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Groundhog Dayproducer Trevor Albert is recalling how the lateHarold Ramisand starBill Murraydeveloped a conflict during the making of the beloved classic.
As the comedy approaches its 30th anniversary, Albert recently recalled toThe Hollywood Reporterthat Murray, now 72, “appeared to be in a tough place” while filmingGroundhog Day, per the outlet’s own phrasing.
“It was a tense shoot for a number of reasons,” the producer toldTHR. “It was unfortunate and probably made the movie considerably less fun to make. But you can still make a very good movie when people are not in perfect harmony.”
Albert’s recollection of Murray and Ramis' rift is not the first time those who worked on the production have spoken about their differences. The pair, who had previously collaborated onCaddyshack(1980) andGhostbusters(1984), began disagreeing as they began working together on theGroundhog Dayscript.
Ramis even sent the film’s original screenwriter Danny Rubin to work with Murray on the script after he grew tired of receiving calls from Murray at 2 a.m., and Murray would pretend not to be available when Ramis tried to check in, according to a 2004The New Yorkerarticle on Ramis' career.
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“At times, Bill was just really irrationally mean and unavailable; he was constantly late on set,” Ramis toldThe New Yorkerat the time. “What I’d want to say to him is just what we tell our children: ‘You don’t have to throw tantrums to get what you want. Just say what you want.’ "
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Murray “wanted it to be more philosophical, and Harold kept reminding him it was a comedy,” the screenwriter said.
ThoughGroundhog Dayultimately proved a success, Murray and Ramis did not speak for years after they made the movie. The duo only reunited months before Ramis' death in 2014, according toVariety.
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Elsewhere in theTHRinterview, Albert recalled that Creative Artists Agency president Richard Lovett first suggestedGroundhog Day’sscript to him and Ramis, leading the pair to take on the project in the first place.
“And that’s how we found an unexpected gem,” he added.
source: people.com
