Scrooged

 On this date in 1988, "Scrooged" was released.

"Scrooged" was filmed on a $32 million budget over three months in Hollywood. Bill Murray returned to acting for the film after taking a 4-year hiatus following the release of "Ghostbusters" (1984), the success of which he found overwhelming. Murray worked directly with writers Mitch Glazer and Michael O'Donoghue on reworking the script before agreeing to join the project. The production was tumultuous, as both Murray and director Richard Donner had different visions for what the film should be. Murray himself described his time on the film as one of "misery", while Donner called Murray "superbly creative but occasionally difficult."

Murray described "being the meanest person in the world" as Frank Cross as fun. He described his challenge as having an edge but then complete Cross' transformation into a decent person at the end. Murray said, "Being a decent person is not that hard. But acting like one is."

Carol Kane's ghost was intended to have a body double for ballet scenes until a crew member saw Kane rehearsing the dance and convinced Donner that the resulting scene would be funnier with Kane's "horrible" dancing. Donner and Murray said that Kane would sometimes experience long crying periods during filming, caused by frustration over her violent scenes. Murray also endured some physical pain during his encounters with Kane's character, insisting that she actually hit him during their scenes together, and at one point tearing the inside of his lip when Kane pulled his lip too hard. Kane herself said, "I hit Bill Murray with a toaster, and with my wings, and I kicked him in areas that weren't pleasant for him. I had fun. I don't think it was as fun for Bill, because he was the victim! I did what the stunt people told me, but when I had to flap my wings in his face, I really couldn't control them."

Filming began in December 1987. With Christmas approaching, Donner asked if the production could have Christmas Day off. But Paramount Pictures executives refused, insisting that filming should continue on Christmas Day. However, Donner outwitted them. At the end of the day on December 24th he fired the entire cast and crew. Two days later, on December 26th, he re-hired everyone. The break allowed the cast and crew members to spend Christmas with their families.