The movie when Bill Murray finally became an actor: “On the last take”
Looking through the career of Bill Murray, it is easy to see how he quickly became a beloved comic actor. Triumphing on Saturday Night Live, the comedian soon became more of an actor than anything else, lending his timing and dry wit to numerous roles.
Murray dominated the decades with a series of roles that allowed him to employ his comic value to everything he did. Stripes, Meatballs, Caddyshack, and, of course, Ghostbusters, all used Murray’s comedy to propel their movies into cult status, but it would take a Christmas movie for Murray’s more serious acting to come through.
The actual premise of pretty much every Christmas movie you have ever come across is born out of a similar mould. Essentially, we see an unhappy situation be slowly turned into a more joyous one through the magic of Christmas. The reality is that if you’re searching through the festive film section, then you won’t find too much in the way of cinematic nourishment. Except, of course, if you’re Bill Murray.
Once known as everybody’s favourite movie star, Bill Murray’s career is as long and varied as his bar tabs are. Never afraid to pick up a cheesy or chintzy film, if the script was suitable, there was one film which immediately caught his eye when it came across his desk: Scrooged. Released in 1988, the film sees a cynical TV executive travel down the road of a Christmas Tale as he is haunted by three ghosts on Christmas eve.
It’s a tale as old as Charles Dickens and one which puts Murray in perhaps his most unusual position: being disliked. Directed by Richard Donner and featuring co-star credits for Karen Allen, Bobcat Goldthwait, Carol Kane, John Glover and even the New York Dolls frontman David Johansen as the Ghost of Christmas Past, the film is a guaranteed warm hug of a movie.
Donner actually struggled to handle the presence of Bill Murray during the filming. Speaking with Philadelphia Daily News, Donner admitted directing Murray was like “standing on 42nd Street and Broadway, and the lights are out, and you’re the traffic cop.”
Not a fun place to be. However, Donner also confirmed that it was the moment he saw Bill Murray break out of his former role as a pure comedian (having been a big player for SNL during its heyday) and become an actor.
That feeling results in the final scene of the film. As most will know, after being visited by the three ghosts of Christmas, our protagonist, usually Scrooge and this time Murray’s Frank Cross, is a changed man. The scene in Scrooged is particularly chastening as it quickly snaps out of its comedy direction.
It was a pivotal moment for Donner, not only in the film but in Murray’s growing acting career. He told Philadelphia Daily News: “On the last take, I saw something happen to Billy. I saw Billy Murray become an actor.”
Now, it is fair to say that, if you happen to be reading this and the name written inside your underwear is Bill Murray, then you might have a few issues with a movie that happened some years into your acting career being considered the first time you were a real actor, and you’d be right to feel aggrieved.
So, while most Christmas films are as good for you as a mountain of chocolate, drenched in brandy and set on fire, Bill Murray’s performance in Scrooged is simply beautiful. Watch the final scene below.
