Caddyshack is one of
those wacky comedies that have simply permeated the culture.
Over the years I've heard more quotes from this movie around
the water cooler than almost any other. This goofy film was
the directorial debut of Harold Ramis, who has also directed
such movies as Groundhog
Day and Analyze
This and was the screenwriter of even more greats such as Ghostbusters,
Stripes, and Animal House. A stellar cast and
some of the best ad-libbing around make this movie one to
keep.
The releasing of this film has not been kind to the DVD fan in
the past. In 1997 a pan-and-scan only version with a trailer
for extras was produced, and then last year we fans of the
format were shunned by a widescreen special edition release in
VHS only. Finally now we get a better version on DVD, with a
new anamorphic transfer and more extras. I'm very happy to
have it, but it could have been much better.
The
Evidence
Did I mention I love this movie?
I've probably seen it over 20 times. Chevy Chase (Fletch,
Snow Day, Vacation) as Ty Webb is his most memorable role,
and arguably the best he's ever done. I could say the same for
Rodney "I get no respect" Dangerfield (Back to
School, Natural
Born Killers) even though he's done basically the same
character in later movies. This was Rodney's first feature
film, but he didn't let his anxiety or inexperience show on
the screen. Then-young Michael O'Keefe (Ghosts of
Mississippi, Three Wishes, TV's Roseanne) was very good as
well. But it was Bill Murray (Ghostbusters, Stripes,
Rushmore)
as the wacky groundskeeper Carl Spackler who often stole the
show. There was one other standout character that will go down
in history as the best loved rodent (perhaps now with the
exception of Stuart
Little); the little mechanical gopher who makes a mess out
of the golf course. For those who haven't seen the movie, golf
is the main common theme in Caddyshack, and in my mind
remains the best golf movie of all time.
Originally, as the title would suggest, the film was meant to
be a more modest one about caddies at a stuffy country club.
It was only when such great adult actors were cast that much
of the script was changed. Only O'Keefe's character Danny
Noonan had any real range left from the original script. I
could almost say the word "script" with a laugh,
because so much of the film was ad-libbed by stars who cut
their teeth on Saturday Night Live and the Second City improv
comedy troupe. Harold Ramis gave the actors their freedom to
try different things and picked the best lines throughout. Or
perhaps they stole that freedom from him since he was
directing his first picture. Either way, the results were
hilarious.
For the 25 people in America who haven't seen this movie from
the hundreds of times it has been on television or film, the
story is basically one of the Bushwood Country Club, a stuffy
place lorded over by Judge Smails (Ted Knight of TV's Mary
Tyler Moore show fame). There are three stories going on
within this setting; of Smails' discomfort and dislike of the
new visitor Al Czervic (Dangerfield), a rude and obnoxious
loudmouth, and of the caddy Danny Noonan who is trying
anything to get a scholarship to college from the country
club, even if it means cozying up to the slimy Judge. Noonan
often caddies for and takes his advice from Ty Webb, an
extremely eccentric millionaire who plays golf by himself
without keeping score. The advice is often both ludicrous and
enlightening at once, and is delivered dead-pan by Chevy
Chase. The third story is of the fierce battle for control of
the golf course between Bill Murray and a little mechanical
gopher. Despite using squirrels made out of plastic
explosives, fire hoses, and sniper rifles the gopher manages
to stay one step ahead of him. A sideline plot about the sexy
young niece of Judge Smails (named Lacy Underall, played by
the still gorgeous Cindy Morgan of television's Falcon Crest
fame) who manages to get undressed a few times, and some
various other scenes with the other caddies and members of the
club keep the movie hopping at all times.
While there is a story, and a good one, what makes the movie
so special is the individual scenes and lines that just keep
coming. From Ty asking Danny "Are you taking drugs?"
and the replies "Everyday" "Good" and the
results of a Baby Ruth bar floating in a pool; to Bill Murray
showing off the new grass he's developed (part Kentucky
bluegrass and part marijuana) that you can play 18 holes on
and then get stoned with after, there is far too much funny
stuff to mention. Sure, some of it, particularly the drug
humor is a bit dated, but it's all good.
Select from these thumbnail images for
larger images:
Tap the buttons to download some Caddyshack
soundbites:
"...sure thing, shoot Timmy. Danny. Danny."
"When you were my age, did you ever have trouble deciding what you
wanted to do with your life?"
"Do you take drugs Danny?"
"Is this Russia?..."
"What's wrong with lumber, I own two lumberyards..."
"I like you Betty..."
"There's a force in the universe that makes things happen...and be
the ball.."
"..be the ball Danny, be the ball, you're not being the ball
Danny..."
"Ty, what'd you shoot today?...Don't sell yourself short Judge,
you're a tremendous slouch."
"Nanananana...bubububub..you missed just that one!"
"Unbelievable. Thank you very little."
"You were in the war? No, homo. Much better now though."
"My uncle says you've got a screw loose. Well, your uncle molests
collies."
"I was born to rub you, I was born to lick your face, I was born to
rub you, but you were born to rub me first."
"You have very. very small breasts, just kidding, c'mon."
"You're crazy! That's what they said about Son of Sam."
"...I thought you'd be the man to beat this year. I guess you'll just
have to keep beating yourself."
"Let's make it forty thousand...my dad never liked you. I'll see you
two tomorrow on the golf course!"
"There she is, it's a Titleist...(swings and breaks the
window)"
"Is this your place Carl? Yeah, what do ya think? It's really
awful."
"Here, fire it up. With my lips?"
"People say, you know, that I'm an idiot or something, because all I
do is cut lawns for a living. People don't say that about you, as far as
you know."
"Can I say something to you Frank? Ty. You've been acting
psychotically, lately. What the hell, why?"
"You're over there on Briar...Thanks for the dope."
"Get that steering wheel back over here where it belongs and back
this thing outta here!"
"Don't smile at me Lyle, Okay?"
"I don't understand it, I'm playing the worst game of my
life...You're not good, you stink."
"Ooh, my arm! I think it's broken...well, Sonja Henie's out. We'll
take Danny Noonan."
"Don't worry, It's good luck. In Haiti."
"We have to win this hole...me winning isn't you do. Nice
grammar."
"See your future, be your future. May, make--make it. Make your
future Danny..."
"Don't worry about this one, you miss it, we lose."
Scenes from the 19th Anniversary Edition
"We couldn't possibly think less of each other."
"What you are about to see has a mechanical gopher in it."
