Harold Ramis Comic Genius

The first movie I ever saw in the theatre when I was a kid was the movie Stripes, starring Bill Murray and Harold Ramis.

Sadly Ramis passed away this week.

As a tribute I wanted to talk a little bit about how much of a fan I have been of his work.

I saw Stripes at the drive in out in Headingley when the movie first came out. It was playing with some other movie, I think it was called The Empire Strikes Back, but I can't really say because I don't really remember too much of it.

I was only 5 when it happened and the ending to that movie had already been spoiled in kindergarten.

Stripes might not have been the best movie for a kid my age. There was nudity in it.

But hey, a kid is bound to be curious and it's only sooner or later...

There were other parts of the movie I also enjoyed. (did I mention there was nudity in it?)

It was the first time I got to see John Candy on the big screen. Dave Thomas and Joe Flaherty were also in the movie.

By this time I was already a fan of SCTV.

My blog is named after my all time favourite character from the show, Johnny La Rue.

Another favourite character of mine was Moe Green.

I saw an interview with Harold Ramis where he was talking about the character. In particular he was talking about his book keeping sketch and how the character was a socialist and resented giving tax advice to rich people whom he thought did not do enough to pay their fare share.

The character is a classic. The way he would cheat and phone his wife so they would win the prize on Dialling for Dollars, or to how he called out a terrorist group who threatened action against SCTV.

In the end Moe Green was kidnapped by this terrorist group and held for ransom. The ransom was never paid.

In a later episode the group calls back and offers to give Moe Green back but Guy Cabilero, the station owner and President, refuses to pay the bus fare home.

I enjoyed so many of the movies he wrote and directed during the 80s.

Too many to mention by name.

I remember seeing an interview where Ramis said he was never the class clown, but more like the kid who told the jokes quietly to the class clown who then would tell everyone else.

It seemed as if he felt more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it, but part of why characters like Moe Green worked were because he let himself show this feeling to the audience.

Moe Green was awkward and uncomfortable on camera. This is what made Harold Ramis so funny.

Thank you so much for all of the laughs.

rymr