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141-635: In 2013, the stage was dedicated to Orson Welles , who grew up in Woodstock and performed at the venue during his formative years. The Opera House was built in 1889 to house the library, council room, justice court, fire department and second floor auditorium for the City of Woodstock. The Patti Rosa Company provided the inaugural performance of Margery Daw on Thursday, September 4, 1890. The Opera House became McHenry County ’s center for entertainment hosting touring vaudeville , minstrel and dramatic companies. When

282-416: A main street like Punxsutawney's. Location scout Bob Hudgins thought that Mineral Point, Wisconsin , could meet their requirements. During the scouting journey there, the team stopped in the city of Baraboo, Wisconsin , which happened to have a town square . The filmmakers could see the benefits of a town square over a main street. Ramis asked for something similar, but in closer proximity to Chicago. By

423-456: A time loop , forcing him to relive February   2 repeatedly. The film also features Stephen Tobolowsky , Brian Doyle-Murray , Marita Geraghty , Angela Paton , Rick Ducommun , Rick Overton , and Robin Duke in supporting roles. Rubin conceived the outline of Groundhog Day in the early 1990s. He wrote it as a spec script to gain meetings with producers for other work. It eventually came to

564-417: A Wonderful Life (1946) and A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). Rubin spent eight weeks working on the story: seven making notes to define the rules and characters, and one writing the script. He struggled to establish a cause for the time loop, considering technological, magical, and celestial origins. He considered these methods interchangeable and felt the cause was unimportant and could detract from

705-411: A calendar and picked the next nearest holiday, February   2, Groundhog Day. He saw it as a date with story potential because it was a recognized holiday without much widespread attention. Rubin believed that people were vaguely aware of the holiday, on which a groundhog predicts the coming of spring. Even so, he believed few people outside Pennsylvania were aware that the actual festival takes place in

846-616: A commercial production of the work. In a last-minute move, Welles announced to waiting ticket-holders that the show was being transferred to the Venice , 20 blocks away. Some cast, and some crew and audience, walked the distance on foot. The union musicians refused to perform in a commercial theater for lower non-union government wages. The actors' union stated that the production belonged to the Federal Theatre Project and could not be performed outside that context without permission. Lacking

987-445: A cost of $ 25,000. The construction materials are mostly of local origin including limestone, terra cotta, fieldstone, white brick, and sandstone. Its architectural style is a mixture of late Victorian-era tastes combined with Early American, Midwestern, Gothic, and even Moorish elements. The interior is modeled after the showboats of the time, with dimensions and decorations that imitate many of those grand floating theatres. In 1960,

1128-485: A day as long as this, even in a lifetime of endless repetition, there's still room for possibilities." Ramis's rewrite PHIL "What are you looking for? Who's your perfect guy?" RITA "Well. First of all, he's too humble to know he's perfect." PHIL "That's me." RITA "He's intelligent, supportive, funny." PHIL "Intelligent, supportive, funny. Me, me, me." RITA (thinking) "He's romantic and courageous." PHIL "Me, me also." RITA "He has

1269-436: A few days refining it into the screenplay. Rubin recommended that they not include any references to the 1990s or any specific period to allow it to remain timeless. Rubin has said that the final film largely resembles his script. He did regret the loss of a scene between Phil and a 14-year-old boy, in which the child behaves like Phil did at the start of the film, contrasting with Phil's character development by that point in

1410-645: A film to start, he was reading Anne Rice 's book The Vampire Lestat (1985). Rubin began musing about vampiric immortality and what one would do with their time if it was limitless. He reasoned that vampires were like normal people who did not need to adhere to ordinary rules or moral boundaries. He questioned if and when immortality would become boring or pointless, and how a person would change over time, especially if they were incapable of substantial change. He singled out men he deemed to be in arrested development , who could not outlive their adolescence. Having recently sold his first script for what would become

1551-449: A good body but he doesn't have to look in the mirror every two minutes." PHIL "I have a great body and I never look at it." RITA "He's kind and sensitive and gentle and considerate. And he's not afraid to cry in front of me." PHIL "This is a man we're talking about, right?" It was Ramis's version that attracted Murray to the project, though Murray and Ramis immediately clashed over its tone. Murray wanted to focus on

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1692-513: A hotel in Chicago. Shortly before this, Welles had told his father that he refused to see him until he stopped drinking. Welles suffered lifelong guilt and despair that he was unable to express. "That was the last I ever saw of him," Welles told biographer Barbara Leaming 53 years later. "I've never, never ... I don't want to forgive myself." His father's will left it to Welles to name his guardian. When Roger Hill declined, he chose Dr. Maurice Bernstein,

1833-554: A jerk but he makes you laugh." Albert auditioned comedians for the role of Rita, but determined that someone competing with Murray at comedy would be detrimental. Rita was not intended to trade witty comments with Phil, but instead to offer human warmth and intelligence. MacDowell was cast because she was thought to bring an effortless grace suited to Rita's character. MacDowell tried to adapt to Murray's natural improvisation in scenes. She believed that her character's humor comes from her honesty, without being outlandish. Singer Tori Amos

1974-400: A man who woke every morning to find it was the same day repeating. Rubin married the two ideas to create the outline for Groundhog Day . By portraying eternity as a repeating cycle instead of a straight line through history, he eliminated the production cost of constantly changing settings. He believed that the repetition also offered him more dramatic and comedic possibilities. Rubin opened

2115-527: A modern, politically charged Caesar (1937). In 1938, his radio anthology series The Mercury Theatre on the Air gave Welles the platform to find international fame as the director and narrator of a radio adaptation of H. G. Wells 's novel The War of the Worlds , which caused some listeners to believe that a Martian invasion was in fact occurring. The event rocketed 23-year-old Welles to notoriety. His first film

2256-613: A monotonous, unpleasant, and repetitive situation, has become part of the English lexicon. Buddhist, Christian, and Jewish scholars have analyzed the film as a religious allegory. Groundhog Day is also credited with having ushered in mainstream acceptance of comedy films with fantasy-genre elements. In 2006, the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry . Groundhog Day

2397-772: A need for feel-good entertainment in a time of recession . As production costs rose, films pitched at both adults and children offered a greater chance being profitable both at the theater and in the ensuing home video rentals . By 1993, the three all-time highest-grossing films in North America were family-oriented: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial , Star Wars , and Home Alone . Family films encouraged repeat business and offered more opportunities to sell merchandise. Columbia Pictures chairman Mark Canton said that PG-rated films were much more likely to make over $ 100   million, compared to adult-oriented fare. Groundhog Day

2538-668: A new annex was completed and added to the Opera House on its adjacent lot. It provides disability access to the stage, a freight elevator, additional back stage areas, offices and the Stage Left Café. The Orson Welles Stage was dedicated February 10, 2013, honoring the site of Welles's American debut as a professional theatre director. The Woodstock Opera House hosts a variety of programming and events each year including concerts, theatrical plays, dance, visual arts, educational programming, lectures, meetings, receptions, and more. Situated on

2679-474: A pedestrian outside. Rubin thought this would intrigue an audience trying to understand how and why he is doing these things. He chose "I Got You Babe" because it used a lot of repeating lines and was about love, which he felt were thematically resonant aspects. He likened his original script to the 1949 British black comedy film Kind Hearts and Coronets , particularly the flippant way in which Phil's multiple suicides are shown. Rubin did not initially write

2820-567: A physician and friend of the family. Following graduation from Todd in May 1931, Welles was awarded a scholarship to Harvard College , while his mentor Roger Hill advocated he attend Cornell College in Iowa. Instead, Welles chose travel. He studied for a few weeks at the Art Institute of Chicago with Boris Anisfeld , who encouraged him to pursue painting. Welles occasionally returned to Woodstock,

2961-455: A place that did not look as if it was specific to any particular period. The Pennsylvania Film Commission provided location scouting tapes of Punxsutawney, but it became obvious that attempting to film in Punxsutawney would present difficulties, as the town had few ideal filming locations for the scripted scenes. Punxsutawney was also too isolated from the necessary amenities. The rural town

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3102-630: A predecessor to the Berkshire String Quartet , which had made its first appearance at her home in 1921, played at Beatrice's funeral. After his mother's death, Welles ceased pursuing a musical career. It was decided that he would spend the summer with the Watson family at a private art colony established by Lydia Avery Coonley Ward in the village of Wyoming in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. There, he played and became friends with

3243-596: A prime unifying scenic element in a nearly black stage, presented January 8 – May 9, 1937, at Maxine Elliott's Theatre. Outside the scope of the Federal Theatre Project, American composer Aaron Copland chose Welles to direct The Second Hurricane (1937), an operetta with a libretto by Edwin Denby. Presented at the Henry Street Settlement Music School in New York for the benefit of high school students,

3384-466: A setting for several scenes, was purpose-built for the film. Local demand later led to a real diner with a near-identical name at the same location. The bachelor auction where Phil demonstrates his personal transformation was filmed at the Woodstock Moose Lodge. The shots of Murray being nearly run over by a train were filmed at the nearby Illinois Railway Museum . The scene of Phil driving

3525-490: A seven-week series to adapt Les Misérables . It was his first job as a writer-director for radio, the debut of the Mercury Theatre , and one of Welles's earliest and finest achievements. He invented the use of narration in radio. "By making himself the center of the storytelling process, Welles fostered the impression of self-adulation that was to haunt his career to his dying day", wrote critic Andrew Sarris . "For

3666-424: A summer show for 13 weeks. The series began July 11, 1938 with the formula that Welles would play the lead in each show. . The weekly hour-long show presented radio plays based on classic literary works, with original music composed and conducted by Bernard Herrmann . The Mercury Theatre's radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells October 30, 1938, brought Welles instant fame. The combination of

3807-545: A truck over a cliff was shot in Nimtz Quarry in Loves Park, Illinois , about 34 miles (55 km) from Woodstock. A rail system was used to propel two vehicles into the quarry on separate takes, to give Ramis a choice of shots; pyrotechnics were employed to make each explode. 1993 was considered the year of the family film. This was seen as a response to criticism of Hollywood for overusing violence and sex in films, as well as

3948-405: A twist: Phil breaks his loop and then confesses his love to Rita. The perspective then becomes Rita's; she rejects Phil's advance because she is not ready for love and gets trapped in a loop of her own. Rubin's agent used the script to arrange meetings with producers; although it did not sell, the meetings generated other work for him. In 1991, after his agent left the industry, Rubin distributed

4089-600: A year of his debut Welles could claim membership in that elite band of radio actors who commanded salaries second only to the highest paid movie stars," wrote critic Richard France . Part of the Works Progress Administration , the Federal Theatre Project (1935–1939) was a New Deal program to fund theatre and other live artistic performances and entertainment programs in the United States during

4230-520: The CBS Radio series The March of Time , performing a scene from Panic for a news report on the stage production. By 1935, Welles was supplementing his earnings in the theatre as a radio actor in Manhattan , working with many actors who later formed the core of his Mercury Theatre on programs including America's Hour , Cavalcade of America , Columbia Workshop and The March of Time . "Within

4371-920: The Gate Theatre in Dublin and claimed he was a Broadway star. The manager of the Gate, Hilton Edwards , later said he had not believed him but was impressed by his brashness and an impassioned audition he gave. Welles made his stage debut at the Gate Theatre on October 13, 1931, appearing in Ashley Dukes 's adaptation of Jud Süß as Duke Karl Alexander of Württemberg. He performed small supporting roles in subsequent Gate productions, and he produced and designed productions of his own in Dublin. In March 1932, Welles performed in W. Somerset Maugham 's The Circle at Dublin's Abbey Theatre and traveled to London to find additional work in

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4512-776: The Golden Lion in 1947, the Palme D'Or in 1952, the Academy Honorary Award in 1970, the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1975, and the British Film Institute Fellowship in 1983. In 2002, he was voted the greatest film director of all time in two British Film Institute polls among directors and critics. In 2018, he was included in the list of the 50 greatest Hollywood actors of all time by The Daily Telegraph . Micheál Mac Liammóir , who worked with

4653-573: The Great Depression . It was created as a relief measure to employ artists, writers, directors and theatre workers. Under national director Hallie Flanagan it was shaped into a truly national theatre that created relevant art, encouraged experimentation and innovation, and made it possible for millions of Americans to see live theatre for the first time. John Houseman , director of the Negro Theatre Unit in New York, invited Welles to join

4794-578: The Groundhog Day script in an effort to secure a new representative. It came to the attention of Richard Lovett at Creative Arts Agency . Lovett said that he could not represent Rubin, but passed the script to his own client, Harold Ramis. By the early 1990s, Ramis had begun moving away from involvement in the anti-establishment and anti-institutional comedies, such as Caddyshack (1980) and National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), that had defined his earlier career. While Ramis had successes in front of

4935-514: The 16-year-old Welles on the stage in Dublin and later played Iago in his film Othello , wrote that "Orson's courage, like everything else about him, imagination, egotism, generosity, ruthlessness, forbearance, impatience, sensitivity, grossness and vision is magnificently out of proportion." George Orson Welles was born May 6, 1915, in Kenosha, Wisconsin , a son of Richard Head Welles and Beatrice Ives Welles ( née Beatrice Lucy Ives). He

5076-624: The Air made its last broadcast on December 4, 1938, and The Campbell Playhouse began five days later. Welles began commuting from California to New York for the two Sunday broadcasts of The Campbell Playhouse after signing a film contract with RKO Pictures in August 1939. In November 1939, production of the show moved from New York to Los Angeles. After 20 shows, Campbell began to exercise more creative control and had complete control over story selection. As his contract with Campbell came to an end, Welles chose not to sign on for another season. After

5217-474: The Air —through actor-director Paul Stewart , who introduced him to director Knowles Entrikin. That summer, Welles staged a drama festival with the Todd School at the Opera House in Woodstock, Illinois, inviting Micheál Mac Liammóir and Hilton Edwards from Dublin's Gate Theatre to appear along with New York stage luminaries in productions including Trilby , Hamlet , The Drunkard and Tsar Paul . At

5358-692: The Far East. When they returned, they settled in a hotel in Grand Detour, Illinois , that was owned by his father. When the hotel burned down, Welles and his father took to the road again. "During the three years that Orson lived with his father, some observers wondered who took care of whom," wrote biographer Frank Brady. "In some ways, he was never really a young boy, you know," said Roger Hill, who became Welles's teacher and lifelong friend. Welles briefly attended public school in Madison, Wisconsin, enrolled in

5499-452: The Federal Theatre Project in 1935. Far from unemployed—"I was so employed I forgot how to sleep"—Welles put a large share of his $ 1,500-a-week radio earnings into his stage productions, bypassing administrative red tape and mounting the projects more quickly and professionally. " Roosevelt once said that I was the only operator in history who ever illegally siphoned money into a Washington project," Welles said. The Federal Theatre Project

5640-581: The Junior Civic Arts League invested time and effort to battle the increasing deterioration of the auditorium and stage. The Woodstock Fine Arts Association was formed in 1961 with the purpose of restoring the Opera House through the next decade. In 1972, the Opera House was declared a "landmark" by the city and the Woodstock Opera House Community Center, Inc. was formed to raise funds for a restoration effort. The Opera House

5781-609: The Lithuanian-born pianist-composer Leopold Godowsky . She played during lectures by Dudley Crafts Watson at the Art Institute of Chicago to support her son and herself. As a boy, Welles received piano and violin lessons arranged by his mother. The older Welles boy, "Dickie", was institutionalized at an early age because he had learning difficulties. Beatrice died of hepatitis in a Chicago hospital on May 10, 1924, just after Welles's ninth birthday. The Gordon String Quartet,

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5922-772: The Woodstock Opera House was dedicated to Welles in 2013, and the Woodstock Opera House hosted an 80th anniversary celebration of the Todd Theatre Festival. In 1947, a group of citizens formed and supported the Woodstock Players. For several years the Players, provided acting experience for students graduation from the Goodman School . Now-famous personalities Paul Newman , Tom Bosley , Betsy Palmer , Geraldine Page , Shelley Berman and Lois Nettleton were among

6063-627: The [American] theater", Lloyd said of Welles in a 2014 interview. "When you saw a Welles production, you saw the text had been affected, the staging was remarkable, the sets were unusual, music, sound, lighting, a totality of everything. We had not had such a man in our theater. He was the first and remains the greatest." The Mercury Theatre opened November 11, 1937, with Caesar , Welles's modern-dress adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy Julius Caesar —streamlined into an anti-fascist tour de force that Joseph Cotten later described as "so vigorous, so contemporary that it set Broadway on its ear." The set

6204-473: The adoring townsfolk regale her with stories of his good deeds earlier that day. Impressed by his apparent overnight transformation, Rita successfully bids for him at a charity bachelor auction. Phil carves an ice sculpture in Rita's image and tells her that no matter what happens, even if he is trapped in the loop forever, he is finally happy because he loves her. They share a kiss and retire to Phil's room. Phil wakes

6345-495: The area, preventing all travel out of Punxsutawney, and although he desperately searches for a way to leave, he is forced to spend the night in the town. The next morning, Phil wakes once more to "I Got You Babe" and the same DJ banter on the radio in his room at the Cherry Street Inn. Phil experiences the previous day's events repeating exactly and believes he is experiencing déjà vu . He again unsuccessfully attempts to leave

6486-402: The assignment, the small town, and the "hicks" who live there, asserting that he will soon be leaving his station for a new job. On February   2, Phil awakens in the Cherry Street Inn to Sonny & Cher 's " I Got You Babe " playing on the clock radio. He gives a half-hearted report on the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil and the festivities. Contrary to his prediction, the blizzard strikes

6627-473: The attention of Ramis, who worked with Rubin to make his idea less dark in tone and more palatable to a general audience by enhancing the comedy. After being cast, Murray clashed with Ramis over the script; Murray wanted to focus on the philosophical elements, whereas Ramis concentrated on the comedic aspects. Principal photography took place from March to June 1992, almost entirely in Woodstock, Illinois . Filming

6768-688: The books, while onboard ship. After landing at Morocco, he stayed as the guest of Thami El Glaoui , in the Atlas mountains surrounding Tangier , while working on thousands of illustrations for the Everybody's Shakespeare series of educational books, a series that remained in print for decades. In 1933, Hortense and Roger Hill invited Welles to a party in Chicago , where Welles met Thornton Wilder . Wilder arranged for Welles to meet Alexander Woollcott in New York in order that he be introduced to Katharine Cornell , who

6909-559: The bride's godmother. Welles wore a cutaway borrowed from his friend George Macready . A revised production of Katharine Cornell's Romeo and Juliet opened December 20, 1934, at the Martin Beck Theatre in New York. The Broadway production brought the 19-year-old Welles to the notice of John Houseman , a theatrical producer who was casting the lead role in the debut production of one of Archibald MacLeish 's verse plays, Panic . On March 22, 1935, Welles made his debut on

7050-464: The broadcast of March 31, 1940, Welles and Campbell parted amicably. RKO Radio Pictures president George Schaefer eventually offered Welles what generally is considered the greatest contract offered to a filmmaker, much less to one who was untried. Engaging him to write, produce, direct and perform in two motion pictures, the contract subordinated the studio's financial interests to Welles's creative control, and broke all precedent by granting Welles

7191-447: The camera and in creative roles like writing, his last directorial effort, Club Paradise (1986), had been a critical and commercial failure. He wanted to direct an unusual project and was particularly interested in comedies about redemption and discovering one's purpose in life. Rubin was aware of Ramis's previous work, having watched him in film and television. Ramis admitted that he did not laugh while reading Rubin's script. He

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7332-453: The cast, Welles primarily used actors from his Mercury Theatre. Filming Citizen Kane took ten weeks. Welles called Toland "the greatest gift any director—young or old—could ever, ever have. And he never tried to impress on us that he was performing miracles. He just went ahead and performed them. I was calling on him to do things only a beginner could be ignorant enough to think anybody could ever do, and there he was, doing them." The film

7473-548: The character as particularly nasty, aiming for a normal person in an extranormal situation. In casting Murray, Phil was portrayed as more cynical, sarcastic, and detached, but not so malicious that audiences would no longer support him. Rubin wanted Kevin Kline for the part, believing Murray did not have the necessary acting ability. Ramis reassured Rubin, saying, "Don't worry. This is what Bill Murray can do. He can be that nasty and still make you like him." MacDowell agreed, saying "He's

7614-485: The children of the Aga Khan , including the 12-year-old Prince Aly Khan . Then, in what Welles later described as "a hectic period" in his life, he lived in a Chicago apartment with both his father and Maurice Bernstein, a Chicago physician who had been a close friend of both his parents. Welles briefly attended public school before his alcoholic father left business altogether and took him along on his travels to Jamaica and

7755-452: The clever methods he used to prevent accidents while making the most efficient use of his time. For example, Phil puts a large rock in a road to stop a truck delivering fish, on which a restaurant patron would have later choked. Where Rubin's original script had been more sermonic and deprecating, Ramis made the tone more optimistic. Two versions of a scene with Phil and Rita in a diner from Rubin's original script and Ramis's rewrite exemplify

7896-417: The combination was reported as fact around the world and disparagingly mentioned by Adolf Hitler in a public speech. Welles's growing fame drew Hollywood offers, lures that the independent-minded Welles resisted at first. The Mercury Theatre on the Air , which had been a sustaining show (without sponsorship), was picked up by Campbell Soup and renamed The Campbell Playhouse . The Mercury Theatre on

8037-464: The day to accurately predict events. Convinced, Rita spends the rest of that day's loop with Phil; she encourages him to think of the loops as a blessing instead of a curse. As they lie on the bed together at night, Phil realizes that his feelings for Rita have become sincere. He wakes alone on February   2. Phil decides to use his knowledge of the loop to change himself and others: he saves people from deadly accidents and misfortunes and learns to play

8178-403: The decision was made to film in Woodstock. The town even came with a large pothole for Phil to step in. Scouts initially found a forested preserve area outside of McHenry, Illinois , to film scenes at Gobbler's Knob. The filmmakers later opted to position the site in the town square instead, recreating it to scale with detailed notes and videos, which significantly increased the effect on

8319-469: The fall of 1936 Welles adapted and performed Hamlet in an early two-part episode of CBS Radio 's Columbia Workshop . His performance as the announcer in the series' April 1937 presentation of Archibald MacLeish 's verse drama The Fall of the City was an important development in his radio career and made the 21-year-old Welles an overnight star. In July 1937, the Mutual Network gave Welles

8460-471: The film Groundhog Day (which was filmed primarily in Woodstock) as The Pennsylvanian Hotel. Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, and producer who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time. At age 21, Welles

8601-434: The film as a broad comedy, considering it more whimsical. He found that the funnier elements were the easiest to think of; one of the earliest scenes he wrote was about Phil using his ever-increasing knowledge to seduce women. Loops were also dedicated to Phil seeing how far he could get outside of Punxsutawney; inevitably, he was always returned to the town. Even so, the script focused much more on Phil's loneliness. He breaks

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8742-444: The film before the loop begins because she thought it would be more interesting for the audience to see Phil's initial reaction to his predicament. Ramis also removed Rita's boyfriend, Max, and introduced (then removed) Phil's executive producer, Gil Hawley. This draft featured more scenes focused on Phil's sexual conquests and removed some content deemed more mean-spirited, like Phil asking Rita to be his "love slave." The situation

8883-476: The film receiving no technical awards. Groundhog Day (film) Groundhog Day is a 1993 American fantasy comedy film directed by Harold Ramis from a screenplay by him and Danny Rubin . Starring Bill Murray , Andie MacDowell , and Chris Elliott , it tells the story of a cynical television weatherman covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania , who becomes trapped in

9024-453: The film. He later confessed regret in passing on the role. Phil was written as a younger man, but this was changed when it was determined that the appropriate comic actors were all older. Murray and Ramis had a longstanding friendship and collaborative relationship, having worked together since 1974 on many projects and five films to great success, including Meatballs (1979), Caddyshack , and Ghostbusters (1984). Rubin did not write

9165-613: The first-draft screenplay under the supervision of John Houseman . Welles wrote his own draft, then drastically condensed and rearranged both versions and added scenes of his own. The industry accused Welles of underplaying Mankiewicz's contribution to the script, but Welles countered the attacks by saying, "At the end, naturally, I was the one making the picture, after all—who had to make the decisions. I used what I wanted of Mank's and, rightly or wrongly, kept what I liked of my own." Welles's project attracted some of Hollywood's best technicians, including cinematographer Gregg Toland . For

9306-762: The fourth grade. On September 15, 1926, he entered the Todd Seminary for Boys , an expensive independent school in Woodstock, Illinois , that his older brother, Richard Ives Welles, had attended ten years before until he was expelled for misbehavior. At Todd School, Welles came under the influence of Roger Hill, a teacher who was later Todd's headmaster. Hill provided Welles with an ad hoc educational environment that proved invaluable to his creative experience, allowing Welles to concentrate on subjects that interested him. Welles performed and staged theatrical experiments and productions there. "Todd provided Welles with many valuable experiences," wrote critic Richard France. "He

9447-411: The historic square in downtown Woodstock, the Opera House is one of the oldest continuously operating theatres in the country. The Opera House is a fully modernized theatre while retaining its historical character. It features contemporary sound, lighting, stage rigging, heating, air-conditioning and other amenities and is owned and operated by the City of Woodstock. The venue is featured prominently in

9588-456: The lead role. Welles conceived the project with screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz , who was writing radio plays for The Campbell Playhouse . Mankiewicz based the original outline of the film script on the life of William Randolph Hearst , whom he knew and came to hate after being exiled from Hearst's circle. After agreeing on the storyline and character, Welles supplied Mankiewicz with 300 pages of notes and put him under contract to write

9729-470: The loop only after realizing that there are other lonely people and that he can do good deeds to make them happier. Scenes in the finished film happened much earlier in Rubin's script, such as Phil driving over a cliff. The passage of time was also more distinct; Phil would track it by reading one page of a book per day, reaching his low point when he realizes he has run out of books. The original ending also featured

9870-560: The loops to learn more about and manipulate her. No matter what steps he takes, Rita rebuffs his advances, particularly when Phil tells her he loves her; Rita asserts that he does not even know her. Phil gradually becomes depressed and desperate for a way to escape the loop. He commits suicide in a variety of ways, culminating in his kidnapping Punxsutawney Phil and driving them both off a cliff. Each time, he reawakens on February   2 to "I Got You Babe". He eventually tries to explain his situation to Rita again, using his detailed knowledge of

10011-600: The more notable personalities. In 1968, the Town Square Players was established. They were incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1973. In 1974, the Woodstock Musical Theatre Company was founded and made the Opera House their home. In 2019, the companies merged to create Theatre 121 and still perform regular seasons at the Opera House every year. Erected in 1889, the Opera House was designed and constructed by Elgin -based architect Smith Hoag at

10152-413: The most part, however, Welles was singularly generous to the other members of his cast and inspired loyalty from them above and beyond the call of professionalism." That September, Mutual chose Welles to play Lamont Cranston, also known as The Shadow . He performed the role through mid-September 1938. After the theatrical successes of the Mercury Theatre , CBS Radio invited Orson Welles to create

10293-415: The name Scooter, was used to portray Punxsutawney Phil. Punxsutawney officials, upset that their town was not used for filming, refused to allow the real Punxsutawney Phil to appear in the film. The groundhog itself was not specially bred for use on film and was trapped in the wild near Illinois a few weeks before filming. The production wanted to use a "quintessential American town" for location shooting,

10434-417: The necessary sentimental moments. Rubin delivered a fresh draft on February 2, 1991. He was contractually permitted to write another draft, but the studio had Ramis take over, bringing Rubin's involvement to an end. Ramis took Rubin's new draft and began his solo rewrite. He found the sentimentality and sincerity completely opposed to everything he had learned to do as a comedian, and deliberately tempered

10575-489: The negative and existing prints of the film. While waiting for Citizen Kane to be released, Welles produced and directed the original Broadway production of Native Son , a drama written by Paul Green and Richard Wright based on Wright's novel . Starring Canada Lee , the show ran March 24 – June 28, 1941, at the St. James Theatre . The Mercury Production was the last time Welles and Houseman worked together. Citizen Kane

10716-410: The newly married couple Debbie and Fred. Les Podewell plays the homeless old man and Rod Sell appears as a Groundhog Day official. Director Harold Ramis cameos as a neurologist. Punxsutawney Phil is portrayed by a groundhog known as Scooter. The original idea for Groundhog Day came to writer Danny Rubin in 1990. He had moved to Los Angeles to work as a screenwriter. While waiting in a theater for

10857-416: The news bulletin form of the performance with the between-breaks dial-spinning habits of listeners was later reported to have created widespread confusion among listeners who failed to hear the introduction, although the extent of this confusion has come into question. Panic was reportedly spread among listeners who believed the fictional news reports of a Martian invasion. The myth of the result created by

10998-465: The next morning to "I Got You Babe", but finds Rita is still in bed with him and the radio banter has changed; it is now February 3. He tells Rita he wants to live in Punxsutawney with her. As well as the main cast, Groundhog Day features Ken Hudson Campbell as the man in the hotel hallway, David Pasquesi as Phil's psychiatrist, and Richard Henzel and Rob Riley as the radio hosts waking Phil every morning. Hynden Walch and Michael Shannon portray

11139-428: The next morning, Phil awakens in the Cherry Street Inn once again. Realizing that there are no consequences for his actions, Phil begins to spend loops indulging in binge eating, one-night stands, robbery, and other dangerous activities, using his increasing knowledge of the day's events and the town's residents to manipulate circumstances to his advantage. Eventually, he focuses on seducing the sweet-natured Rita, using

11280-541: The night before," said Lloyd. Beginning January 1, 1938, Caesar was performed in repertory with The Shoemaker's Holiday ; both productions moved to the larger National Theatre . They were followed by Heartbreak House (April 29, 1938) and Danton's Death (November 5, 1938). As well as being presented in a pared-down oratorio version at the Mercury Theatre on Sunday nights in December 1937, The Cradle Will Rock

11421-520: The old firehouse in Woodstock, he also shot his first film, an eight-minute short titled The Hearts of Age . On November 14, 1934, Welles married Chicago socialite and actress Virginia Nicolson (often misspelled "Nicholson") in a civil ceremony in New York. To appease the Nicolsons, who were furious at the couple's elopement, a formal ceremony took place December 23, 1934, at the New Jersey mansion of

11562-426: The pair had been intimate. A young female crew member served as the tiebreaker, ruling that they should be wearing the same clothes as "anything else... will ruin the movie." As MacDowell's and Murray's characters venture outside the Cherry Street Inn in the film's denouement, the scripted line "Let's live here" is tempered by a Murray ad lib, "We'll rent to start." Many locations in and around Woodstock were used in

11703-425: The participation of the union members, The Cradle Will Rock began with Blitzstein introducing the show and playing the piano accompaniment on stage with some cast members performing from the audience. This impromptu performance was well received by its audience. Breaking with the Federal Theatre Project in 1937, Welles and Houseman founded their own repertory company, which they called the Mercury Theatre. The name

11844-404: The philosophical elements; Ramis countered that it was meant to be a comedy. The studio was happier with Ramis's draft, believing that his changes made it more appealing to audiences. Columbia Pictures rehired Rubin to assess the script and provide notes. Rubin returned the script with pages of honest and sometimes sarcastic notes. In response, Murray recommended fully rehiring Rubin to assist on

11985-431: The philosophical message beneath the comedy. It received multiple award nominations and won a BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay . For all its success, the film marked the end of Ramis's and Murray's long collaborative partnership, which had produced films like Caddyshack (1980) and Ghostbusters (1984). After filming ended, the pair did not speak to each other until shortly before Ramis's death in 2014. The film

12126-507: The piano, sculpt ice, and speak French. Regardless of his positive actions, however, he is unable to prevent a homeless old man from dying of natural causes. During one iteration of the loop, Phil reports on the Groundhog Day festivities with such eloquence that other news crews stop working to listen to his speech, amazing Rita. Phil continues his day helping the people of Punxsutawney. That night, Rita witnesses Phil's expert piano-playing as

12267-419: The place he eventually named when he was asked in a 1960 interview, "Where is home?" Welles replied, "I suppose it's Woodstock, Illinois, if it's anywhere. I went to school there for four years. If I try to think of a home, it's that." After his father's death, Welles traveled to Europe using a small portion of his inheritance. Welles said that while on a walking and painting trip through Ireland, he strode into

12408-571: The production opened April 21, 1937, and ran its scheduled three performances. In 1937, Welles rehearsed Marc Blitzstein 's political opera, The Cradle Will Rock . It was originally scheduled to open June 16, 1937, in its first public preview. Because of cutbacks in the WPA projects, the show's premiere at the Maxine Elliott Theatre was canceled. The theater was locked and guarded to prevent any government-purchased materials from being used for

12549-403: The production. The Woodstock Town Square features prominently. A bar in the former courthouse is used for a bar in Rita's hotel. The Woodstock Opera House served as the exteriors of Rita's hotel, and its tower is used for Phil's suicide leap. The Cherry Street Inn was a private residence; the interior was shot on a set. Woodstock City Lanes was used for the bowling alley scene. The Tip Top Cafe,

12690-470: The right of final cut. After signing a summary agreement with RKO on July 22, Welles signed a full-length 63-page contract August 21, 1939. The agreement was bitterly resented by the Hollywood studios and persistently mocked in the trade press. RKO rejected Welles's first two movie proposals, but agreed on the third offer— Citizen Kane . Welles co-wrote, produced and directed the film, and he performed

12831-411: The rising heat. Ramis could not decide on the weather conditions for the background of Phil's and Ned's encounters, so he shot their nine scenes multiple times in differing conditions. He settled on a gloomy setting to indicate a loop coming to an end. Weather conditions were a major factor in a two-week shoot for the car crash scene. The shoot was also mired in tensions between Ramis and Murray; Ramis

12972-407: The scene finished, he began an expletive-filled rant until the costume department dried his foot with hairdryers to avoid frostbite. For another scene, Murray asked MacDowell to really slap him, and Ramis instructed the children Murray confronts in a snowball fight to throw hard. During the scene in which Phil drives off with Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog bit Murray on the knuckle. Although Murray

13113-490: The script and other actors' performances. Shannon recounted how he believed he had upset Murray during an encounter. When Ramis heard about this, he made Murray publicly apologize to Shannon. Tobolowsky recounted how before their scene's first take, Murray walked into a bakery and bought all the pastries, which he threw to the gathered onlookers, using Tobolowsky to help carry the load. The script continued to change during filming. When Tobolowsky arrived for his first scene, he

13254-470: The script. The studio refused to greenlight the project without making explicit why Phil becomes trapped. Producer Trevor Albert described a Columbia executive saying, "Why does the day repeat?... I like it... but I don't understand why he gets stuck in this loop." Rubin had conceived of several causes for the loop, including a jilted lover placing a curse on Phil and a mad scientist's invention malfunctioning. Albert and Ramis worked with Rubin to appease

13395-407: The script. A few scenes were written but not filmed, including Phil praying at a church, gambling, and a scene Murray personally vetoed, of Phil stripped naked to force an elderly man out of a swimming pool. Although the script was complete, it continued to undergo changes during filming. For the role of Phil Connors, Chevy Chase , Tom Hanks , and Michael Keaton were also considered. Hanks

13536-720: The setting to a mythical island suggesting the Haitian court of King Henri Christophe , with Haitian vodou fulfilling the role of Scottish witchcraft . The play opened April 14, 1936, at the Lafayette Theatre in Harlem and was received rapturously. At 20, Welles was hailed as a prodigy. The production then made a 4,000-mile national tour that included two weeks at the Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas. Next mounted

13677-534: The shift of emphasis toward both Phil's smugness and the romantic core of the film: Rubin's original script PHIL (voice over) "And me and Rita—together—was the most obvious thing in the world..." PHIL "Have you ever felt like you were reliving the same day over and over again?" RITA "Like déjà vu?" PHIL "More like—déjà, déjà, déjà, déjà..." RITA "So, you still think you've been here before?" Phil nods. RITA "And how does this evening turn out?" PHIL "I'll tell you what I do know. Even in

13818-448: The shoot was conducted in conditions described as frigid and bitterly cold. Murray estimated that it was often 20 °F (−7 °C). The conditions persisted until the end of May. Murray said that being outside for up to 12 hours a day left his skin feeling raw and made him irritable. Toward the end of the shoot, as summer began, fake snow was used to replicate the winter setting, and the actors continued to wear their winter gear despite

13959-399: The small town of Punxsutawney, something he became aware of through a writing job for a local phone company. Setting the story in Punxsutawney provided a small area in which to trap Phil Connors, while reporting on the event gave the character a reason to visit. Rubin took the main character's name from Punxsutawney Phil. He hoped the film could become a perennial holiday favorite, like It's

14100-417: The story elements he wanted to focus on. Rubin said that the lack of explanation made Phil's situation more relatable, as "none of us knows exactly how we got stuck here either." He chose to begin the story in medias res , with Phil already caught in the time loop. The first scene included Phil waking to "I Got You Babe," predicting the radio host banter and the actions of the hotel patrons, and attacking

14241-561: The studio's changes. He was concerned that they would remove what he saw as innovative plot points and turn it into a generic comedy film. Ramis supervised the rewrite, tasked with balancing Rubin's desire for originality and the studio's demand for a broad comedy. The pair loosely used the Kübler-Ross model of the five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—as an outline. Ramis imagined himself in Phil's situation and

14382-429: The studio, while agreeing to place the scenes too late in the shooting schedule to be filmed—and if forced to shoot it, to simply not include it in the film. As the conflict between Ramis and Murray continued, Ramis sent Rubin to work on the script with Murray; he believed it was the only way to stop Murray's constant early-morning phone calls. When Ramis called to check on their progress, Murray asked Rubin to pretend he

14523-414: The subject of two offers: one arranged by Ramis through Columbia Pictures that would grant his project a higher budget, but at the cost of creative control, and a smaller independent studio that offered a lower budget of $ 3   million, but would let Rubin retain his original concept. Rubin chose to go with Ramis's deal. As expected, the studio wanted changes. Rubin admitted to becoming defensive about

14664-424: The sweeter moments with a cynical and grouchy tone. Ramis reorganized the script into a mainstream three-act narrative. He emphasized Phil's smug attitude as a means of distancing himself from others, giving him a defined story arc as a classic comedic lead character deserving of his punishment. Ramis liked Rubin's concept of starting with the loop in progress, but associate producer Whitney White suggested starting

14805-459: The theatre. Unable to obtain a work permit, he returned to the U.S. Welles found his fame ephemeral and turned to a writing project at Todd School that became immensely successful, first entitled Everybody's Shakespeare , for the first three volumes, and subsequently, The Mercury Shakespeare . In Spring 1933, Welles traveled via the SS Exermont , a tramp steamer, writing the introduction for

14946-403: The things he would do and feel if in the same cycle of entrapment. The pair spent weeks revising the script. Ramis suggested that Rubin's original ending, with Rita trapped in her own loop, be removed. He felt that audiences would dislike this as it offered no catharsis . Similarly, he felt it was important to retain the story's darker elements, such as Phil's suicides, as these compensated for

15087-433: The thriller film Hear No Evil (1993), his agent prompted him to develop a "calling-card" script that he could use to gain meetings with producers. Rubin began work on his idea of a man changing over eternal life, but quickly realized that the idea was impractical because of the expense of depicting historical and future events. At this point, Rubin recalled a brief story concept he had written two years earlier that followed

15228-420: The time they arrived in Woodstock, Illinois , over 60 towns had been scouted. Hudgins was aware of Woodstock—a small town of approximately 25,000 people—from his work on the 1987 comedy film Planes, Trains and Automobiles . Though relatively remote, it offered the timeless quality the filmmakers sought. After Hudgins arranged for Ramis and Albert to view the town from the bell tower of the Woodstock Opera House,

15369-494: The town and retires to bed. When he awakes, it is again February   2. Phil gradually realizes that he is trapped in a time loop of which no one else is aware. He confides his situation to Rita, who directs him to a neurologist, who in turn directs him to a psychologist; neither can explain his experiences. Phil gets drunk with locals Gus and Ralph and then leads police on a high-speed car chase before being arrested and imprisoned;

15510-448: The town. Thousands of extras were on site across multiple takes. Several local businesses banded together to oppose the film's presence, concerned about the influence the production would have on both the town square and storefronts over an indeterminate amount of time. Hudgins said that he was proud that badges with the number "23" on them—representing the 23 united businesses—had to be amended to "14" as he won several over. The city council

15651-618: The traveling circuits disappeared in the early 20th century, the Opera House became the site for the Chicago -area's first, however short-lived, summer stock theatre . Presented by the Todd School for Boys , The Todd Theatre Festival of 1934 was a six-week summer festival organized by Orson Welles , a 1931 graduate of the school. Three plays were presented — Trilby , Hamlet and Tsar Paul — featuring Welles, Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammóir of Dublin's Gate Theatre , Louise Prussing , Charles O'Neal and Constance Heron. The stage of

15792-1043: Was Citizen Kane (1941), which he co-wrote , produced, directed, and starred in as the title character, Charles Foster Kane . It has been consistently ranked as one of the greatest films ever made . He directed twelve other features, the most acclaimed of which include The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), The Stranger (1946), The Lady from Shanghai (1947), Touch of Evil (1958), The Trial (1962), Chimes at Midnight (1966), and F for Fake (1973). Welles also had roles in other directors' films, notably Rochester in Jane Eyre (1943), Harry Lime in The Third Man (1949), and Cardinal Wolsey in A Man for All Seasons (1966). His distinctive directorial style featured layered and nonlinear narrative forms, dramatic lighting, unusual camera angles, sound techniques borrowed from radio, deep focus shots and long takes . He has been praised as "the ultimate auteur " . Welles

15933-421: Was Ramis's first choice, but he rejected the offer, rationalizing that he was typecast portraying nice people, and the audience would be expecting his inevitable redemption, whereas Murray was "such a miserable [son of a bitch] on- and off-screen" that the outcome would be less predictable. Keaton said that the role of a "wry, sardonic, glib" character was a typical role for him, but that he simply did not understand

16074-425: Was a showcase for Murray; he had previously been seen primarily as a comic actor, and his performance led to more serious roles in critically acclaimed films. In the years since its release, the film has grown in esteem; it is often considered to be among the greatest films of the 1990s and one of the greatest comedy movies ever. It has also had a significant effect on popular culture: the term Groundhog Day , meaning

16215-465: Was able to explore and experiment in an atmosphere of acceptance and encouragement. In addition to a theatre, the school's own radio station was at his disposal." Welles's first radio experience was on the Todd station, where he performed an adaptation of Sherlock Holmes that was written by him. On December 28, 1930, when Welles was 15, his father died of heart and kidney failure at the age of 58, alone in

16356-467: Was adapted into a 2016 musical , and inspired a 2019 video game sequel, Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son . On February   1, cynical television weatherman Phil Connors reassures his Pittsburgh viewers that an approaching blizzard will miss Western Pennsylvania . Alongside his new producer Rita Hanson and cameraman Larry, Phil travels to Punxsutawney for his annual coverage of the Groundhog Day festivities. He makes no secret of his contempt for

16497-414: Was also considered for the role. Tobolowsky was hired after delivering an "overwhelmingly obnoxious" portrayal during his audition. Michael Shannon, who portrays prospective groom Fred, made his on-screen acting debut in the film. He spent much of the shoot in the background of the diner scene as they wanted all the actors in their places even if the camera was not focused on them. A live groundhog, given

16638-646: Was also split on whether to let it proceed. Three of the business owners sued Columbia Pictures after filming concluded for lost profits during the production. One of these cases was settled out of court; the outcomes of the other two are unknown. Principal photography began on March 16, 1992, and concluded on June   10, after 86 days. The budget was reported to be between $ 14.6   million and $ 30   million. Filming took place mainly in Woodstock, as well as on sets in Cary, Illinois , and Hollywood . Weather conditions varied considerably during filming. Much of

16779-473: Was an outsider to the studio system and struggled for creative control on his projects early on with the major film studios in Hollywood and later in life with a variety of independent financiers across Europe, where he spent most of his career. Many of his films were either heavily edited or remained unreleased. Welles received an Academy Award and three Grammy Awards among other numerous honors such as

16920-581: Was assembling a theatre company for a seven-month transcontinental repertory tour . Cornell's husband, director Guthrie McClintic , immediately put Welles under contract and cast him in three plays. Romeo and Juliet , The Barretts of Wimpole Street and Candida began touring in repertory in November 1933, with the first of more than 200 performances taking place in Buffalo, New York. In 1934, Welles got his first job on radio—with The American School of

17061-639: Was at the Windsor Theatre for 13 weeks (January 4 – April 2, 1938). Such was the success of the Mercury Theatre that Welles appeared on the cover of Time magazine, in full makeup as Captain Shotover in Heartbreak House , in the issue dated May 9, 1938—three days after his 23rd birthday. Simultaneously with his work in the theatre, Welles worked extensively in radio as an actor, writer, director and producer, often without credit. Between 1935 and 1937 he

17202-471: Was completely open with no curtain, and the brick stage wall was painted dark red. Scene changes were achieved by lighting alone. On the stage was a series of risers; squares were cut into one at intervals and lights, designed by Jean Rosenthal , were set beneath it, pointing straight up to evoke the " cathedral of light " at the Nuremberg Rallies . "He staged it like a political melodrama that happened

17343-475: Was costly; Ramis discarded it for something quieter, simpler, and less manic. The revised script also featured more of Phil's misadventures, and his suicide attempts were set closer to the end. These scenes were moved forward in favor of a long third act showing Phil embracing life. Murray endured physical discomfort for some scenes. To prepare for his step into the water-filled pothole, he wrapped his foot in cling wrap, neoprene, and two pairs of socks. As soon as

17484-451: Was difficult, in part because of bitterly cold weather but also because of the ongoing conflict between Ramis and Murray. Groundhog Day was considered a box-office success on its release, earning over $ 105   million to become one of the highest-grossing films of 1993. It also received generally positive reviews. Reviewers were consistent in praise for the film's successful melding of highly sentimental and deeply cynical moments, and for

17625-506: Was directing high-profile stage productions for the Federal Theatre Project in New York City—starting with a celebrated 1936 adaptation of Macbeth with an African-American cast, and ending with the controversial labor opera The Cradle Will Rock in 1937. He and John Houseman then founded the Mercury Theatre , an independent repertory theatre company that presented a series of productions on Broadway through 1941, including

17766-469: Was earning as much as $ 2,000 a week, shuttling between radio studios at such a pace that he would arrive barely in time for a quick scan of his lines before he was on the air. While he was directing the Voodoo Macbeth Welles was dashing between Harlem and midtown Manhattan three times a day to meet his radio commitments. In addition to continuing as a repertory player on The March of Time , in

17907-465: Was focused on making a romantic comedy, in direct contrast to Murray's desire for a more contemplative film. Murray was also in the middle of a divorce from Margaret Kelly. He was reportedly miserable throughout filming, demonstrated erratic behavior, threw tantrums, and often contradicted Ramis's decisions. Ramis said that Murray constantly showed up late to set, calling his behavior "just irrationally mean and unavailable." The two also disagreed about

18048-640: Was given a limited release and the film received overwhelming critical praise. It was voted the best picture of 1941 by the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Circle . The film garnered nine Academy Award nominations but won only for Best Original Screenplay , shared by Mankiewicz and Welles. Variety reported that block voting by screen extras deprived Citizen Kane of Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actor (Welles), and similar prejudices were likely to have been responsible for

18189-418: Was handed a new script. He estimated that about a third of it was different from his original copy. For example, early in the film, Phil ends his first loop by breaking a pencil to see if it is repaired the following day. A more elaborate scene was filmed in which Phil spray-painted the walls of the room he wakes up in, destroyed objects, and gave himself a Mohawk hairstyle . The scene took three days to film and

18330-458: Was inspired by the title of the iconoclastic magazine The American Mercury . Welles was executive producer, and the original company included such actors as Joseph Cotten , George Coulouris , Geraldine Fitzgerald , Arlene Francis , Martin Gabel , John Hoyt , Norman Lloyd , Vincent Price , Stefan Schnabel and Hiram Sherman . "I think he was the greatest directorial talent we've ever had in

18471-476: Was interested in the underlying spirituality and romance present, but thought it needed more humor. The pair discussed the core ideas in the script, raising parallels between it and the concepts of Buddhism and reincarnation. They also discussed whether it was ethical for Superman —a superhuman being with the power to save the lives of countless people and prevent disasters—to effectively waste time on adventures with his partner Lois Lane . Rubin's script became

18612-553: Was later closed for two years of restoration work. It reopened in February 1977 and was renamed the Woodstock Opera House Community Center. Additional restoration projects were finished over the next two decades and the Opera House was considered fully restored with the final addition of the front Portico in 1999. The building continues to be owned and maintained by the City of Woodstock and local residents. It features historic furnishings, stained glass windows, tin ceilings, original woodwork and hand drawn stencil ornamentations. In 2003,

18753-433: Was named after one of his great-grandfathers, influential Kenosha attorney Orson S. Head , and his brother George Head. Despite his family's affluence, Welles encountered hardship in childhood when his parents separated and moved to Chicago in 1919. His father, who made a fortune as the inventor of a popular bicycle lamp, became an alcoholic and stopped working. Welles's mother was a concert pianist who had studied with

18894-491: Was nearly 80 miles (130 km) from Pittsburgh , the nearest large city and did not offer sufficient accommodation for the entire cast and crew. As a Chicago native, Ramis enjoyed filming in Illinois and knew the area could meet their needs. These included being closer to a major metropolitan area with access to highways, a winter aesthetic, and the ability to complete the production as quickly as possible. Ramis also wanted

19035-656: Was not there. The pair visited the 1992 Punxsutawney Groundhog Day festival to get a better understanding of the event, remaining discreet and not revealing the reason for their visit. They then spent weeks working together in New York City revising the script. Rubin found Murray's more laid-back approach to writing "frustrating." They were still working on the script a month before filming began, bringing it back closer to Rubin's original. Rubin and Ramis then collaborated on an additional rewrite. The pair worked on individual sections and then edited each other. Ramis then spent

19176-425: Was rated PG, allowing children access with parental permission. The film was seen as a potential sleeper success . Groundhog Day was one of many family films released that year, including Free Willy , Last Action Hero , and the highly anticipated Jurassic Park , which would go on to become the highest-grossing film to date. Not all releases that year were family-centric; it would become considered one of

19317-460: Was reversed in the final version of the film, in which Rita buys Phil at the bachelor auction, claiming that she owns him. Phil's journeys outside Punxsutawney were excised, as Ramis did not want the audience becoming too focused on what the rules of the loop were and felt that keeping the story within the town made it more claustrophobic. Phil's expositional narration was removed as well. Also excised were more scenes of Phil's later good deeds and

19458-430: Was scored by Bernard Herrmann , who had worked with Welles in radio. Welles said he worked with Hermann on the score "very intimately." Hearst's newspapers barred all reference to Citizen Kane and exerted enormous pressure on the Hollywood film community to force RKO to shelve the film. RKO chief George Schaefer received a cash offer from MGM 's Louis B. Mayer and other major studio executives if he would destroy

19599-456: Was the farce Horse Eats Hat , an adaptation by Welles and Edwin Denby of The Italian Straw Hat , an 1851 five-act farce by Eugène Marin Labiche and Marc-Michel . The play was presented September 26 – December 5, 1936, at Maxine Elliott's Theatre , New York, and featured Joseph Cotten in his first starring role. It was followed by an adaptation of Dr. Faustus that used light as

19740-482: Was the ideal environment in which Welles could develop his art. Its purpose was employment, so he was able to hire any number of artists, craftsmen and technicians, and he filled the stage with performers. The company for the first production, an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth with an entirely African-American cast, numbered 150. The production became known as the Voodoo Macbeth because Welles changed

19881-448: Was wearing gloves, the bite broke the skin. During a later take, the groundhog bit him again, in the same spot. Murray was hesitant about shooting the final scene in which Phil awakens next to Rita, as how or whether Phil was dressed would affect the tone of the revelation that he had escaped the time loop. Ramis polled the crew, who were split between Phil wearing the same clothes as the previous night and different clothes that suggested

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