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In Ghostbusters, the Deleted Scene: Bums, two bums, Harlan Bojay and Robert Learned Coombs are walking and talking through Central Park.

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Locations[]

Plot[]

Harlan Bojay and Robert Learned Coombs walked through Central Park. Harlan agreed with Robert's opinion about the U.S. decision to rebuild Nicaragua but disagreed on a theoretical fight between a martial artist and boxer. Harlan believed a good heavyweight boxer could take a Karate guy every time. A couple walked past them in the background. Robert quickly asserted any martial artist with any degree would lose to a power puncher like Chuck Wepner every time. Harlan conceded and made his predictions on Hulk Hogan and two others for the year but Louis Tully shoved Harlan out of the way. Harlan took a stance while Robert was irritated how people were always in a rush. Harlan jumped away at the sight of Vinz Clortho sprinting past them and continuing to chase after Louis.

Noted In Other Media[]

While the characters didn't make the cut in Ghostbusters, they are used heavily in the Novelization written by Richard Mueller.

Trivia[]

  • It should be noted that the scene is titled Bums.[1] on the 1999 DVD, but misspelled as "Burns" on the 2005 DVD.[2]
  • In the September 30 and October 7, 1983 drafts, after Vinz speeds past Harlan and Robert while they discuss Central America and a hypothetical fight,[3] Robert notes that was one speedy mutt. Harlan believes it was a big one not to be messed with. Robert concluded it must have been a fighting Spaniel.[4]
  • The dialog between the bums references heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner. Wepner, who once went 15-rounds against Muhammad Ali, is credited as the inspiration for the Sylvester Stallone film Rocky[5]
  • The bums were spin offs from Saturday Night Live intended to add a new level of commentary to the movie.[6]
  • Ivan Reitman cut the scene because the movie was long enough and he felt the audience would be confused about why Murray and Aykroyd were suddenly bums.[7][8]

Quote[]

  • Harlan Bojay (Bill Murray): I think that a good karate guy is always gonna top a heavyweight boxer.
  • Robert Learned Coombs (Dan Aykroyd): No, no, no. You take any martial artist - black belt, I don't care how good he is, what degree - you put him in a ring with a power puncher like Chuck Wepner; Wepner would devastate him every time.

References[]

  1. DVD1999menuscenecemetery.png
  2. DVD2005menuscenecemetery.png
  3. Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1983). Ghostbusters (Third Draft September 30, 1983) (Script p. 79). First Bum says: "I think you're right about Central America but I completely disagree about the other thing. A good heavyweight boxer could take a Karate guy every time.""
  4. Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1983). Ghostbusters (Third Draft September 30, 1983) (Script p. 79). Second Bum says: "Definitely some sort of fighting Spaniel, I think.""
  5. ESPN.com: 'Real Rocky' Wepner finally getting due (October 25, 2011)
  6. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 121 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Harold Ramis says: "The bums were like Shakespearean fools or gravediggers -- a couple of guys who are there just to introduce another level of mundane comment. Bill and Dan were put in makeup and wardrobe, and they played the bums as spinoffs of characters they had done on Saturday Night Live. It was very funny, but it was just too obvious that it was to them."
  7. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 122 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "In appropriate makeup and attire, Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd played the bums as spinoffs of characters they had developed during their Saturday Night Live days. Ultimately, Ivan Reitman felt that audiences might find the abrupt juxtaposition of roles more confusing than amusing."
  8. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 121 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Ivan Reitman says: "As soon as I saw it on the screen, I knew I would have to cut it. The audience would have been left wondering why Stantz and Venkman were dressed up like bums, talking funny. I tried casting it with other people, but no one could make it work the way Bill and Dan had. Besides, we already had plenty of humor, plenty of story, and plenty of length -- so the whole thing was really unnecessary."


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