20 THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT THE GRISWOLDS
To celebratethe 30th anniversary of National Lampoon’ s Christmas Vacation, Woman’s Day shares surprising facts about the classic ho li DayflicK
1
The movie is based on the short story Christmas’59, penned in 1980 by screenwriter John Hughes for National Lampoon magazine.
2
Clark Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, wore a black Chicago Bears hat in all four films of the original National Lampoon series: Vacation (1983), European Vacation (1985), Christmas Vacation (1989) and Vegas Vacation (1997).
3
Christmas Vacation was one of two holiday films released in 1989. The other was the children’s flick Prancer, and BigBang Theory actor Johnny Galecki – aka Russ Griswold – starred in both.
4
Most of the movie was shot in Los Angeles using fake snow. But the famous scene where the Griswolds went hunting for the perfect Christmas tree was filmed on location in Breckenridge, Colorado. The hill where the kids go sledding is also a popular ski slope in the area.
5
Randy Quaid (below) based crazy cousin Eddie’s mannerisms on a guy he knew growing up in Texas. The character went on to become his best-known role. “People still come up to me and quote lines,” the actor once said.
6
Cousin Eddie’s son Rocky didn’t speak a single word in the entire film!
7
Christmas Vacation was the only movie in the National Lampoon franchise that doesn’t feature the song “Holiday Road”. Instead, songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil composed a festive new tune, appropriately titled “Christmas Vacation”.
8
Actress Ellen Latzen (aka Ruby Sue Johnson) later admitted she had a “huge crush” on Johnny, who played her cousin, during filming. “I remember having little marshmallow fights with him and always trying to get his attention," she recalls.
9
Chevy broke his pinky finger while filming the scene where his character destroys a Santa lawn ornament after failing to get the Christmas lights to turn on. “It hurt so much,” tells the star, adding that it’s the reason he “kept kicking” all the decorations.
10
If Aunt Bethany’s voice sounds familiar, it’s because the actress who portrayed her, Mae Questel, voiced iconic animated characters Betty Boop and Olive Oyl.
11
The film’s executive producer Matty Simmons had a hidden cameo in the movie. His face was on the cover of the magazine that got stuck to Clark’s hand as he lay in bed talking to Ellen.
12
Despite being a Christmas film, no part of the movie took place on Christmas Day.
13
Clark’s boss Frank Shirley was played by Bill Murray’s brother, Brian Doyle-Murray (right).
14
Frank Capra III, the grandson of It’s a Wonderful Life director Frank Capra, was an assistant director on Christmas Vacation. His grandad’s 1946 classic could be seen playing on the Griswolds’ TV when they were putting up the tree.
15
Famed film critic Roger Ebert wasn’t a fan of the movie, giving it just two stars. But Vacation fans clearly felt differently – it was the highestgrossing film in the series.
16
Beverly D’Angelo improvised in that now famous scene where her character Ellen grabbed husband Clark’s crotch when the SWAT team stormed their home. “I did that spur of the moment, just to see if anyone on set noticed,” shares the actress. “We did a couple takes and no-one mentioned it!”
17
Four former Saturday NightLive cast members appeared in the film: Chevy, Randy, Brian and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (below).
18
Did you recognise the Griswolds’ neighbour’s home? It’s the same house where the Murtaugh family lived in the Lethal Weapon films.
19
Chevy, Beverly and Juliette Lewis (who played their daughter Audrey) reprised their roles in 2012 for an Old Navy commercial.
20
It’s the only film in the franchise to get a sequel. In 2003, the TV movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure was released, starring Randy and series regular Miriam Flynn.