Weekly Poll: The best from “Groundhog Day”

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February second is the exact halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox meaning that we’re half way through Winter, and officially closer to the Summer ahead than the one behind.

Most recognize this day not for winter’s midpoint, but the annual holiday, Groundhog Day, celebrated in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day fails to see its shadow, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If on the other hand, the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks.

As most know, the largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds as high as 40,000 have gathered to celebrate the holiday since at least 1886. However, it was 1993s “Groundhog Day” that brought worldwide attention the town, the holiday, and Punxsutawney Phil.

Directed by Harold Ramis, Bill Murray is at his wisecracking best in this hysterical romantic comedy about a weatherman caught in a personal time warp on the worst day of his life. Teamed with a relentlessly cheerful producer (Andie MacDowell) and a smart-aleck cameraman (Chris Elliott), TV weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities. But on his way out of town, Phil is caught in a giant blizzard, which he failed to predict, and finds himself stuck in small-town hell. Just when things couldn’t get any worse, they do. Phil wakes the next morning to find it’s Groundhog Day all over again… and again… and again.

So, in honor of the day, the furry rodent (that actually bit Murray twice during filming) and in celebration of the great Phil Connors, we’ve moved our weekly poll up a day to ask you what is the greatest scene from the comedy classic. We couldn’t include them all, but we think one of these will rise above the rest in striking a comedic chord and take home the honor of best scene. Take a look, laugh for a while and “bing!” cast your vote. No matter the winner, I think we can all agree this is one of Murray’s finest roles. “Am I right, or am I right, or am I right, right… right… right?” We’ll start with the scene that sets the story in motion.

“What blizzard? It’s a couple of flakes.”

“Phil? Phil? Phil Connors?…Don’t you tell me you don’t remember me, because I sure as heck fire remember you.”

“Hey, they’re chasing us, c’mon make it fun…. Don’t drive angry, don’t drive angry.”

“Who’s Rita?… How should I know?”

“This is going to seem sudden, but… Nancy will you be my wife?… Oh, Phil… Rita… Nancy… Whatever.”

“I’ll give you a winter prediction. It’s gonna be cold, it’s gonna be grey, and it’s gonna last you the rest of your life.”

“Too early for flapjacks?”

I had to include this bit regarding this last scene. Supposedly actor Paul Lynde was the inspiration for one of the film’s more famous lines. After a high-speed chase through the San Fernando Valley one night when he was driving recklessly while intoxicated, Lynde crashed his car into a mailbox. The police came to the car, guns drawn, and he lowered his window and said, “I’ll have a cheeseburger, hold the onions, and a large Sprite.”

This entry was posted on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 12:43 pm and is filed under The Daily Muze.