Harold Ramis initially wanted to produce Groundhog Day without directing, but soon came on board to help screenwriter Danny Rubin complete the story for the studio executives. Ramis played a big part in casting Bill Murray as well. The two were friend since their early comedy days at The Second City, and the pair had worked together in several previous films. Notably, though by bringing Murray aboard the films tone would change drastically. Murray would demand to make the tone more serious to allow his character to truly be going through something rather than a stock paint by numbers comedy. This disagreement in tone led to the film becoming the classic it is today as Ramis would only allow Murray to speak with screenwriter Rubin, and not him.
Ramis also chose to film in Woodstock, Illinois rather than the actual town of Puxsutawney. The reason being that the actual Puxsutawney was not as photogenic as Ramis needed it to be for filming. However, for this choice Puxsutawney officials wouldn't allow the real Puxsutawney Phil appear in the film. The film would go on to be successful at the box office and receive high marks critically for the balance between comedy and Phil's struggle to find love in a world he dislikes so much.
