SHOW NOTES: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Synopsis (Jeannine)

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he pesters his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and children, as he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and house decorations. However, things take a turn rather quickly. His cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid), and his family show up unplanned and start living in their RV on the Griswold property. Even worse, Clark’s employer decides to go in a different direction on the holiday bonus that he’s been counting on..

Actors & Crew (Kristin)

Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase is an American comedian, writer, and actor who became one of the defining comic voices of the 1970s and 80s. He got his big break as one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live, where his dry delivery and physical humor made him a standout in the show’s early seasons. His “Weekend Update” segments helped set the template for how the bit still works today. After leaving SNL, Chase moved into film and quickly became a major box-office draw. He starred in some of the decade’s most recognizable comedies, including Caddyshack, Foul Play, National Lampoon’s Vacation, and Fletch.

Beverly D’Angelo
Beverly D’Angelo is an American actress and singer best known for playing Ellen Griswold in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series. Born in Columbus, Ohio, she started her career as a singer and illustrator before shifting into acting in the mid-1970s. D’Angelo broke out with supporting roles in Annie Hall and Hair, then earned major attention for her performance as Patsy Cline in Coal Miner’s Daughter, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. While she’s widely recognized for her sharp comedic timing in the Vacation films, her career has spanned drama, music, and television, including memorable roles in American History X, Entourage, and Lawmen: Bass Reeves
Juliette Lewis
Juliette Lewis is an American actress and musician known for her fearless, off-beat performances and the raw intensity she brings to every role. She broke out in the early 1990s with films like Cape Fear, which earned her an Academy Award nomination at just 18. From there, she became one of the decade’s most distinctive on-screen presences, appearing in projects like Natural Born Killers, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Kalifornia, and Strange Days. Lewis carved out a unique space in Hollywood by leaning into characters who are messy, vulnerable, or a little chaotic, and her work often blurs the line between indie grit and mainstream storytelling. She’s also a musician, fronting the rock band Juliette and the Licks, which adds to her reputation as a genuine, unpredictable creative force.
Johnny Galecki
Johnny Galecki is an American actor best known for his long run as Leonard Hofstadter on The Big Bang Theory, one of the most-watched sitcoms of the 2000s and 2010s. But long before that, he was a familiar face in 80s and 90s pop culture. Born in Belgium and raised in Illinois, Galecki started acting young and broke into film with roles in projects like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, where he played Rusty Griswold opposite Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo. Throughout the 90s, he became a steady presence on TV, most notably as David Healy on Roseanne, a performance that showed his ability to play earnest, emotionally grounded characters.
Randy Quaid, Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld)

JEANNINE:

Written by: John Hughes
Director Chris Columbus initially was to direct the film, but due to a personality clash between himself and Chevy Chase, Columbus left the film and was replaced by Jeremiah S. Chechik. Hughes eventually gave Columbus the script to Home Alone.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

is based on a 1980 short story by John Hughes called “Christmas ’59,” was filmed on the Warner Bros. backlot where the same house was used for the neighbors in the Lethal Weapon films, and featured Mae Questel, the original voice of Betty Boop, as Aunt Bethany. Other facts include that Beverly D’Angelo improvised a scene, and Chevy Chase broke his pinky finger while filming the scene where Clark attacks the decorations.

Filmed in Burbank, CA. and Colorado. Story takes place in CHICAGO

Filming took place late March-late June 1989.

Released December 1, 1989

Budget: $25mil

Gross: $73.3mil

The movie debuted at No. 2 at the box-office while grossing $11,750,203 during the opening weekend, behind Back to the Future Part II