25. The Studio Rejected The Movie Until Chevy Chase Was Cast
Today, Bill Murray and Rodney Dangerfield are big names, but they were just getting started back in 1980. Caddyshack was Dangerfield’s first major film, while Murray was fresh off Saturday Night Live. The producers cast Chevy Chase as character Ty Webb— who they had reportedly written the part for anyway— to appease the studio.
25. The Studio Rejected The Movie Until Chevy Chase Was Cast
Today, Bill Murray and Rodney Dangerfield are big names, but they were just getting started back in 1980. Caddyshack was Dangerfield’s first major film, while Murray was fresh off Saturday Night Live. The producers cast Chevy Chase as character Ty Webb— who they had reportedly written the part for anyway— to appease the studio.
24. Bill Murray Improvised All Of His Lines
24. Bill Murray Improvised All Of His Lines
23. Scenes Of The Gopher Were Shot After Filming Had Wrapped
In the end, the producers decided to use the gopher as a way to tie all of the scenes together. However, they had only one shot of Bill Murray trying to catch the gopher, so most of the scenes were created post-production. This explains why Murray and the elusive gopher never appear in the same shot.
23. Scenes Of The Gopher Were Shot After Filming Had Wrapped
In the end, the producers decided to use the gopher as a way to tie all of the scenes together. However, they had only one shot of Bill Murray trying to catch the gopher, so most of the scenes were created post-production. This explains why Murray and the elusive gopher never appear in the same shot.
22. Writer Doug Kenney Was Known To Be Intoxicated While Working On The Movie
22. Writer Doug Kenney Was Known To Be Intoxicated While Working On The Movie
21. Rodney Dangerfield Thought He Was “Bombing” Since Nobody Was Laughing At His Jokes During Production
Caddyshack was the first big feature movie for Dangerfield, who was used to getting laughs on The Tonight Show and The Dean Martin Show, complained nobody on set was laughing at his jokes. However, the other actors said it would ruin the takes if they laughed, and it wasn't because of lack of humor.
21. Rodney Dangerfield Thought He Was “Bombing” Since Nobody Was Laughing At His Jokes During Production
Caddyshack was the first big feature movie for Dangerfield, who was used to getting laughs on The Tonight Show and The Dean Martin Show, complained nobody on set was laughing at his jokes. However, the other actors said it would ruin the takes if they laughed, and it wasn't because of lack of humor.
20. Bill Murray Actually Worked As A Groundskeeper at Indian Hill Country Club
20. Bill Murray Actually Worked As A Groundskeeper at Indian Hill Country Club
19. There Was Bad Blood Between Bill Murray And Chevy Chase Before Filming 'Caddyshack'
Bill Murray replaced Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live, which caused some tension on set of Caddyshack. The two originally were not supposed to appear in the same shot, but worked things out long enough to film a completely improvised scene where Chase's character stumbles into the gardening shack belonging to Murray.
19. There Was Bad Blood Between Bill Murray And Chevy Chase Before Filming 'Caddyshack'
Bill Murray replaced Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live, which caused some tension on set of Caddyshack. The two originally were not supposed to appear in the same shot, but worked things out long enough to film a completely improvised scene where Chase's character stumbles into the gardening shack belonging to Murray.
18. The Climatic Explosion Scene Was Real Explosives Placed On The Fairways
18. The Climatic Explosion Scene Was Real Explosives Placed On The Fairways
17. Pilots At The Nearby Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport Thought The Explosion Was A Crash
The aforementioned explosion was so large that pilots landing at the nearby Ft. Lauderdale- Hollywood airport reported “a crash” to air traffic control.
17. Pilots At The Nearby Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport Thought The Explosion Was A Crash
The aforementioned explosion was so large that pilots landing at the nearby Ft. Lauderdale- Hollywood airport reported “a crash” to air traffic control.
16. Producer Harold Ramis Originally Asked Pink Floyd To Record The Opening And Closing Credits
16. Producer Harold Ramis Originally Asked Pink Floyd To Record The Opening And Closing Credits
15. The Movie Was Supposed To Be ‘Animal House’ On The Golf Course
Follow the success of Animal House, writer and producers Doug Kenney and Harold Ramis originally pitched the idea as “Animal House on the golf course" in order to get it approved by the studio.
15. The Movie Was Supposed To Be ‘Animal House’ On The Golf Course
Follow the success of Animal House, writer and producers Doug Kenney and Harold Ramis originally pitched the idea as “Animal House on the golf course" in order to get it approved by the studio.
14. Bill Murray Opened A ‘Caddyshack’-Themed Restaurant In Florida
14. Bill Murray Opened A ‘Caddyshack’-Themed Restaurant In Florida
13. Chevy Chase Improvised The Famous “Na-na-na-na” Sound When Putting
Chevy Chase was advised to make a “spiritual” or zen sound when putting, and so improvised one of the best known scenes to this day.
13. Chevy Chase Improvised The Famous “Na-na-na-na” Sound When Putting
Chevy Chase was advised to make a “spiritual” or zen sound when putting, and so improvised one of the best known scenes to this day.
12. The Crew Had A Huge Party When Hurricane David Stopped Production
12. The Crew Had A Huge Party When Hurricane David Stopped Production
11. The Original Script Was 250 Pages Long, Nearly Twice As Long As Average Screenplays
Director Harold Ramis and producer Jon Peters (both pictured) were ordered to cut the script down before the studio agreed to start filming.
11. The Original Script Was 250 Pages Long, Nearly Twice As Long As Average Screenplays
Director Harold Ramis and producer Jon Peters (both pictured) were ordered to cut the script down before the studio agreed to start filming.
10. The Fictional Illinois- Based Movie Was Actually Shot In Florida
10. The Fictional Illinois- Based Movie Was Actually Shot In Florida
9. Caddyshack Was Golden Age Actor Henry Wilcoxon’s Last Movie Before He Passed Away
Henry Wilcoxon played the role of Bishop Pickering after having starred in Hollywood greats, such as 1934’s Cleopatra and The Greatest Show on Earth in 1952. He passed away in 1984, just four years after Caddyshack.
9. Caddyshack Was Golden Age Actor Henry Wilcoxon’s Last Movie Before He Passed Away
Henry Wilcoxon played the role of Bishop Pickering after having starred in Hollywood greats, such as 1934’s Cleopatra and The Greatest Show on Earth in 1952. He passed away in 1984, just four years after Caddyshack.
8. Bill Murray Was Only Supposed To Make A Cameo, But Was Asked To Stay Longer After Impressing The Producers
8. Bill Murray Was Only Supposed To Make A Cameo, But Was Asked To Stay Longer After Impressing The Producers
7. Mickey Rourke Was First Considered For The Part Of “Danny Noonan” Played By Michael O’Keefe
Director Harold Ramis originally envisioned Mickey Rourke for the leading role of Danny Noonan, but ultimately went with actor Micahel O’Keefe. They decided O’ Keefe would make a more convincing “goofy-kid-next-door.”
7. Mickey Rourke Was First Considered For The Part Of “Danny Noonan” Played By Michael O’Keefe
Director Harold Ramis originally envisioned Mickey Rourke for the leading role of Danny Noonan, but ultimately went with actor Micahel O’Keefe. They decided O’ Keefe would make a more convincing “goofy-kid-next-door.”
6. The Studio Had A Back-up List Of Directors In Case Harold Ramis Didn’t Work Out
6. The Studio Had A Back-up List Of Directors In Case Harold Ramis Didn’t Work Out
5. The Pitchfork Scene Was Real, And Real Uncomfortable
Bill Murray improvised the scene where he tells his story of caddying for the Dalai Lama by holding the pitchfork to Peter Berkrot’s throat. It’s said Peter was extremely uncomfortable during the scene thanks to the unexpected pitchfork, but it made the take much more genuine.
5. The Pitchfork Scene Was Real, And Real Uncomfortable
Bill Murray improvised the scene where he tells his story of caddying for the Dalai Lama by holding the pitchfork to Peter Berkrot’s throat. It’s said Peter was extremely uncomfortable during the scene thanks to the unexpected pitchfork, but it made the take much more genuine.
4. The Cast Was Repeatedly Late For Shooting Due To Their Partying
4. The Cast Was Repeatedly Late For Shooting Due To Their Partying
3. Actor Ted Knight Didn’t Appreciate The Partying And Line Improv
Ted Knight was old-school, and didn’t like the fact the rest of the cast was partying and constantly going “off script.”
3. Actor Ted Knight Didn’t Appreciate The Partying And Line Improv
Ted Knight was old-school, and didn’t like the fact the rest of the cast was partying and constantly going “off script.”
2. They Used Dolphin Noises For The Gopher
2. They Used Dolphin Noises For The Gopher
1. Director Harold Ramis Avoided The Parties
While the rest of the cast and crew were partying, Harold had to prove himself as a director still. He waited until filming wrapped up before letting lose, and let lose he did. It's said he partied so hard that he had to be carried to his room.
1. Director Harold Ramis Avoided The Parties
While the rest of the cast and crew were partying, Harold had to prove himself as a director still. He waited until filming wrapped up before letting lose, and let lose he did. It's said he partied so hard that he had to be carried to his room.