National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation was a big hit upon its release in 1989, and its impact lasts to this day. It’s a holiday favorite in many homes. Clark (Chevy Chase) is funny as ever as he tries to keep the Christmas spirit in the midst of disaster as one thing after another goes hilariously wrong.
Thirty years later, plenty of the storylines are still beloved and relatable, from your wacky relatives to the holidays becoming more stressful than celebratory on some occasions. Nevertheless, Clark and his family still manage to hold things together, proving that even in the worst of situations, family still sticks together through it all.
The Director
Jeremiah Chechik, who directed the film, came to the project having never seen a Vacation movie. That must have been intimidating, but perhaps coming in with fresh eyes was a good thing, considering the film did so well financially and is treasured by audiences to this very day.
Adding Christmas Vacation to his portfolio certainly did Chechik a favor in the filmmaking world, as he’s gone on to direct episodes of Gossip Girl, Burn Notice and various TV shows, as well as films like Diabolique.
Save The Cat
In an interview, Director Jeremiah Chechik recalls that the studio wasn’t into electrifying the cat. The cat is accidentally fried when Clark plugs in his Christmas tree lights and provides another good point of humor for the movie.
Chechik notes that he’d send the studio to talk with John Hughes (the screenwriter) about the status of electrifying the cat and that John would defend Chechik. Obviously it worked since the cat ended up getting electrocuted in the movie. Can you imagine the movie without Eddie (Randy Quaid) saying “That cat had nine lives, you just spend them all”? Had this been cut, it would’ve been a severe comedic loss.
A Broken Pinky Finger
Many actors aren’t afraid to give a full performance. Unfortunately for Chevy Chase, he was so into his performance that while he was filming the scene in which he hits and kicks at Santa and the reindeer on his lawn (due to the fact that his character is frustrated with the outside lights not working), he broke his pinky finger.
That’s why he favors kicking over hitting afterward. His pinky was hurting by then, and he couldn’t stop in the middle of the scene, so he kept going.
Not Everything Was In Chicago
The cast and crew had to make extra efforts for some filming locations, but it was well worth it for the end result. For instance, one of the early scenes finds the Griswold family out looking for their “perfect Christmas tree”, and it was filmed around Breckenridge, Colorado.
Furthermore, the hillside slope where Clark has an extreme sledding experience is a famous ski slope also located in Breckenridge. We didn’t think it resembled Chicago, and now we know why.
Surprise Earthquake
When Aunt Bethany and Uncle Lewis show up on Christmas Eve for dinner, it’s memorable in its own right. The two are remarkably funny characters, from Bethany’s forgetfulness to Lewis’s occasional irritability and wisecracking quotes.
However, there was an unexpected earthquake that hit the set right as filming was taking place of Bethany and Lewis’s arrival at the Griswold family Christmas affair. As Bethany walks through the front door, you can see the camera shake a bit because of it. Seems Bethany and Lewis had more kick than anyone expected, even if the minor earthquake was the source.
A Familiar House
When Clark finds himself locked up in the attic by accident while his family goes out, he decides to watch some old home movies to pass the time. While Clark’s taking a trip down memory lane, you may have some flashbacks to your own childhood, too, if you recognize the house in Clark’s old home movies.
It’s none other than the house from 1960s sitcom Bewitched, where Samantha and Darrin Stephens lived. It’s pretty cool when movies reference other movies or in this case, TV shows.
A Crash Course In Comedy
In an interview, Johnny Galecki (who played Clark’s son and later would join the cast of The Big Bang Theory) mentioned that Chevy Chase would offer pointers in timing and even give Johnny some ad-libs for his character.
Not only that, but Chevy took Johnny on lunch breaks to visit other sets, where Johnny got to meet comedy icons like Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, and Richard Pryor. How cool would that be as a kid to meet all these legends and have someone like Chevy Chase take you under their wing?
The Film’s Origin
There are plenty of movies out there that were inspired by books or short stories. Christmas Vacation happens to be one of them. It’s based on a short story written by John Hughes for National Lampoon titled “Christmas ‘59.”
If you’re paying attention to the labels on the old home movies Clark pulls out to watch while stuck in the attic, you’ll notice one of them is labeled “Christmas ‘59” as a nod to the short story. If you’ve got an idea for a short story, go for it. Perhaps it’ll end up on-screen someday.
A Risky Improvisation
Improvisation sometimes turns into the best quotes and gags, making for memorable films. Christmas Vacation’s most notable improvisation may be Beverly D’Angelo’s (who plays Ellen Griswold, Clark’s wife) placement of her hand over her husband’s privates as a SWAT team breaks into their home on Christmas Eve, believing the Griswolds to be kidnappers.
It’s not noted by any of the characters in the film, and even D’Angelo admits that they took a few takes of the scene and no one mentioned it. That doesn’t mean it’s not funny or suiting the spirit of the Griswold couple though.
Clark’s Ranting
Instead of getting the bonus check he was expecting from his company (something he desperately needs to cover the cost of a pool), Clark is devastated to learn that all he’s gotten in the mail is an enrollment in a “Jelly of the Month” club.
Having already gone through so much from family disasters to the destruction of his home, Clark snaps and begins a rant about how awful his boss is for cutting the bonus. Chase delivered the performance perfectly, but he had some help: each member of the cast had a section of Chase’s dialogue written upon cue cards strung around their necks to help him along so he wouldn’t forget or stumble over his lines. You can tell by watching the scene that he glances at each character. Now you know why.
