‘Caddyshack’ Classic: Men, Join the Club; Women, Look Away

Many women are totally clueless over the appeal of the irreverent 1980 golf comedy “Caddyshack,” which stars Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Ted Knight and Rodney Dangerfield.

“If there is such a thing as a chick flick, this is the equivalent of a guy flick,” acknowledges Thomas F. Lesinski, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, Warner Home Video.

This week, Warner Home Video is releasing a special edition of “Caddyshack” ($20), which includes a new documentary with interviews, outtakes and extra footage.

Set at the wacky Bushwood Country Club, “Caddyshack” is an off-the-wall, often crude comedy that gave new meaning to the Baby Ruth candy bar. Most women just roll their eyes at the film; most men think it’s a hole in one.

Murray stars as the insane groundskeeper Carl, who wanders around Bushwood pursuing a mischievous dancing gopher; Chase is playboy Ty Webb; Knight plays Judge Smails, an arrogant buffoon; and Dangerfield is crass, nouveau riche land-developer Al Czervik. “Caddyshack” also marks the directorial debut of Harold Ramis, of “Analyze This” fame.

“It is the only movie where you can walk into a room of guys and all of them would be able to parrot back at least four or five scenes from the movie and say several of the great lines that have been part of the ‘Caddyshack’ vernacular,” Lesinski says.

In fact, on a recent edition of “Saturday Night Live” hosted by Murray, there was a sketch revolving around the lines and scenes from “Caddyshack.”

Needless to say, “Caddyshack” is not a date movie. “It’s for a bunch of guys drinking beer, having a good time,” Lesinski says. “How many comedies can you really say that about?”

Since the ‘80s, “Caddyshack” has been one of the best-selling videos in the Warner library, though the company is mum on just how many units have been sold. The company decided to celebrate the 19th anniversary of the film, instead of the more traditional 20th or 25th, because, says Lesinski, “the movie is so irreverent. The idea of doing a 19th anniversary was perfect timing. The 19th hole is where you party after you golf! It’s an oddball anniversary and it is certainly a funny, screwy movie.”

That the special edition is being released the same week as the Masters golf tournament is no coincidence. “This is the height of golf season right now,” say Lesinski. “The world is starting to thaw out, and everyone is thinking about golf. The timing was natural for ‘Caddyshack.’ ”

A DVD version is currently in the works, though no date has been set for release. “It will have lots of extras,” Lesinski promises.