Tuesday, February 12, 2013

A classic turns 20

I agree... the movie gets better with age and repeated viewings...
"Well, it's Groundhog Day... again," said Phil Connors, played by Bill Murray, in 1993's "Groundhog Day." February 12 marks the 20th anniversary of the release of the romantic comedy that had Murray reliving the same day over and over again until he finally learned how to be a better man.

The movie, directed by Harold Ramis and written by Ramis and Danny Rubin, was a box-office hit at the time, grossing over $70 million (more than 4.5 times it's budget). But -- much like a day in Punxsutawney, PA -- experiencing the movie repeatedly just makes you appreciate it all the more. "Groundhog Day" didn't receive any major awards or even nominations at the time, but now it is regarded as a modern classic. The American Film Institute placed it on their lists of the best comedies and best fantasy films, and in 2006 it was added to the National Film Registry of historically significant films.

One of the pleasures of watching "Groundhog Day" time after time is trying to put together how all the little pieces of Phil Connors' day fit together. But even if you've seen the movie more times than you can count, there are still some bits about the making of it you might not know...

Funny how two of Murray's iconic roles both involve rodents...



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