The big picture
- Bill Murray’s decision to pursue his career as a dramatic actor instead of starring in
Splash
had a significant impact on his career. - Tom Hanks seized the opportunity to star in
Splash
and delivered a charming and versatile performance, cementing his position as a leading comedic actor. - Murray and Hanks have left a lasting impact on the small and big screen, and their unique journeys and unforgettable performances have been beloved by audiences for years.
It can be downright dizzying to look back on your life and think about the countless decisions you’ve made that may have changed the course of your future. As they say, hindsight is 20/20, but that doesn’t erase the fact that those choices made you who you are today. This “sliding doors” scenario doubles down on infinite life paths when you think about how the decisions of others may have affected your journey as well. These are choices that, even though you have no say in the decision, nevertheless launch you in an unforeseen direction. This is exactly what happened to Tom Hanks when he landed his first starring role in the 1984 comedy Splash. This is because without Bill Murray By making a certain choice, Hanks would not have been sent into a career that would alter the rest of his life.
When it came to choosing Allen Bauer’s role in the film Splash, producers had many options when it came to talented actors. Among the contenders were recognizable names such as Dudley Moore, Kevin Kline, John Travolta, Michael Keaton, Jeff Bridges, Chevy Chase, and even Richard Gere. However, the role was offered to the great comedian Bill Murray. Murray, who had one successful comedy after another, seemed to be the ideal choice for this. Ron Howard-realized (possible) classic. However, the producers were unaware that Murray had other plans other than performing in another laugh fest. Despite the old SNL After the actor’s fairly recent rise to leading man roles in comedies, Murray wanted to steer his young career toward the scowling mask side.
Splash (1983)
A young man finds a mermaid he briefly met as a child and falls in love with her without knowing her secret.
- Actors
- Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, Eugene Levy, John Candy
- Duration
- 111 minutes
- Director
- Ron Howard
- Release date
- March 9, 1984
- Studio
- Buena Vista Distribution
Bill Murray was told he wasn’t ready for drama yet
To Murray, it was obvious that the idea of starring in another comedy wasn’t as appealing as the greener grass on the other side. This pasture was one of dramatic acting and the film he would eventually choose instead of Splash is called The razor blade. The film was an adaptation of the 1944 novel of the same name, written by W. Somerset Maugham.The razor blade was actually a reboot of a 1946 adaptation of the same title, which starred Herbert Marshall. This time around, Murray played the lead role of Larry Darrell, making it his first official lead role in a drama film. But the result was certainly not what he hoped for.
There’s something shocking about seeing an artist exclusively known for a certain genre suddenly branch out into a completely different style. Murray’s fans, as well as critics, were accustomed to seeing the funny man use his wit and talent to easily carry comedy films on his back. But when Murray took on the role of a completely dramatic character, the majority of the audience rejected the sudden change. Of course, although critics have criticized The razor’s edge, and It failed at the box office, but Murray’s talent kept him around long enough to attempt dramatic roles once again, eventually finding success in the latter half of his ongoing career. Movies like Lost in translation, Broken Flowers, and all the Wes Anderson the films he participated in proved that fans fully accepted Murray’s wide acting range.
‘Splash‘ Was it Tom Hanks’ time to shine
With Murray’s decision to pass away Splash, Hanks beat out the rest of the field to land the lead role of Allen Bauer. Of course, this was before he had the power to choose the roles he wanted to play. The audience first meets Allen as a young boy who almost drowns before being mysteriously saved by a young mermaid. Thinking it was always a fantasy he invented as a child, Allen, as an adult, finds himself unable to find the right woman to be with. However, he quickly discovers that his childhood memory was actually true as he reunites with Madison (Daryl Hannah), the now-adult mermaid who once saved his life. Allen quickly falls in love with his new mermaid companion, convincing himself that he has never been unlucky when it comes to romance; he had always waited for her.
The film also featured comedy greats such as Jean Bonbon And Eugene Lévy, which helped propel the film to success. It was even nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay that same year and is still considered a classic comedy today. Until then, Hanks was primarily known as a television comedy performer thanks to his role as Chip Wilson on the series. Bosom buddies. However, the consequences of The splashes The success saw Hanks propelled into his main comedy part, producing hilarious hits such as Bachelor party, The money pit, and much more. Just like Murray, Hanks would like to try drama. However, not only did he wait longer than Murray to attempt the transition, but he also achieved a feat that Murray never did.
Tom Hanks’ eventual move to drama turned golden
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when Hanks turned to drama, especially when compared to Murray’s 180 with The razor blade. Some fans may point out The fire of vanities as this was Hanks’ first time making the switch, while others might watch films such as A league of its own, Or Insomnia in Seattle. But one thing is certain: the years 1993 Philadelphia That’s when he cleared all the “gray area” questions. Featured opposite Denzel Washington, Hanks plays Andrew Beckett, a lawyer who fights against his former employers who fired him after discovering he was gay and had AIDS. The film not only proved that Hanks had what it took to stand alongside his dramatic peers, but it also proved to be a reason to leave comedy in his past.
Hanks’ role in Philadelphia won him the Academy Award for Best Actor, raising eyebrows among many who still considered him a reliable source of laughter. This accomplishment clearly took Hanks in a new direction as he would go on to star in dramatic hits such as Forrest Gump, Castaways, Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan, and much more. Unlike Hanks, Murray had the chance to try and fail in his attempt to make a dramatic transition, thus getting a second chance to find public acceptance of him in a completely new genre. And while both actors’ journeys were unique to each of them, it was Murray’s decision that ended up for both.
What could have been lives in the shadows of what was
Splash wasn’t Hanks’ first role, but it was his first time acting in a film. It’s hard to imagine what the film Splash It would have been like if Bill Murray had ended up playing Allen Bauer. Sure, the story would have been the same, but there was something about Hanks’ performance that brought a certain charm and innocence that seemed necessary to make Allen’s character worth rooting for. Murray’s smug and sometimes dry sense of humor may have made it harder to love Allen and even believe that he would fall in love with a mermaid. While there would still have been plenty of laughs based solely on Murray’s talents, it’s interesting to wonder if Splash would have been as big a success if it wasn’t for Hanks playing Allen.
Although some may argue that it is mentally exhausting to wonder what could have been in your life, sometimes it is fascinating to identify certain choices that could have sent you in a different direction if a different decision had been made. Fortunately for Hanks, he was not faced with the choice of participating Splash, but it was rather Murray who chose it for himself. As for Murray himself, he is extremely lucky to have overcome choosing too early to try the dramatic side of the big screen and can now appear in any genre he wants, even Marvel films. And for us, the fans, we are lucky to have these two talented comedic and dramatic actors to entertain us for so many years.
The decisions made by Bill Murray in relation to the film Splash had a significant impact on his and Tom Hanks’ respective careers. Murray’s choice to pursue acting took him down a different path, and while it didn’t initially work out, he eventually found success in the genre. Hanks, on the other hand, rose to the occasion and delivered a performance that showcased his charm and versatility, cementing his position as a top comedic actor. Both artists have left a lasting impact on the small and big screen. We can celebrate these unique journeys of both actors and appreciate the unforgettable performances they have given us over the years. And it’s all because Murray decided he didn’t want to play alongside a fish.
Splash is currently available to stream on Disney+ in the United States
WATCH ON DISNEY+