rose to about 10,000. No matter how many times you watch bill murray wake up to the sounds of i got you babe in groundhog day, there are a ton of facts and. Groundhog day may not be the funniest collaboration between bill murray and director harold ramis. The official phil is pretended to be a supercentenarian, having been the same forecasting beast since 1887. It was immortalized in the 1993 film groundhog day. The observance of groundhog day in the united states first occurred in german communities in pennsylvania, according to known records. It was added to the reputed library of congress merely years after its. For the geeky, for the nerdy, for the true cinema believers, this ones for you. And sure, the name is appropriate because the whole tradition of groundhog day implies that the flow of time is so fragile that it can be determined by a cute rodent. Fun groundhog facts and groundhog day facts for kids kids.
Yep, its groundhog day, which means its the perfect time to. Kudos to simon gallagher over on obsessed with film. It stars bill murray as phil connors, a tv weatherman who, during an assignment covering the annual groundhog day event, is caught in a time loop, repeatedly reliving the same day. Feb 12, 2018 15 repeatable facts about groundhog day. Top 10 facts about groundhog day movie you never knew despite multiple viewings 1.
Surprising groundhog facts for groundhog day readers digest. The studio offered the role to tom hanks and michael keaton, who both turned it down, and. In 2006, groundhog day was added to the united states national film registry. Thats one phrase that could be used to describe the 1993 comedy groundhog day, starring bill murray, andie macdowell and chris elliot. Most of the film was shot in woodstock, il, which is close to chicago, the home base of director harold ramis.
In 1993, columbia pictures released the movie groundhog day, starring bill murray. However, theres a lot more to groundhog day than the simple facts and folklore everyone knows. Jan 30, 2019 every february 2, tens of thousands of spectators attend groundhog day events in punxsutawney, a borough thats home to some 6,000 people. Lets pay homage to the film with 20 interesting facts you never knew. Though its hard to imagine groundhog day without bill murray, he wasnt the only actor. Feb 20, 2020 groundhog day, in the united states and canada, day february 2 on which the emergence of the groundhog from its burrow is said to foretell the weather for the following six weeks. And while punxsutawney phils handlers maintain 100 percent accuracy in his. Top 10 damn interesting facts about groundhog day living hours. This harold ramisbill murray timetraveling comedy is an absolute classic. None of the scenes from the 1993 film groundhog day, starring bill murray and andie macdowell, were filmed in punxsutawney, pa. A shadow, on the other hand, means six more weeks of winter. According to legend, if the groundhog comes out of his burrow on february 2nd and does not see his shadow then, spring will come early. While chatting with two new pals gus and ralph in a bowling alley in punxsatawney, pa he laments his predicament. As the myth of groundhog day goes, if a groundhog sees its shadow on february 2, winter will last another six weeks.
Movies dg this category is for questions and answers related to groundhog day. A team of editors takes feedback from our visitors to keep trivia as up to date and as accurate as possible. It grew from a somewhat successful bill murray comedy to a cultural phenomenon such. Also glad they didnt start off when hes in groundhogs day. Fun groundhog facts and groundhog day facts for kids.
Groundhog day springs from a pennsylvaniagerman tradition in the 18th and 19th centuries, when people used the hibernation patterns of bears and badgers to predict the end of winter. It is the one day a year where we throw logic to the wind and listen to the forecast of a rodent that lives underground. In the film, groundhog day the main character phil conners, played by bill murray, becomes aware after several repeated february 2nds that he has become trapped in the samsara. Only bill murray couldve handled the mad concept of groundhog day as well as he did, the brilliant concept and theories behind the film drive the force of the picture. A mass of quite interesting factoids abut your favourite flicks that you can pass off in pubs up and down the. Groundhog day truly attained a classic status in 2006 when it was added us national film registry in the library of congress. Jan 27, 2018 here are 5 littleknown facts about the 1993 comedy classic groundhog day. The idea for groundhog day originates with friedrich nietzsches the. No matter how many times youve seen bill murray in groundhog day, there are still tons of facts you dont know about the movie, director harold ramis, or the town of punxsutawney. Originally the director planned to have the lead character stuck in one day for 0 years. If the groundhog sees a shadow, then it goes back into its burrow and winter will last 6 more weeks. Top 10 facts about groundhog day, and theres no bill murray.
When it first came out, the title groundhog day simply referred to the fact that this film takes place on groundhog day. A december 7, 2003, new york times article called groundhog almighty discussed both the seeming incongruity of groundhog day being curated alongside such serious films as luis bunuels nazarin 1959, federico fellinis 8. Since, record crowds numbering as high as 30,000 have visited gobblers knob in punxsutawney. The film groundhog day was released almost 26 years ago, on feb. Groundhog day 1993 pg 1h 41m critically acclaimed films sent to cover the annual ritual of groundhog punxsutawney phil, a selfcentered tv weatherman mysteriously begins living the same day again and again.
While groundhog day was in production, murray was experiencing a shakeup in his personal life, which could also contribute to his distaste for the film. The precise number of groundhog days in groundhog day. It is from that day the groundhog became popular as punxsutawney phil and became the official groundhog forecaster. Buddhists, christians, and other religions have basically seen the film as exemplifying some part of their beliefs. Jan 29, 2019 6 groundhog day the movie put punxsutawney phil on the map. And while we appreciate some good tom cruise action, the plot looks a whole lot like groundhog day with. Daks day is a popular american tradition observed in the united states and canada on february 2nd.
Top 10 facts about groundhog day, and theres no bill. A family of six groundhogs was raised just for the film. According to folklore, a cloudy groundhog day on which the groundhog cant see his shadow after coming out of hibernation signifies spring weather that will arrive before the equinox. If the groundhog, punxsutawney phil, sees his shadow, were stuck with six more weeks of winter. Sent to cover the annual ritual of groundhog punxsutawney phil, a selfcentered tv weatherman mysteriously begins living the same day again and again. Bill murray was bitten twice by a groundhog during the film shoot, according to the late director harold ramis. First he uses this to his advantage, then comes the realisation that he is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in the same place. Yet this gentle, smallscale effort is easily the most endearing film of both mens careers, a. After the release of the 1993 film starring bill murray, attendance to the big event in punxsutawney exploded, drawing. The first official groundhog day ceremony took place on february 2, 1887, at gobblers knob in punxsutawney, pennsylvania. Today is groundhog day itself so there is no better time to celebrate this excellent 1993 comedy movie, which bill murray has described as his. Groundhog day, in the united states and canada, day february 2 on which the emergence of the groundhog from its burrow is said to foretell the weather for the following six weeks. Jul, 20 read cnn s fast facts about groundhog day, an american tradition that is meant to predict when spring will arrive. In 2006, groundhog day became one of those evergreen movies that are considered culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.