As a film enthusiast and storyteller, I find it utterly fascinating to delve into the behind-the-scenes tales of our beloved movies, and the making of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is no exception. The life experiences of these talented individuals, from the improvised antics of Beverly D’Angelo to the studio’s hesitation over the cat electrocution scene, all contribute to the rich tapestry that makes up this holiday classic.
Making a sequel that matches the quality of the original film can be quite challenging, and taking it up another level for the third installment is often even more difficult within a franchise.
However, the film “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” achieved this feat remarkably well. Upon its release on December 1, 1989, it quickly became a beloved holiday classic and one of the most successful films in the series.
In the movie, Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo once again took on the roles of Clark and Ellen Griswold, while Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki – who were relatively unknown at the time – made their first appearances as their children.
Written with a budget of $25 million, the film “Christmas Vacation,” penned by the renowned John Hughes and directed by Jeremiah Chechik, raked in over $72 million at the box office. Although this earnings didn’t secure Clark an end-of-year bonus, the movie has since evolved into a cherished modern Christmas tradition, having been released 35 years ago. Essentially, much like the Griswold family tree, it’s a beauty, Clark, it’s a beauty.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t imply that the filmmaking process was always filled with cheer and joy. One director departed from the project following disagreements with Chase, stating to Chicago Magazine, “To be truthful, Chevy acted towards me in an unkind manner” (he found a new source of holiday cheer by joining another significant franchise), and eventually, the one who took charge of the movie, Chechik, disclosed that he had conflicts with another cast member on set.
Additionally, a particularly impactful character met an untimely demise during production, causing the studio to come incredibly close to eliminating one of the most memorable sequences from the final cut.
Before diving into your traditional, vintage family Christmas adventure by venturing into the countryside with an old front-wheel drive sleigh to experience the winter wonderland and choose the iconic symbol of Christmas, take a moment to explore these 18 fascinating facts about Christmas Vacation you may not be aware of.
John Hughes’ screenplay is derived from a short story he penned for the magazine, Lampoon, titled “Christmas ’59”. This was his final script contribution to the series, which was inspired by his initial article, “Vacation ’58”. There’s a subtle reference to the film’s roots: The home movie reel that Clark discovers in the loft bears the label “Xmas ’59”.
2. The house that stood as the Griswolds’ neighbors’ residence on the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank was also utilized for filming the Murdoch household in Lethal Weapon.
3. Originally, Chris Columbus was intended to direct the project, but he declined after encountering issues with Chevy Chase. As Columbus explained to Insider, “Working with Chevy Chase was filled with discomfort and stress, yet I needed the job badly at that time.” Since he was residing with his in-laws, it required all of his willpower to quit the production of ‘Christmas Vacation’ because he couldn’t produce the film alongside Chevy Chase.
Luckily for Columbus, he received the script for Home Alone two weeks subsequently. As he put it, “What followed was history.
4. Jeremiah Chechik secured the role, marking his initial venture into feature directing, even though he hadn’t seen the first two movies in the series prior. Admittedly, he expressed apprehension about taking on the job due to his lack of familiarity with the lead character and doubts about its commercial appeal. However, he ultimately accepted the offer and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
5. In reality, the person depicted on the cover of the magazine that Clark is perusing in bed happens to be Chechik.
6. According to custom, two new actors were cast as Clark and Ellen’s frustrated offspring. Juliette Lewis stepped into the role of Audrey, sharing with Rolling Stone, “The fact that the Griswolds always have a new set of kids was the quirk. Your agents couldn’t justify why it was acceptable; it just is. Naturally, I was familiar with the Vacation movie featuring the legendary Anthony Michael Hall. This was an incredible opportunity, and even at 15, I knew it was a big deal.
7. During the lead-up to filming, Lewis found out that her partner at the time was unfaithful. She shared this revelation with Rolling Stone, saying, “During our first trip to Colorado together, I discovered him in our hotel room on the phone with another woman,” she confessed. “I didn’t let him know I heard him; instead, I asked who he was speaking with. He lied, and I replied casually, ‘Oh, by the way, you’re leaving tomorrow morning.’ I arranged his departure flight right away, and then he left for good, while I proceeded to film.
8. In the future, “The Big Bang Theory” actor, Johnny Galecki, landed the role of ‘Rusty’ within the franchise after recording himself and submitting the video.
He reminisced about how they sent him to Los Angeles for the first time, and it was an unforgettable experience. Reading with Chevy and Jeremiah was the highlight, making it worthwhile even if he had been asked to leave immediately afterwards and returned on the next flight. Receiving the role from Chevy in that very room was the icing on the cake.
9. Galecki confessed to harboring a secret admiration for his on-screen older sister character. “Juliette was a year older than me, but she might as well have been from another world,” he explained. “I idolized her. She embodied the spirit of rock and roll even at 15 years old. She had intriguing tales about her past adventures and companions. At that time, I was, and still am, deeply captivated by her.
10. As a lifestyle expert, I can tell you that the spectacle of a squirrel leaping from a Christmas tree might seem jolly and fun for audiences, but the reality behind the camera was anything but peaceful. The trained squirrel, our star performer, unfortunately passed away on the very day we were scheduled to film those enchanting stunts, adding an unexpected layer of chaos to our production.
According to Chechik, I exclaimed, “Wow, we’re filming that today!” He then responded with, “You know, they don’t have a long lifespan.” Despite this, we had to record the scene, so we opted for an untrained squirrel. It was absolute pandemonium all around.
11. During filming, there was a lot of conflict between the director and Beverly D’Angelo, despite Chechik getting along well with his leading man. However, when they did the DVD commentary years later, they had an amazing time together. It’s a mystery how such contrasting experiences could occur.
12. During a single take, D’Angelo spontaneously performed the iconic crotch-grab gesture that Ellen does when the police raid their home, which was ultimately included in the final edit of the scene.
13. While filming Clark’s tantrum over the malfunctioning lights, Chase inadvertently fractured his little finger. He confided to WhoSay that it was extremely painful.
14. During the filming of Uncle Louis and Aunt Bethany’s arrival scene, a small earthquake took place, causing the camera to tremble slightly, an observant fan might notice. (Did you know? Mae Questel, portraying Bethany, was the initial voice behind Betty Boop. Christmas Vacation marked her last acting role.)
15. After finding out he wouldn’t receive a Christmas bonus, how did Chase recall Clark’s famous rant? Everyone else on set had cues written on cards they wore around their necks.
In an interview with The Dinner Party Download, D’Angelo explained that the rant was structured into different parts, allowing him to deliver it smoothly from start to finish without any risk of forgetting his lines or mix-ups. This was achieved by having all the lines readily available to him, rather than following a strict sequence. Consequently, when he speaks, you can observe his eyes shifting from one character to another as he progresses through the speech because the lines are conveniently arranged for easy reference.
16. Due to fears that the scene might be found offensive by viewers, the studio aimed to remove the cat electrocution from the final cut. However, according to Chechik’s interview with Rolling Stone, “They were strongly against doing it.” Upon consulting Hughes, Chechik stated that the screenwriter defended him and supported the choice to retain the scene in the film.
17. Among all the films in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, only one has produced its own sequel – a direct-to-TV movie titled “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure,” which was starred by Randy Quaid and released in 2003.
18. It’s possible that the disappointing sequel, rated just 12% on Rotten Tomatoes, might have originated from a scene that didn’t make it into “Christmas Vacation“.
Miriam Flynn, who portrayed Eddie’s wife, expressed her regret to Rolling Stone about one scene that didn’t make it into the movie. She mentioned a funny scene taking place in the iconic motorhome where she and another character were present. This scene offered a peek into our behind-the-scenes lives, but unfortunately, it was trimmed at the time.
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2024-12-01 14:18