Groundhog Day is without doubt a modern classic. The American Film Institute declares it the 34th best comedy ever made (Although at time of going to press, there is no word yet on where Meet The Spartans will place). As it’s Groundhog Day this weekend (Feb 2nd), we’re revisiting Gobbler’s Knob with the top 10 facts.

(1) The original script had Murray repeat Feb 2nd for 10,000 years, keeping track by reading a new page in a book each day. In the actual movie, he is meant to have repeated for 10 years.

(2) Tom Hanks was first choice for the lead, before director Harold Ramis decided he was “too nice”. Tori Amos was considered for Andie MacDowell’s role.

(3) The screenwriter had the idea while reading about the immortals in Interview With The Vampire. The story originally started half way through, so the audience had no idea how Murray knew everything. Another draft explained why it was happening by having Murray’s ex cast a voodoo spell on him.

(4) Ramis says when he usually tried to explain a scene to Murray, he would interrupt with “Just tell me – good Phil or bad Phil?”

(5) The Tip Top Café where Bill Murray stuffs his face was just a set created for the movie. But local demand led to a real café being built. It’s now closed. Fickle locals.

(6) The real groundhog’s full name is “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary.” He was so called by the “Punxsutawney Groundhog Club” in 1887. These are the same people who declared Punxsutawney to be the weather capital of the world.

(7) Today’s townsfolk claim the real groundhog is over 130 years old. The average groundhog’s lifespan is 7. They say he’s survived so long thanks to the good loving of his partner, Phyllis, and a supply of Groundhog Punch.

(8) There’s a great recipe for groundhog stew here.

(9) In Iraq, ‘Groundhog Day’ has become American military slang for any day of a tour of duty.

(10) Is there an awful teen copycat of this movie? No, but there’s about to be. Disney have just started making the comedy ‘Monday Monday’ about a kid who wakes up to find he’s got to relive his first day at High School over and over until he gets it right. Déjà vu anyone?