Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Harold Ramis, Director, Actor and Alchemist of Comedy

Remaking Film Comedy With a Straight Face
After his early years working with the improv troupe the Second City and on “The National Lampoon Radio Hour,” Mr. Ramis helped write the paradigm-shifting, 1978 blockbuster “Animal House.” What followed was a string of deliriously funny Bill Murray movies (including “Meatballs,” “Caddyshack,” “Stripes” and “Ghostbusters”) that have become touchstones in comedy today. While Mr. Murray understandably is seen as a kind of auteur of these comedies, it takes nothing away from him to say that Mr. Ramis built their foundation.

No comments:

Post a Comment