Groundhog Day (1993)

A weatherman finds himself inexplicably living the same day over and over again.

Director:

Harold Ramis

Writers:

Danny Rubin (screenplay), Harold Ramis (screenplay)

Stars:

Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 6 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Murray	...	Phil
Andie MacDowell	...	Rita
Chris Elliott	...	Larry
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Ned
Brian Doyle-Murray	...	Buster
Marita Geraghty	...	Nancy
Angela Paton	...	Mrs. Lancaster
Rick Ducommun	...	Gus
Rick Overton	...	Ralph
Robin Duke	...	Doris the Waitress
Carol Bivins	...	Anchorwoman
Willie Garson	...	Phil's Assistant Kenny
Ken Hudson Campbell	...	Man in Hallway
Les Podewell	...	Old Man
Rod Sell	...	Groundhog Official

Storyline

A weather man is reluctantly sent to cover a story about a weather forecasting "rat" (as he calls it). This is his fourth year on the story, and he makes no effort to hide his frustration. On awaking the 'following' day he discovers that it's 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.

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Plot Keywords:

trapped in a time loop | time loop | groundhog day | suicide | weatherman | 

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Taglines:

He's having the day of his life...over and over again.

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Italian

Release Date:

12 February 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Groundhog Day

Filming Locations:

344 Fremont St, Woodstock, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$14,600,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,517,672, 14 February 1993

Gross USA:

$70,906,973

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$70,906,973

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (as Dolby Stereo) Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Early drafts of the script explained the cause of Phil Connors' weird experience: a disaffected ex-lover named Stephanie cast a spell on him, to teach him a lesson, to make sweet love to groundhogs all over the land while reading Charles Dickens, while covered in shame. It was decided that leaving it out made it more magical.

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Goofs

Although the band near the end is a jazz band, Phil's piano work in clearly Rock & Roll.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Phil: Somebody asked me today, "Phil, if you could be anywhere in the world, where would you like to be?" And I said to him, "Prob'ly right here - Elko, Nevada, our nation's high at 79 today." Out in California, they're gonna have some warm weather tomorrow, gang wars, and some *very* overpriced real estate. Up in the Pacific Northwest, as you can see, they're gonna have some very, very tall trees.

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Alternate Versions

AMC and Sundance broadcasts in the US slow down the film's audio pitch and speed at 4%.

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Connections

Referenced in Pete's Christmas (2013)

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Soundtracks

Take Me Round Again
Written and Produced by George Fenton
Performed by Susie Stevens-Logan (as Susie Stevens)

User Reviews

When the gods wish to punish us...

In Harold Ramis's "Groundhog Day" (1993), an intriguing comedy about repeating the past, Bill Murray is Phil Connors, an arrogantly self-centered and cynical TV weatherman, sent for the fifth time to the small town of Punxsutawney, PA to cover the Groundhog ceremony held every February 2nd. He stumbles into a time warp and winds up repeating the same day over and over again until forced to look at himself from the distance and to examine his attitude.

I love this movie – not only it is one of the best, most original, clever and funniest comedies I've seen, it also makes you think of the serious questions. For instance, when Gods want to punish a mean, arrogant SOB, they would not take his sanity away – they will make the whole world around him mad and let him deal with the situation. Or another question, what would you do if you have eternity on your hands? Is it a curse or blessing?

Groundhog Day does not reuse tired and stupid jokes; its humor comes from the situations and characters. Bill Murray was born to play Phil Connors and movie uses his talent as a comedian to the fullest. I think it was the best role Murray ever played. His character has gone through transformation before our eyes, and it was very convincing.

9.5/10