by Elmo Adams

Created on: October 14, 2008

Harold Ramis will never never be considered as an actor or director in the same constellation as Orson Wells, but even a cursory view of his prolific career makes it clear that he has been a bright light on the comedy scene. He has many acting credits. Most well known would be Egon Spengler in "Ghostbusters" and Russell Ziskey in "Stripes." In both these roles, Ramis creates characters with whom the audience can identify. We like Bill Murray, with whom Ramis is paired is both films, but we are not "that" goofy. We have had friends that were that goofy. Sure, we were at the party. We got a little drunk. But we did not act "that" stupid.

Ramis stands in for us a "everyman." He is not setting the world on fire, but he is intelligent, friendly, presentable, and has some wit. He is just like us. Maybe a little neurotic around around the edges, but he does not try to make a franchise out of it like Woody Allen.

Ramis is a capable actor, but is much more known as a writer and director. To mention only a few: "Vacation," "Groundhog Day," "Ghostbusters," "Stripes," and "Caddyshack." What is most remarkable is the huge success of his first directorial effort, 1980 classic comedy film, "Caddyshack." The film serves up a large helping of low brow humor such as the "candy bar" incident, but it also comments on almost all aspects of American society.

Originally, the movie was to be a light romp about a dying breed of amateur golf, caddies. But the producers assembled such a group of comedic talent that they knew they had to write something to showcase it. Their venue was a country club in Florida.

At the bottom of the food chain is Carl Spackler (Bill Murray), a member of the grounds crew at Bushwood Country Club. Like citizens with no compass, then and always, many of Carl's concerns make him his own worst enemy. He is a jack of all trades at the club, but often daydreams of women, guns, and athletic accomplishment. He further dilutes his efforts by use of mind altering substances, legal and not. But Carl is not just an empty shirt.

He exhibits an entrepreneurial spirit as he seeks to develop his own variety of turf grass. Dogged determination is displayed as he pursues the annoying gopher as well as a spiritual side when he fondly remembers his encounter with the Dali Lama. Almost thirty years later, you will hear Carl quoted on golf courses around the world: "Cinderella story ...tears in his eyes ... about to become the Masters Champion."

One rung up is the central character,

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