Fun facts about groundhogs day: 8 Things You Didn’t Know about Groundhog Day
9 Fun Facts About Groundhog Day
If you’re the sort of person who has absolutely had enough of winter, cold, and snow by the time February rolls around, you probably also hope the famous Punxsutawney Phil doesn’t see his shadow on February 2nd. According to folklore, a cloudy Groundhog Day on which the groundhog can’t see his shadow after coming out of hibernation signifies spring weather that will arrive before the equinox. A shadow, on the other hand, means six more weeks of winter.
However, there’s a lot more to Groundhog Day than the simple facts and folklore everyone knows. For instance, did you know any of the following things about this fun and memorable occasion?
1. Legend has it that Punxsutawney Phil is actually immortal.
A groundhog’s average lifespan is 6-8 years. However, legend has it that America’s favorite groundhog, Phil, regularly drinks a magic elixir that extends his life by seven years. It happens right there in Phil’s hometown of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania at the town’s Annual Groundhog Picnic each summer.
2. February 2nd isn’t just a random date.
Groundhog Day falls on the 2nd of February for a reason. It’s what’s known as a “cross-quarter” day, meaning it falls at the midpoint between one season and another. In the case of February 2nd, it’s the cross-quarter day that falls between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, making it the ideal time to consider whether or not spring will arrive early.
3. Traditional celebrations once involved eating the groundhog.
The very first Groundhog Day celebration took place in 1886 and was hosted by a group of elders known as the Groundhog Club. The Groundhog Club considered their namesake to be a delicacy in addition to a natural meteorologist.
That said, cooked groundhog meat was a menu staple on Groundhog Day picnic menus that year. Those who have eaten groundhog meat often describe it as a cross between chicken and pork.
Image courtesy of Columbia Pictures
4. Punxsutawney Phil owes his status as a household name to Bill Murray.
Punxsutawney’s Gobbler’s Knob traditionally has seen an influx of tourists on February 2nd since the Groundhog Day tradition first began. However, the release of the 1993 Columbia Pictures film Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray caused those numbers to jump to 35,000. (At the time of the release, the population of Punxsutawney itself was less than 7,000.)
5. Groundhogs have something in common with catcallers.
Catcallers aren’t the only ones that attempt to attract the attention of a potential mate by whistling.
Groundhogs do it, too. For this reason, they are sometimes known as “whistle pigs.”
6. Statistically speaking, groundhogs aren’t particularly good meteorologists.
To hear Punxsutawney Phil’s handlers tell it, he has a pristine weather prediction record that reflects 100% accuracy. In reality, his track record isn’t really all that great. According to Stormfax, Phil has delivered a correct forecast approximately 39% of the time since he first tried his hand at meteorology in 1887. That’s only 2% higher than the national average of 37%. Currently, the most accurate groundhog prognosticator lives in Yellowknife, California and has a 50% accuracy rate.
Image courtesy of Getty Images
7. Groundhog Day was almost Badger Day instead.
Groundhog Day originally evolved from Candlemas, a celebration of both literal and religious light.
Candlemas itself has also long been a day where people used animals to speculate about the weather. For instance, medieval cults held parties by bears’ dens while they waited for grizzlies to wake up from hibernation and “check the weather.”
Both English and German Catholics did something similar with badgers. However, when Germans settled in Pennsylvania and found badgers hard to come by, the switch was made to the groundhog.
8. Punxsutawney Phil has met his share of celebrities over the years.
America’s most famous groundhog meteorologist has several very famous friends. For instance, he had the pleasure of meeting President Ronald Reagan in 1986. He was also a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1995.
9. Phil has a wife … and they both dig a good read.
Phil is no longer a bachelor these days. He has a wife named Phyllis who helps him with his duties as the “Prognosticator of Prognosticators.
” When Phil and Phyllis aren’t busily looking for their shadows on Groundhog Day, they reside quietly at the Punxsutawney Memorial Library. We can only guess at what they like to read about most!
Surprising Groundhog Facts for Groundhog Day
You don’t want to miss these fascinating facts about Groundhog Day and the furry critters that we celebrate every February.
Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.
Owsigor/Getty Images
First things first: Groundhogs are lousy weather predictors
As the myth of Groundhog Day goes, if a groundhog sees its shadow on February 2, winter will last another six weeks. And while Punxsutawney Phil’s handlers maintain 100 percent accuracy in his seasonal predictions, the numbers tell a different story.
Stormfax calculated that Phil has seen a 39 percent forecasting success rate since 1887. According to a Canadian groundhog study, this is just 2 percent higher than the average groundhog success rate of 37 percent (the most accurate hog-nosticators in the study resided in Yellowknife, Canada, and had a 50 percent accuracy rate). In other words, a gambling man would be better off flipping a coin.
toha90/Shutterstock
Groundhogs have a different secret talent
What do groundhogs have in common with sleazy construction workers? They both whistle at potential mates. It’s because of this odd adaptation that groundhogs are also known as “whistle-pigs” (and lecherous day laborers known simply as “pigs”). Here are the most memorable Groundhog Day mishaps.
Heather36/Shutterstock
They have other nicknames too
Groundhogs are members of a group of large ground squirrels called marmots, but they’re also called land beavers and woodchucks.
Surprisingly, the latter moniker has nothing to do with wood, Scientific American explains. It’s believed to be taken from the Algonquian name for the same animal: “wuchak.” Check out these other “facts” about animals you probably have all wrong.
lewald/Shutterstock
Groundhogs are vegetarians
The Groundhog Diet consists mainly of grass, herbs, and plants like dandelions, daisies, and goldenrods. They also have an eye for human crops, like carrots and corn, which puts them on farmers’ most-wanted lists. And yes, they do occasionally eat tree bark, as we all hoped woodchucks would. Learn about famous groundhogs that aren’t Punxsutawney Phil.
Jess Kraft/Shutterstock
They call North America home
Most groundhogs live in the eastern and central United States, although you can find them in Canada and even Alaska. They tend to settle down on the edge of a forest or woodland, near an open field, where they’ll likely construct their underground burrows.
But you may also spot them climbing trees.
Nuk2013/Shutterstock
They make great architects
Groundhogs build pretty impressive homes. Their underground burrows include multiple “rooms” with different purposes, including a sleeping chamber, a nursery chamber, and a waste chamber (what we would call a bathroom). The entire burrow can stretch anywhere from eight to 66 feet long. Check out these other animals that have real-life superpowers.
colacat/Shutterstock
Sleeping is their favorite hobby
Few animals are as dedicated to hibernating as groundhogs. Known as “true hibernators,” they snooze from late fall to late winter or early spring, which can mean up to as many as six months of deep sleep, depending on their climate. During this time, their body temperatures can drop below 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), and their heart rates slow from 80 beats per minute to just five.
Here’s why Bill Murray hated the movie Groundhog Day.
Niladri Nath/Getty Images
They’re surprisingly romantic
Despite their intense hibernation habits, there’s evidence that male groundhogs wake up early (after about three months) to start looking for potential mates. “Typically, there’s a male that has a territory that includes several female burrows. And there’s some competition for that territory,” Stam Zervanos, retired professor of biology at Pennsylvania State University, told National Geographic. “They try to defend that territory, and they go from burrow to burrow to find out if that female is still there.” Groundhogs start visiting females as early as February and then go back to sleep until mating season starts in March. Putting relationships before sleep? That’s what we call dedication. Check out these monogamous animals that mate for life.
DAVID MAXWELL/EPA/REX/Shutterstock
It wasn’t always called Groundhog Day
If you can’t find yourself a groundhog to ogle this February 2, simply step outside and recite this old English rhyme:
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go, Winter, and come not again.
Modern Groundhog Day evolved from Europe’s Candlemas Day, a celebration of light both literal (the days are growing longer) and religious (Candelmas invokes Jesus’s first visit to the Temple in Jerusalem). It’s an old knight’s tale that the weather on Candlemas will be the exact opposite of the weather six weeks hence—yet somehow, centuries later, a few lines of scientifically suspect verse remain the basis of an annual holiday. Check out these other silly holidays that everyone should celebrate.
DAVID MAXWELL/EPA/REX/Shutterstock
Groundhogs weren’t always the holiday’s honored animal
About halfway between the winter and spring solstices, Candlemas has long been a day of seasonal speculation, though the designated animal weatherman varies from culture to culture. Records from Penn State University Libraries show that medieval cults favored bears, holding parties by their dens, gussied up in grizzly costumes and waiting for a bear to lumber out from hibernation and check the weather.
English and German Catholics celebrated a similar tradition with sacred badgers. When badgers proved hard to come by for Pennsylvania’s German settlers in the early 1800s, colonists adapted their old-country tradition to an abundant New World animal: the groundhog. Learn about how accurate Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions actually are.
arlutz73/Getty Images
You’re not supposed to eat the groundhog … anymore
On February 2, 1886, The Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper declared the first official Groundhog Day celebration, hosted by a group of town elders dubbed the Groundhog Club. For this club, marmots were more than furry meteorologists; they were a delicacy. In addition to its Groundhog Day ceremony, the club hosted a summertime groundhog hunt and picnic. On the menu: cooked groundhog meat (described by locals as “a cross between pork and chicken”) and something called “groundhog punch,” a combination of vodka, milk, eggs, orange juice, “and other ingredients.
” For a time, marmot meat was the regional cuisine. That began to change in 1887, when a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil was born. To hear his handlers tell it, he has evaded the dinner plate for over 100 years and counting.
DAVID MAXWELL/EPA/REX/Shutterstock
Punxsutawney Phil is immortal—allegedly
A typical groundhog will live six to eight years in the wild. Punxsutawney Phil, the official groundhog of America’s largest Groundhog Day celebration (and costar in the hit movie Groundhog Day), has been alive since, uh, 1887. Or so his website says. To what does Phil owe his impossibly impressive 134 years? A magical elixir called, yet again, “groundhog punch”—presumably not the same recipe of vodka and eggs that its original authors quaffed. According to the lore-keepers of the modern Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Phil is fed a single sip of groundhog punch every summer, instantly granting him another seven years of life.
(In other words, the opposite of vodka.) Here are some immortal animals that basically live forever.
Erik S. Lesser/Epa/REX/Shutterstock
What does an “immortal” marmot do for fun? Drink and read
Phil has seen a lot in the past century, and he is less sheltered than you’d expect from someone who literally lives with his head in the ground. During Prohibition, for example, Phil publicly threatened to impose 60 weeks of additional winter if he wasn’t allowed a drink. Phil has cooled down significantly these days. For that, we can likely thank his wife, Phyllis. Together, Phil and Phyllis enjoy a quiet life together at the Punxsutawney Memorial Library, where they live during the 364 days not spent looking for their shadows.
Columbia/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock
Groundhog Day sent tourism in Gobbler’s Knob’s skyrocketing
While Gobbler’s Knob—home of Punxsutawney Phil—has seen its share of tourism every Groundhog Day since the tradition began, actor Bill Murray and his holiday-themed film truly put it on the map.
Following the 1993 release of Groundhog Day, starring Bill and Phil, Gobbler’s Knob started seeing crowds as large as 35,000 people on February 2 (for comparison, the population of Punxsutawney at the time was less than 7,000). Two years later, Phil was invited as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Don’t miss these other famous animals that changed history.
Columbia/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock
Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell had Phil’s back in court—or would have, had it come to that
In a 2013 news story barely discernible from the sort of satire that runs in The Onion, an Ohio lawyer demanded that Punxsutawney Phil pay for a fraudulent weather prediction—with his life. “On or about February 2, 2013, at Gobbler’s Knob, Punxsutawney Phil did purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause the people to believe that spring would come early,” Ohio prosecutor Michael Gmoser wrote in a cheeky open letter.
“Contrary to the Groundhog Day report, a snowstorm and record low temperatures have been and are predicted to continue in the near future, which constitutes the offense of Misrepresentation of early spring, an Unclassified Felony, and against the peace and dignity of the state of Ohio.”
The punishment for this crime? “The death penalty.”
Absurdly, the saga continued when a Pennsylvania law firm openly responded to Gmoser, arguing that the Ohio attorney had no authority to prosecute in Punxsutawney. Furthermore, Phil had a formidable team of character witnesses behind him, as starring in Groundhog Day had helped Phil forge “lifelong and loyal friendships with the lesser supporting cast, including Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliot,” the firm wrote. “It is believed that Punxsutawney Phil has already been in contact with Mr. Murray, Ms. MacDowell, and Mr. Elliot, all of whom allegedly pledged to ‘have his back’ should legal action be necessary.” (It wasn’t.
)
VGstockstudio/Shutterstock
Robo-groundhogs may be the future
We’ve come a long way from eating groundhogs, but their safety is still not guaranteed. On Groundhog Day 2014, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio accidentally dropped Staten Island groundhog Charlotte, resulting in internal injuries that killed her a week later. In 1999, Canadian groundhog celebrity Wiarton Willie died the Sunday prior to Groundhog Day, but the news was scandalously withheld until February 3. Stories like these, compounded by the increasingly large crowds at Gobbler’s Knob, prompted PETA to suggest an alternative: Replace Punxsutawney Phil with a robot groundhog.
While fears of a cyber-marmot uprising fill your head, consider Washington, D.C.’s cheaper solution: Potomac Phil, the city’s anointed groundhog since 2014, is a taxidermied thrift shop purchase. Strange? Sure. But it turns out D.C. isn’t alone when it comes to unique wildlife—read up on the strangest animal found in every state.
Sources
- Stormfax: “Stormfax Weather Almanac”
- Scientific American: “7 Things You Didn’t Know About Groundhogs”
- Stam Zervanos, professor emeritus of biology at the University of Pennsylvania
- PSU: “Totemism and Civic Boosterism in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, 1899-1909”
- Groundhog.org
- Live Science: “Punxsutawney Phil: The Groundhog Behind the Myth”
- Washington Post: “Ohio prosecutor seeks death penalty for Punxsutawney Phil after bad forecast”
- Washington Post: “Pa. law group warns Ohio official to ‘cease and desist’ prosecution of Punxsutawney Phil”
- Gawker: “Zoo Covers Up Bill de Blasio’s Groundhog Murder”
- CBC: “Sad news on Groundhog Day – Wiarton Willie is dead”
- NBC: “PETA Wants Robot Groundhog to Replace Phil”
Originally Published: February 01, 2022
Groundhog Day Fast Facts | CNN
03:15
– Source:
CNN
Watch groundhog Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction
CNN
—
cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_D9A60C69-97CF-0E7B-553A-4EC1BDEDC200@published” data-editable=”text” data-component-name=”paragraph”>Here’s a look at Groundhog Day, an American tradition that is meant to predict when spring will arrive.
February 2, 2022 – Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, predicting six additional weeks of winter.
February 2, 2021 – Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, predicting six additional weeks of winter.
The groundhog emerges from its burrow on February 2.
If the groundhog sees its shadow when it emerges, there will be six more weeks of winter.
If it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive soon.
This tradition started in Europe as Candlemas Day. Germans who settled in Pennsylvania in the 1700s brought the custom to America.
Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil is the most well-known, but more than a dozen states celebrate with their own groundhogs, such as Georgia’s General Beauregard Lee and Buckeye Chuck in Ohio.
His full name is “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary.”
February 2, 1886 – The Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper proclaims this date as Pennsylvania’s first official Groundhog Day celebration.
Phil has correctly predicted the beginning of spring 100% of the time, according to his owners. However, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the groundhog’s record isn’t perfect.
1986 – Phil travels to Washington, DC to meet with President Ronald Reagan.
1993 – Columbia Pictures releases the movie, “Groundhog Day,” starring Bill Murray. In the years following the release of the movie, crowds numbering as high as 30,000 have visited Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney.
1995 – Phil appears on the Oprah Winfrey show.
January 27, 2010 – The animal rights group PETA suggests using a robotic groundhog in place of Punxsutawney Phil.
February 2, 2010 – For the first time, fans can register for a text message alert of Phil’s prediction.
January 28, 2020 – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals calls on the keepers of Punxsutawney Phil to let him retire – and to be replaced by an animatronic groundhog.
How the film “Groundhog Day” was filmed, interesting and funny facts
Bill Murray turns 72 today. Despite many successful roles, fans often associate the actor with the film Groundhog Day. Russian viewers also love the film with the same name.
Natalia Ozhogina
Good friends quarreled while filming — and other little-known stories about Groundhog Day.
Article Contents
Fact #1: The Greatest Scenario
Screenwriter Danny Rubin had two starting points when working on the idea for the film. The first is a book he recently read about vampires. The writer thought about immortality and how it can affect a person. Rubin wrote that he imagined a person who was not ready to change under the influence of circumstances, a certain person who never managed to grow up: “Maybe if these guys have more time, they will eventually grow up. Maybe one life is not enough for them.
The second starting point was Hermann Hesse’s book Siddhartha. Finally, Rubin remembered his idea of a character constantly living the same day. What was the philosophy of the film based on.
Rubin’s agent later told the filmmaker, “Danny, two things. First, this is the greatest script I have ever read. Second, I don’t think I can sell it.”
Fact #2: Tom Hanks could have been Phil
Director Harold Ramis and Bill Murray had a long-standing partnership and friendship.
In the early 90s, they starred together in Ghostbusters and its sequel.
This did not prevent Ramis from doubting the choice of the actor for the main role at the initial stage. In the first draft of the script, Phil was a young man in his 20s. But by the beginning of filming, the director changed the age to forty. Therefore, at that stage, Harold saw Tom Hanks as the best candidate for the main role. But the actor refused, being busy in the next project. Therefore, the role went to Bill Murray, who was able to be “cute” and “disgusting” at the same time.
Fact No. 3. The film quarreled friends
Joint work on Groundhog Day quarreled old friends. Bill Murray so annoyed Harold Ramis with constant advice, nit-picking, and always a bad mood that the director refused to communicate with him. This had to be done by screenwriter Danny Rubin. Friends reconciled only after twenty years.
Fact No.
4. Toothy Groundhog
There were several groundhogs in the film. They were found in the zoo corner of the town of Punxsutawney. The most cinematic large groundhog bit Murray in one of the takes of the scene of jumping into the abyss. The actor recalled: “The groundhog began to sharpen a tooth on me from the first day.”
Fact #5. Artificial snow
The film was shot in Woodstock. According to the plot, the action of the film took place in early February. Filming began on March 18, 1992 and lasted until June. Therefore, artificial snow most often appeared in the frame. It was made with the help of a cannon or filled with fire foam on the set.
Fact #6. Time in the loop was shortened
Initially, according to the script, Murray’s character was supposed to spend 10,000 years in the time loop. But later the script was revised and the loop was reduced to ten years.
During this time, Phil learned French, learned to play the piano, received medical knowledge and became an ice sculpture master. The screen shows only 42 repetitions of Groundhog Day.
Fact No. 7. The clock was beating, beating, not broken
In one of the episodes, according to the idea of the director and screenwriter, Bill Murray had to smash the alarm clock to smithereens. But the clock turned out to be stronger than they thought. The actor threw the alarm clock with all his might, but only a small crack appeared on it. I had to break the clock with a hammer. The funny thing is that even a broken alarm clock did not stop playing a melody. We decided to leave this moment.
Fact No. 8. Murray stepped here
After the film’s release, the enterprising Woodstock authorities turned the puddle that Phil Connors stepped into every February 2nd into a local landmark.
Now there is a sign: “Bill Murray walked here.”
Fact #9. A work of art
Groundhog Day was released on February 12, 1993. He was immediately accepted and loved by the audience. In the US and Canada alone, the film grossed about $71 million.
In 2007, Premiere magazine named Groundhog Day one of the fifty best comedies of all time. After that, the American Film Institute awarded Groundhog the eighth place in the top 10 best films in the fantasy genre. A year later, Groundhog Day was inducted into the US National Film Registry as a work of art with cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
Fact #10. Letters from viewers
Screenwriter Danny Rubin began receiving letters from viewers after the film’s release. Christians, Buddhists, Jews, representatives of other religions wrote to him, and everyone considered Groundhog Day to be an illustration of the doctrine of their beliefs.
The film showed clearly: a person spins like a squirrel in a wheel if he does not develop spiritually. The expression “Groundhog Day” has become a household word all over the world.
Do you think that your life is a continuous “Groundhog Day”?
Ten interesting facts about Groundhog Day: kiri2ll — LiveJournal
They say that if you follow the behavior of a groundhog on February 2, you can find out how soon spring will come. I don’t know how accurate these predictions are compared to, say, the toss of a coin or our weather forecasters. But on the other hand, I know that on February 2, a retro screening of the film Groundhog Day, one of the most popular and iconic comedies of the nineties, will take place in Moscow cinema. Well, since soon after this the picture will celebrate its 25th anniversary (if anyone is curious, the movie was released on February 12, 1993 years old) – here are ten interesting facts about Harold Ramis’ immortal creation .
1. Vampires became the starting point for the movie’s plot
According to the original screenwriter of Danny Rubin , the idea from which the film grew came to him in the movie theater in 1990.
That day, he had a recently read book about vampires with him. While waiting for the movie show to begin, Rubin thought about immortality, eternity, and how this experience would affect a person’s character. And so, at some point, Rubin remembered his old idea about a character constantly living the same day. This is what became the starting point for the plot of the new story.
After thinking it over carefully, Rubin decided to write a script about a man stuck in the same day and how this experience changes him. One of the main tasks was the right choice of that very day. Rubin went through several obvious choices, from Christmas to February 29th, and then decided to look into the holiday calendar. From it, he learned about groundhog day. Rubin immediately realized that he had found what he needed. The holiday was not too promoted and did not have any religious or political overtones. So he was perfect for the role of the endlessly repeating day. Unfortunately, I did not find Rubin’s early script, so I can only rely on what they write on the Internet.
As far as we know, in its early version, the action began after Phil was stuck in a time loop. The audience had to see that the hero knows about all the upcoming events and gradually understand that he lives the same day again and again. Judging by the descriptions, the work was darker than the final film. In the final, Phil managed to break through on February 3, only to find out that Rita was also in a time loop and stuck in that day. For a long time, Rubin could not sell his script. Things got off the ground only when the manuscript came to Harold Ramis. He liked the idea and agreed to direct the film. During the pre-production process, Ramis made a number of changes to the script. For example, he decided to show Phil’s life before falling into the time loop, removed his voice-over and changed the ending. Also, at the insistence of the producers, an episode was added to the script in which Phil’s former passion (of course, very offended by him) performed a ritual during which she cast a spell and then broke the clock.
This scene was supposed to explain how Phil got into the time loop. But later, Ramis still cut the episode, deciding to leave the cause of the hero’s hardship behind the scenes.
2. From a month to 10,000 years in the time loop
One of the most popular questions about Groundhog Day is, “How long did Phil spend in the time loop?” In the film itself, according to various estimates, from 33 to 38 days were shown, spent by Phil in the town of Punxsutawney. But most likely this is only a small fraction of real time. According to Danny Rubin, Phil spent 10,000 years in the time loop in the original script. Harold Ramis was much kinder. After the release of the film, he said that, in his opinion, Phil’s spiritual rebirth took about 10 years. In later interviews, he corrected the figure to 30-40 years. Some fansites are of the same opinion. Their estimates are based on calculations of the number of days needed to learn all the details about all the inhabitants of the city and the sequence of all the events that take place, learn to play the piano, create ice sculptures, etc.
3. Tom Hanks could play the lead role
Who if not Bill Murray ? And really, who else could portray such a dual character, combining such charm and such cynicism? Now it is extremely difficult to imagine another actor in the role of Phil. Add to this the fact that by that time Murray had already worked five times with Harold Ramis. It may seem that this role was always meant for him.
However, in reality, Murray was far from being the main candidate. Many comedians were considered for the role of Phil, ranging from Steve Martin and ending with Chevy Chase . As a result of the offer, Tom Hanks was awarded. But he had to turn it down due to being busy filming Philadelphia . Hanks himself later said that this was probably for the best, because. he was associated with the public exclusively with images of nice guys. If he played Phil, the audience would have been initially set up for the fact that his character would soon be corrected.
And besides, “Philadelphia” brought him his first Oscar.0082 Michael Keaton . But he refused, considering the script too confusing, which he still regrets very much. Only then did Murray appear on the scene.
4. Difficulties of filming: artificial snow, the wrong city and a rabid groundhog
One of the first associations that comes to mind when mentioning “Groundhog Day” is, of course, winter. The entire plot of the film is tied to this theme, from the purpose of the hero’s trip, to such elements as a snow storm, ice sculptures, children with snowballs, etc.
It is all the more ironic that in reality the shooting of the film took place in the spring. They began on March 16, 1992 and ended in May. Since the real town of Punxsutawney did not look cinematic enough, its role was played by the city of Woodstock in Illinois. By the way, that spring was colder than usual. Snow fell even in May. But at the same time, the temperature rose several times to above +25°C.
Not surprisingly, the film crew had to use a lot of artificial snow.
Marmots have become a rather unexpected problem. According to Murray, the animals used on the set immediately hated him. Groundhogs either twice or thrice bit the actor. As a result, he had to undergo a round of rabies vaccinations.
5. This is where Bill Murray stepped foot
I think all viewers remember well the gag with the meltwater-filled pothole that Phil often stepped into. This pothole was prepared specifically for the film: the film crew dismantled part of the city pavement. When the shooting was over, the filmmakers, of course, returned everything to its original position. After the release of the film, the residents of Woodstock decided to immortalize this place forever and placed such a commemorative plaque on it.
There is another commemorative plaque in Woodstock that reads “Ned’s Corner”. I hope I don’t have to say what scene and character in the movie is.
6.
Groundhog Day was Michael Shannon’s debut film
I’m not sure most average viewers know the name Michael Shannon . But I think that many will at least remember him in person as General Zod from “ Man of Steel ” or the villain from the recent “ Form of Water “. In general, during his career, Shannon starred in a large number of films and TV shows and has already been nominated for an Oscar twice. But the first time he appeared on the big screen was in Groundhog Day, in the role of a young man named Fred. He can be seen at the diner and also in the ending when his fiancée thanks Phil for his help.
Michael Shannon 2017
According to Shannon, he hesitated for a long time to approach Bill Murray to express his admiration for him. When the young actor nevertheless plucked up courage, he did not find anything better than to ask Murray if he liked the songs of the Talking Heads group (at that moment Murray was listening to them).
When Shannon said the question, he realized how stupid he sounded and was very embarrassed. And Murray completely turned him into a blush, answering with such an intonation, as if he were talking to a mentally handicapped child.
Michael Shannon 1993
Shannon was even more embarrassed by Harold Ramis. Upon learning of the incident, the director brought Murray to him and forced the star to apologize. After that, Shannon decided that Murray completely hated him. However, according to Shannon, after a while he crossed paths with Murray at a French film festival. He recognized the actor, they had a nice talk, and then Murray even invited him to a cheese tasting.
7. It took 25 takes to shoot the scene of the final awakening of the heroes
One of the highlights of the film was the final scene. The film crew disagreed about how Phil and Rita’s perfect day ended – ie. whether they had sex (and they should wake up without clothes) or not (i.
e. they should be in clothes). Bill Murray flatly refused to continue shooting until certainty was reached on this issue. As a result, it came to a vote, but this did not help either – the votes were divided exactly in half. In the end, Ramis did take the advice of the set designer’s assistant, who said that if Phil showed up bare-chested in the frame, it would spoil the mood of the whole film. But even after that, Ramis needed to do 25 takes of the awakening scene to find the right key.
8. Many channels organize a Groundhog Day marathon on Groundhog Day
In the quarter of a century that has passed since the film’s release, Groundhog Day has become as inalienable an attribute for February 2 as “The Irony of Fate” for December 31. On this day, many channels arrange real Ramis film marathons, showing it from morning to night. To be honest, I also wanted to repeat it several times at the end of the text, but I realized that it would be extremely stupid.
9.
Many channels host a Groundhog Day marathon on Groundhog Day
In the quarter of a century that has passed since the film’s release, “Groundhog Day” has become the same essential attribute for February 2, as “Irony of Fate” for December 31. On this day, many channels organize real Ramis movie marathons, showing it from morning to night… You’ll forgive me, I still couldn’t resist a little;)
10. Groundhog Day quarreled Bill Murray and Harold Ramis forever
In the history of cinema, there are several creative tandems of an actor and a director who gave us a number of excellent films. For example, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro . Or John Carpenter and Kurt Russell . Or Harold Ramis and Bill Murray. The cooperation between Ramis and Murray continued for several decades. And it included not only cinematography, but also theatrical performances, radio programs, sketches, and television shows. Ramis and Murray were very good friends.
But Groundhog Day put an end to everything. Murray was already known for his eccentric antics. But at that time he had just begun to divorce his first wife, which did not have the best effect on the mood of the actor. According to eyewitnesses, Murray was often late for filming, did strange things and constantly argued with Ramis. The actor wanted to give the film more “philosophical depth”, while the director wanted to focus on the comedic part.
According to the participants of the filming, over time, Murray’s behavior became more and more irrational and evil. So, he pestered Harold Ramis with numerous late-night calls and made many requests. At the same time, Murray stopped returning calls, refused to talk on set, and at the end of the day simply ran away. When the actor was asked to hire a personal assistant through whom messages could be sent to him, he hired a deaf-mute. At the same time, Murray, of course, did not know sign language. As a result of this behavior, by the end of filming, there was no trace of the former friendship between Murray and Ramis.
Alas, in reality, not everything ends with a happy ending. After Groundhog Day, Harold Ramis and Bill Murray never rekindled their friendship. There is a version that, paradoxically, it was the success of the picture that was the last straw for Murray – he did not like the fact that all his most famous roles are associated with the name of Ramis. So the actor decided to slam the door and prove to the whole world that he can achieve everything himself.
Harold Ramis is known to have made several attempts at reconciliation. In particular, he offered Murray a role in the film “ Ice Harvest .” But he ignored all his calls. In fact, over the next two decades, the former best friends exchanged only a couple of formal phrases. Shortly before his death, Ramis commented on the whole situation:
“I dreamed many times that we would become friends again. It was great to imagine that feeling of reunion. Bill was a strong personality. He was our rock star. In the days when we were making all these comedies, we knew that no matter how bad the script was, he would always find a way to improve it with his improvisation.
This is what united us, this was our bond. I helped him become as funny a Bill Murray as possible, and I think he appreciated it then. I don’t know how he feels about it now, but everything we did got on tape. And whatever happens between us in the future, at least we will have all these moments.”
Only when Ramis was already dying, at the request of his brother, Murray finally found the strength to come and visit his former friend. It is unlikely that we will know what their last conversation would be about. I would like to hope that they still managed to reconcile.
For those who want to support:
Web Money (USD): Z550555330247
VISA: 4585 2061 6002 4798
10 interesting facts about the film “Groundhog Day”
It is said that if on February 2, it is a minute , then you can find out how soon spring will come. It is not known how accurate such predictions are compared to, say, tossing a coin or weather forecasts.
But we know for sure that the film Groundhog Day, one of the most popular and iconic comedies of the nineties, will soon celebrate its 25th anniversary (the film was released on February 12, 1993).
er Kirill Razmyslovich (kiri2ll) has collected ten interesting facts about the immortal creation of Harold Ramis. Below are the words of the author.
1. Vampires became the starting point for the film’s plot
Original screenwriter Danny Rubin says the idea for the film came to him in a movie theater at 1990 year. That day, he had a recently read book about vampires with him. While waiting for the movie show to begin, Rubin thought about immortality, eternity, and how this experience would affect a person’s character. And at some point, Rubin remembered his old idea about a character constantly living the same day. This is what became the starting point for the plot of the new story.
After some thought, Rubin decided to write a screenplay about a man stuck in the same day and how that experience changes him.
One of the main tasks was the right choice of that very day. Rubin went through several obvious options, from Christmas to 29February, and then decided to look into the holiday calendar. From it, he learned about Groundhog Day. Rubin immediately realized that he had found what he needed. The holiday was not too promoted and did not have any religious or political overtones. So he was perfect for the endlessly repeating day.
Unfortunately, I didn’t find Rubin’s early script, so I can only rely on what they write on the Internet. As far as we know, in its early version, the action began after Phil was stuck in a time loop. The audience had to see that the hero knows about all the upcoming events and gradually understand that he lives the same day again and again. Judging by the descriptions, the work was darker than the final film. In the final, Phil managed to break through to February 3rd, only to find out that Rita was also in a time loop and stuck in that day.
bigpicture.
ru
For a long time, Rubin could not sell his script. Things got off the ground only when the manuscript came to Harold Ramis. He liked the idea and agreed to direct the film.
During pre-production, Ramis made a number of changes to the script. For example, he decided to show Phil’s life before falling into the time loop, removed his voice-over and changed the ending. Also, at the insistence of the producers, an episode was added to the script in which Phil’s former passion (of course, very offended by him) performed a ritual during which she cast a spell and then broke the clock. This scene was supposed to explain how Phil got into the time loop. But later, Ramis nevertheless cut this episode, deciding to leave the cause of the hero’s adversity behind the scenes.
2. From a month to 10,000 years in the time loop
One of the most popular questions about Groundhog Day is, “How long did Phil spend in the time loop?” In the film itself, according to various estimates, were shown from 33 to 38 days spent by Phil in the town of Punxsutawney.
But, most likely, this is only a small fraction of real time. According to Danny Rubin, Phil spent 10,000 years in the time loop in the original script. Harold Ramis was much kinder. After the release of the film, he said that, in his opinion, Phil’s spiritual rebirth took about 10 years. In later interviews, he adjusted the figure to 30-40 years.
Some fan sites share the same opinion. Their estimates are based on calculations of the number of days needed to learn all the details about all the inhabitants of the city and the sequence of all the events that take place, learn to play the piano, create ice sculptures, etc.
3. Tom Hanks could play the lead role
Who else if not Bill Murray? And really, who else could portray such a dual character, combining such charm and such cynicism? Now it is extremely difficult to imagine another actor in the role of Phil. Add to this the fact that by that time Murray had already worked five times with Harold Ramis.
It may seem that this role was always meant for him.
However, in reality, Murray was far from being the main candidate. Many comedians were considered for the role of Phil, ranging from Steve Martin to Chevy Chase. As a result, the proposal was awarded to Tom Hanks. But he had to refuse due to being busy on the set of Philadelphia.
A still from the film Groundhog Day
Hanks himself later said that this was probably for the best, since the public associated him exclusively with images of nice guys. If he played Phil, the audience would have been initially set up for the fact that his character would soon be corrected. Well, besides, “Philadelphia” brought him the first “Oscar”.
Michael Keaton received an offer to star in the film. But he refused, considering the script too confusing, which he still regrets very much. Only then did Murray appear on the scene.
4. Difficulties of filming: artificial snow, the wrong city and a rabid marmot
One of the first associations that comes to mind when mentioning Groundhog Day is, of course, winter.
The entire plot of the film is tied to this theme, from the purpose of the hero’s trip to such elements as a snow storm, ice sculptures, children with snowballs, etc.
It is all the more ironic that in reality the shooting of the film took place in the spring. They began on March 16, 1992 and ended in May. Since the real town of Punxsutawney did not look cinematic enough, its role was played by the city of Woodstock in Illinois. By the way, that spring was colder than usual. Snow fell even in May. But at the same time, the temperature rose several times to above +25 °C. Not surprisingly, the film crew had to use a lot of artificial snow.
Marmots have become an unexpected problem. According to Murray, he immediately hated the animals used on the set. Groundhogs either twice or thrice bit the actor. As a result, he had to undergo a course of rabies vaccinations.
5. Bill Murray’s foot has stepped here
I think all viewers remember well the gag with a hollow filled with melt water, which Phil often stepped into.
This pothole was prepared specifically for the film: the film crew dismantled part of the city pavement. When the shooting was over, the filmmakers, of course, returned everything to its original position. After the release of the film, the residents of Woodstock decided to immortalize this place forever and placed such a commemorative plaque on it.
bigpicture.ru
There is another commemorative plaque with the inscription “Ned’s Corner” in stock. I hope I don’t have to say which scene and which character in the movie is being referred to.
6. Groundhog Day was Michael Shannon’s debut feature
I’m not sure most average viewers know Michael Shannon’s name. But I think that many will at least remember him in person as General Zod from Man of Steel or the villain from the recent The Shape of Water. In general, during his career, Shannon starred in a large number of films and TV shows and has already been nominated for an Oscar twice. But the first time he appeared on the big screen was in Groundhog Day, in the role of a young man named Fred.
He can be seen at the diner and also in the ending when his fiancée thanks Phil for his help.
According to Shannon, he hesitated for a long time to approach Bill Murray to express his admiration for him. When the young actor nevertheless plucked up courage, he did not find anything better than to ask Murray if he liked the songs of the Talking Heads group (at that moment Murray was listening to them). When Shannon said the question, he realized how stupid he sounded and became very embarrassed. And Murray completely turned him into a blush, answering with such an intonation, as if he were talking to a mentally handicapped child.
more Shannon was embarrassed by Harold Ramis. Upon learning of the incident, the director brought Murray to him and forced the star to apologize. After that, Shannon decided that Murray completely hated him. However, according to Shannon, after a while he crossed paths with Murray at a French film festival. He recognized the actor, they had a nice talk, and then Murray even invited him to a cheese tasting.
7. It took 25 takes to shoot the scene of the final awakening of the heroes
One of the main hitches of the film was the final scene. The film crew disagreed about how Phil and Rita’s perfect day ended – ie. whether they had sex (and they should wake up without clothes) or not (i.e. they should be in clothes). Bill Murray flatly refused to continue shooting until certainty was reached on this issue.
Shot from the film “Groundhog Day”
came to the vote, but it didn’t help either – the votes were divided exactly in half. In the end, Ramis did take the advice of the set designer’s assistant, who said that if Phil appeared bare-chested in the frame, it would spoil the mood of the whole film. But even after that, Ramis needed to do 25 takes of the awakening scene to find the right key.
8. Many channels organize a Groundhog Day marathon on Groundhog Day
A quarter of a century after the film’s release, Groundhog Day has become the same essential attribute for February 2 as “The Irony of Fate” for December 31.
On this day, many channels arrange real Ramis film marathons, showing it from morning to night. To be honest, I also wanted to repeat it several times at the end of the text, but I realized that it would be extremely stupid.
9. Many channels host a Groundhog Day Marathon on Groundhog Day
A quarter of a century after the release of the film, “Groundhog Day” has become the same integral attribute for February 2, as “Irony of Fate” for December 31. On this day, many channels arrange real marathons of the Ramis film, showing it from morning to night … Forgive me, I still could not resist a little.
10. “Groundhog Day” forever quarreled Bill Murray and Harold Ramis
In the history of cinema there are several creative tandems of actor and director who gave us a number of excellent films. For example, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro. Or John Carpenter and Kurt Russell. Or Harold Ramis and Bill Murray. The cooperation between Ramis and Murray continued for several decades.
And it included not only cinematography, but also theatrical performances, radio programs, sketches, and television shows. Ramis and Murray were very good friends. But Groundhog Day put an end to everything.
Murray was already known for his eccentric antics. But at that time he had just begun to divorce his first wife, which did not have the best effect on the mood of the actor. According to eyewitnesses, Murray was often late for filming, did strange things and constantly argued with Ramis. The actor wanted to give the film more “philosophical depth”, while the director wanted to focus on the comedic part.
According to the filming participants, over time Murray’s behavior became more and more irrational and angry. So, he pestered Harold Ramis with numerous late-night calls and made many requests. At the same time, Murray stopped returning calls, refused to talk on set, and at the end of the day he simply ran away. When the actor was asked to hire a personal assistant through whom messages could be sent to him, he hired a deaf-mute.
At the same time, Murray, of course, did not know sign language. As a result of this behavior, by the end of filming, there was no trace of the former friendship between Murray and Ramis.
A shot from the film “Groundhog Day”
Alas, in reality, not everything ends with a happy ending. After Groundhog Day, Harold Ramis and Bill Murray never rekindled their friendship. There is a version that, paradoxically, it was the success of the picture that was the last straw for Murray – he did not like the fact that all his most famous roles are associated with the name of Ramis. So the actor decided to slam the door and prove to the whole world that he can achieve everything himself.
Harold Ramis is known to have made several attempts at reconciliation. In particular, he offered Murray a role in the film Ice Harvest. But he ignored all his calls. In fact, over the next two decades, the former best friends exchanged only a couple of formal phrases. Shortly before his death, Ramis commented on the whole situation:
“I dreamed many times that we would be friends again.