Food fights. Heart attack-prone horses. Epic toga parties. Although not the typical images one conjures of Wash. U., the man who created these memorable “Animal House” scenes was inspired by this very campus and is returning tonight—hopefully bringing Otis Day and the Knights with him.

The man, of course, is Harold Ramis, one of the writers behind “Animal House,” and he is back at his alma mater to speak to the Wash. U. community.

Ramis, a 1968 graduate, will kick off the Assembly Series with a speech entitled, “Existentialism, Post-modernism and Deconstructionism: Will This Be on the Test?” in Graham Chapel.

Award-winning alum

Nearly every movie Ramis touches turns to gold. His films are found sprinkled throughout the American Film Institute’s “100 Years…” lists; he is part of the reason you have that giant poster of Jon Belushi in a COLLEGE sweatshirt plastered to your wall. The notable Wash. U. alum has written, starred in, directed—or some combination of the three—classics such as “Animal House,” “Meatballs,” “Caddyshack,” “Stripes,” “Ghostbusters,” “Groundhog Day” and “Analyze This.”

This year alone, he was honored by the Just For Laughs Festival in Chicago, the Nantucket Film Festival, and the Museum of the Moving Image in New York. These accolades, however, must all pale in comparison to his star on the Delmar Loop.

Richard Chapman of the Film and Media Studies Department said: “In comedy, execution is everything, and Harold Ramis, for my money—and for all of his for that matter—is the best at portraying eccentric characters in often absurd situations, yet maintaining a level of credibility that allows the viewer to not only laugh at times, but also get a little moist around the eyes. He is a master of smart comedy with heart, but he never gets gooey. He still maintains edge, perception and great physical gags.”

Cinderella story, out of nowhere

Ramis was born and raised in Chicago, Ill. But it was at Wash. U. where he started writing comedic plays and became an active member of Zeta Beta Tau, the fraternity he would later use as source material for “Animal House.”

After graduating from the University, Ramis remained in St. Louis for seven months working in a mental institution. He is often quoted as saying that this job prepared him to become a director.
He then moved to Chicago, where he worked as a substitute teacher, and was hired by “Playboy” to edit jokes. While in Chicago, Ramis joined the cast of The Second City, the improv comedy troupe that has spawned the likes of Peter Boyle, Eugene Levy, Mike Myers, Steve Carrell, Tina Fey and Jack McBrayer. It was there that Ramis met the actors—John Belushi, Dan Akroyd and Bill Murray—who would later help to shape his movies.

Ramis, Belushi and Murray headed to New York to host “The National Lampoon Radio Hour.” And while Murray and Belushi became cast members of “Saturday Night Live,” Ramis wrote and starred in the short-lived sketch comedy show “Second City TV.” When he left “SCTV” three years later, he began to collaborate on his first feature film: “Animal House.”

Two years later, he made his directorial debut with “Caddyshack”—not too shabby. Bill Murray’s “Cinderella Speech” is still a staple of golf courses everywhere. Whether they are fighting the Greek fraternity system, the rich campers, the pretentious golf club members or the Army, nearly all of Ramis’ protagonists are outcasts or misfits. But, unlike many people in this position, they aren’t marginalized by society; instead, they take the role upon themselves and embrace it.

Analyze this

Assistant Professor of Performing Arts Phillip Sewell noticed the slight shift from Ramis’ ’80s comedies to the 1993 “Groundhog Day.” Many critics dub “Groundhog Day” Ramis’ crowning achievement, and Sewell said it’s his favorite Ramis movie (aside from “Meatballs,” for completely different reasons).

“‘Groundhog Day’ is a more contained and tonally consistent film in some ways. It has a tighter narrative to it,” Sewell said. “He has to live the same day over and over again, allowing him to explore different tones while having them still be completely accounted for within the narrative conceit. I also just really like the thematics of the film. It has some real meat on its bones.”

Who ya gonna call?

Ramis is often cited as an inspiration by many of today’s renowned comedians. With “Animal House” came a new kind of comedy, one in which crude and intelligent humor were not mutually

exclusive. As Ramis went on to prove, this new type of comedy attracted huge audiences.

“Ghostbusters,” according to Sewell, is one of the most successful live action comedies when domestic grosses adjusted for inflation are taken into consideration.

“It and ‘Beverly Hills Cop,’ which also came out in 1984, decisively demonstrated that the blockbuster paradigm, which was well underway with other genre/modes, could work with comedy,” Sewell said.

Ramis’ influences are still found in the Judd Apatow type bromance comedies of today. Ramis literally embodied this fact by playing the father of Ben—Seth Rogen’s character—in “Knocked Up.”

Throughout the day, Ramis will be attending classes and meeting with teachers and students. He is also participating in a luncheon in which the executive board of Filmboard get to attend. In anticipation of his visit, Filmboard has screened both “Animal House” and “Ghostbusters” in the Danforth University Center’s Tisch Commons the past two nights.

“We’re very excited. When we first got involved, we thought we just get an extra row at the Assembly Series,” said senior Anna Studstill, president of Filmboard. “We didn’t realize we would get to meet him.”

“Any student who is interested in popular culture and film should avail themselves of the opportunity to hear someone who has such a profound influence on comedy, film and television,” Sewell said. “I think it’s really great when we have grads of Wash. U. come back and give their time to students. It’s also a nice opportunity when we get to hear comedians speak to understand the value that comedy has as both a form of social criticism and also a way of making people’s lives a little nicer by bringing us laughter.”

Enjoy Student Life’s favorite Ramis-centric scenes below, and look for Cadenza’s interview with the acclaimed jack of all trades in Friday’s issue.

Meatballs

Caddyshack

Stripes

Ghostbusters

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Tags: animal house, Assembly Series, Ghostbusters, Harold Ramis, washington university, ZBT

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