Groundhog Day (1993)

Director:

Harold Ramis

Writers (WGA):

Danny Rubin (story)
Danny Rubin (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Redemption | Animal In Title | Kindness | Pickup Truck | Fantastic

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Bill Murray	...	Phil Connors
Andie MacDowell	...	Rita
Chris Elliott	...	Larry
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Ned Ryerson
Brian Doyle-Murray	...	Buster Green
Marita Geraghty	...	Nancy Taylor
Angela Paton	...	Mrs. Lancaster
Rick Ducommun	...	Gus
Rick Overton	...	Ralph
Robin Duke	...	Doris, the Waitress
Carol Bivins	...	Anchorwoman
Willie Garson	...	Kenny
Ken Hudson Campbell	...	Man in Hallway
Les Podewell	...	Old Man
Rod Sell	...	Groundhog Official
Tom Milanovich	...	State Trooper
John M. Watson Sr.	...	Bartender (as John Watson Sr.)
Peggy Roeder	...	Piano Teacher
Harold Ramis	...	Neurologist
David Pasquesi	...	Psychiatrist
Lee R. Sellars	...	Cop
Chet Dubowski	...	Felix, Bank Guard
C.O. Erickson	...	Herman, Bank Guard (as Doc Erickson)
Sandy Maschmeyer	...	Phil's Movie Date
Leighanne O'Neil	...	Fan on Street
Evangeline Binkley	...	'Jeopardy!' Viewer
Samuel Mages	...	'Jeopardy!' Viewer
Ben Zwick	...	'Jeopardy!' Viewer
Hynden Walch	...	Debbie Kleiser (as Hynden Walsh)
Michael Shannon	...	Fred Kleiser
Timothy Hendrickson	...	Bill, Waiter
Martha Webster	...	Alice, Waitress
Angela Dezen	...	Piano Student (as Angela Gollan)
Shaun Chaiyabhat	...	Boy in Tree
Dianne B. Shaw	...	E.R. Nurse
Barbara Ann Grimes	...	Flat Tire Lady
Ann Heekin	...	Flat Tire Lady
Lucina Paquet	...	Flat Tire Lady
Brenda Pickleman	...	Buster's Wife
Amy Murdoch	...	Buster's Daughter
Eric Saiet	...	Buster's Son
Lindsay Albert	...	Woman with Cigarette (as Lindsay Reinsch)
Roger Adler	...	Guitarist
Ben A. Fish	...	Bassist
Don Riozz McNichols	...	Drummer
Brian Willig	...	Saxophonist
Richard Henzel	...	DJ (voice)
Rob Riley	...	DJ (voice)
Scooter	...	The Groundhog
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Douglas Blakeslee	...	Man with Snow Shovel (uncredited)
Tony DeGuide	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Leslie Frates	...	Herself - 'Jeopardy!' Contestant (uncredited)
Simon Harvey	...	News Reporter (uncredited)
Grady Hutt	...	(uncredited)
Regina Prokop	...	Polka Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Harold Ramis

Writing credits (WGA)
Danny Rubin		(story)
Danny Rubin		(screenplay) and
Harold Ramis		(screenplay)

Produced by
Trevor Albert	....	producer
C.O. Erickson	....	executive producer
Harold Ramis	....	producer
Whitney White	....	associate producer

Original Music by
George Fenton

Cinematography by
John Bailey

Film Editing by
Pembroke J. Herring

Casting by
Howard Feuer

Production Design by
David Nichols

Art Direction by
Peter Landsdown Smith

Set Decoration by
Lisa Fischer

Costume Design by
Jennifer Butler

Makeup Department
Art Anthony	....	special makeup effects
Deborah K. Dee	....	makeup artist
Emanuel Millar	....	key hair stylist
Dorothy J. Pearl	....	key makeup artist (as Dorothy Pearl)
Gunnar Swanson	....	hair stylist
James Lacey	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
C.O. Erickson	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cyd Adams	....	second second assistant director
Brian W. Boyd	....	second assistant director: second unit
Steve Boyum	....	second unit director
Michael Haley	....	first assistant director
Sam Hoffman	....	second second assistant director
Alan Hopkins	....	first assistant director: second unit
Gaetano Lisi	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Gaetano 'Tom' Lisi)
John L. Roman	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Gary Baugh	....	assistant art director
Amy Berk	....	art department coordinator
Ron Bolanowski	....	assistant property master
Karen Fletcher Trujillo	....	set designer
Dick Hansen	....	set dresser
Amie McCarthy	....	property master (as Amie Frances McCarthy)
James J. Murakami	....	assistant art director
Joel Prihoda	....	lead man
Phil Read	....	construction coordinator
Timothy W. Tiedje	....	set dresser
Anthony Joseph Fatigato	....	painter (uncredited)
Michael Anthony Jackson	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Mike Monckton	....	signwriter (uncredited)

Sound Department
George H. Anderson	....	supervising sound editor
Mary Andrews	....	adr editor
Kevin Barlia	....	sound editor
Bill W. Benton	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ed Callahan	....	sound editor
Ann Ducommun	....	assistant sound editor
David Giammarco	....	sound editor
John A. Larsen	....	sound editor
Les Lazarowitz	....	production sound mixer
Linda Martin	....	assistant sound editor
Cindy Marty	....	sound editor
Sergio Reyes	....	sound re-recording mixer
B. Tennyson Sebastian III	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott R. Thomson	....	cable person (as Scott Thompson)
Jeffrey A. Williams	....	boom operator
Harry E. Snodgrass	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jeff Frink	....	special effects
Rick Lazzarini	....	ice scuplture: Andie MacDowell
Tom Ryba	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Steve Boyum	....	stunts
Frank P. Calzavara	....	stunts
Rudy J. Calzavara	....	stunts
Eddie J. Fernandez	....	stunt driver (as Ed Fernandez)
James Fierro	....	stunts
Glory Fioramonti	....	stunts
Mark Harper	....	stunts
Maryann Kelman	....	stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator
Stacy Logan	....	stunts
James R. Mammoser	....	stunts
Jim McCarthy	....	stunts
Linda Perlin	....	stunts
Randy Popplewell	....	stunts
Gina Reale	....	stunts
Rich Wilkie	....	stunts
Jeff Williams	....	stunts (as Jeffrey Martin Williams)
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
James Blanford	....	director of photography: second unit
Beth Cotter	....	second assistant camera
Dennis De La Mata	....	key grip: second unit
Linda Gacsko	....	camera loader
Louis Goldman	....	still photographer
Michael Kohnhorst	....	camera operator: second unit
George Kohut	....	director of photography: second unit
Peter Kuttner	....	first assistant camera
Morgan Michael Lewis	....	key grip
Thomas Lewis	....	gaffer: second unit
Mark R. Lindberg	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Ann Lukacs	....	camera operator: second unit
Bradley T. Matthys	....	dolly grip
Mark E. Matthys	....	best boy grip
Mike Moyer	....	gaffer
Hope A. Nielsen	....	second assistant camera
Michael Stone	....	camera operator
Paolo Cascio	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Nicole Arbusto	....	casting assistant
Jane Brody	....	casting: Chicago
Mark A. Ridge	....	extras casting
Barbara L. Roche	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Butler	....	costume supervisor
Patrick Caulfield	....	costumer
Julie Glick	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Tony Ciccone	....	first assistant editor
Lin Coleman	....	first assistant editor
James Durante	....	apprentice editor (as Jim Durante)
Sandy French	....	second assistant editor (as Sandra French)
Craig Herring	....	additional editor
Steve Kraus	....	editing systems technician
Kimberly Lord	....	apprentice editor
Scot Deer	....	telecine colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator
Sally Boldt	....	music editor
Sharon Boyle	....	music supervisor
John Richards	....	score mixer
Jeffrey Pollack	....	music consultant (uncredited)
Dana Sano	....	music coordinator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
George DiLeonardi	....	transportation coordinator (as George J. DiLeonardi)
Danny Maxwell	....	transportation co-captain (as Dan Maxwell)

Other crew
Jennifer Bird	....	production office assistant
Rafe Blasi	....	unit publicist
Mary J. Carlson	....	script supervisor: second unit
Julie Chandler	....	script supervisor: second unit
Ritchie Copenhaver	....	location manager: second unit
Dawn Erickson	....	assistant: Mr. Albert
Valerie Flueger	....	set production assistant
Terry Fryer	....	hand double: playing piano
Suzanne Herrington	....	assistant: Mr. Ramis
Bill Hoffman	....	animal trainer
Craig Hosking	....	helicopter pilot: second unit
Bob Hudgins	....	location manager
Jim Kindelon	....	stand-in
Alecia LaRue	....	production coordinator
Susan B. Mencke	....	craft service
Kimberly K. Miller	....	assistant location manager
Kim Miller	....	animal trainer
Margaret Mitchell	....	production accountant
Judd Nissen	....	production office assistant
Margaret J. Orlando	....	production secretary
Brian M. Schwartz	....	set production assistant
Christina Stauffer	....	set production assistant
Judi Townsend	....	script supervisor
Jim Weis	....	key set production assistant
Nancy Willen	....	unit publicist
Natalie Alexander	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Kay Lyn Byrne	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer (uncredited)
Michelle Landes	....	extras wrangler (uncredited)
Billy Pittard	....	title designer (uncredited)
Cliff T.E. Roseman	....	location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1995) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia Pictures (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (????) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1993) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (????) (Italy) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• LK-TEL (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Character Shop

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  opticals
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting
• Holzer Roche Ridge Casting  extras casting
• Pittard Sullivan Fitzgerald  titles
• Sony Pictures Studios  sound services
• Tomkats Catering  catering

MPAA:

Rated PG for some thematic elements.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Netherlands:AL | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:K-10 | Germany:6 | Ireland:15 | Norway:10 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Phil at the piano teacher's house, when he is fumblingly playing Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paginini", is actually Bill Murray playing. He does not read music, but he learned that much of the song by ear. Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paginini", specifically its 18th Variation, was also used in another time fantasy movie, Somewhere in Time (1980).

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Rita, supposedly a 19th century French Literature Major, mispronounces "appetit" in the diner.

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Box (2005/I)

Soundtrack:

PENNSYLVANIA POLKA

Neglected Masterpiece

I thought the film was terrific when I saw it in theaters twelve years ago. Recently in watching it again on cable, I was amazed at the quality of the screenplay. I didn't notice the first time. But on repeated viewings (like reliving Groundhog Day), I was impressed at the story created by the writers. This film is so much more than witty jokes and comic riffs arranged around a gimmick. It has an internal logic and consistency that is very rarely found in screenplays. No joke seemed disposable, and as you laugh your way along, the philosophy underlying the film takes over your imagination.

Check the IMDb listings for this film's awards: look at the numerous British awards for writing. And yet this film was not even nominated for an Oscar. It is so rare that a film's jokes seem just as fresh more than a decade later, but I believe that is because the theme underlying the humor will never go out of fashion.

The acting was terrific, and I now think this is Bill Murray's best work (though I didn't take it seriously when I first saw the film.) But the screenplay is the one of the finest ever written. I don't know if it's studied in film schools, but it ought to be.