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After failing to get the Christmas lights to work one last time, Clark Griswold takes his frustration out on the plastic decorations in the front yard. Chevy Chase actually broke his pinky finger while punching Santa Claus. He resorts to kicking and clubbing the decorations after that.
Cast
Based on Hughes' short story "Christmas '59" that was published in National Lampoon, it tells the story of the Griswold family spending Christmas vacation at home with their Christmas festivities being attended by their relatives as Christmas hi-jinks occur.
What did Clark Griswold do to the Christmas decorations?
Between his noisy in-laws and non-functioning lights, Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation has the most stressful Christmas on record. Christmas Vacation is a masterful Christmas film, and it has been an annual tradition for millions since its release in 1989. It's hard to say what has made this film such an enduring phenomenon.
What is the plot of Christmas at Griswold?
He breaks one of the Griswolds' Christmas decorations, rudely leaves his eggnog mug laying around, and lets his disgusting, snotty dog drink from the Christmas tree water. Unfortunately, Eddie is also horrifically poor and can't afford to give his children a nice Christmas.
Was Clark Griswold's Christmas the most stressful on record?
What did Eddie do to ruin the Griswolds' Christmas?
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What did Clark Griswold do for a living in Christmas Vacation?
Clark Wilhelm "Sparky" Griswold, Jr. He is a professional in the prepared food industry and is an expert in the field of additives and preservatives.
What company does Clark Griswold work for in Christmas Vacation?
A. NutratoXWhat is the name of the company Clark works for? A. NutratoX. It's printed on the outside of the Jelly of the Month bonus letter.
What is Clark's last name Christmas Vacation?
Based on filmmaker John Hughes' National Lampoon short story Christmas '59, Christmas Vacation tells the story of family patriarch Clark Griswold hatching grand plans to celebrate Christmas, but as the previous Vacation movies proved, Clark's best laid schemes rarely pan out well.
Why is Clark Griswold called Sparky?
Ellen calls Clark "Sparky" in all four Vacation movies. In the DVD commentary for this movie, Chevy Chase said that the nickname was Beverly D'Angelo's idea, and she still affectionately calls him Sparky.
How much does Chevy Chase make in royalties for Christmas Vacation?
Chevy earned $6 million for 1989's "Christmas Vacation". That's the same as $12.5 million in today's dollars. He earned another $6 million for 1992's "Memoirs of an Invisible Man". He earned $4 million for "Cops and Robbersons", $2 million for "Man of the House" and $4 million for "Vegas Vacation".
Why was the carpet all wet Todd?
Margo : And why is the carpet all wet, *Todd*? Todd : I don't *know*, Margo! Margo : You just march over there and slug that creep in the face. Todd : I can't just attack someone.
How much did a pool cost in 1989?
$16,000 to $24,000In 1989, the average pool and spa combination costs $16,000 to $24,000. “In the late 1950s you could buy a pool for $3,000,” said a salesman.
How are Eddie and Clark related?
As the cousin to Ellen Griswold (Beverly D'Angelo), the impossibly patient wife to Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), Clark proves to be not-so-understanding of Eddie's unabashedly cowboy charm. That judgmental discomfort extends towards Eddie's pet dog with a nasty nasal malfunction — appropriately named “Snot.”
Why is Rusty younger in Christmas Vacation?
Dana Barron revealed in an interview that when a sequel was announced after the first film's success, Anthony Michael Hall declined to return as Rusty so he could star in John Hughes' Weird Science instead. Instead of only finding a new actor for Rusty, Amy Heckerling decided to recast both children.
Was European vacation actually filmed in Europe?
Subsequent to the incredible adventures in the United Kingdom, Paris, and Germany, the Griswold family finally reaches Rome, the ancient city and the destination point of the two-week trip. The 'European vacations' movie has been indeed filmed on the actual location alongside Europe and Rome as well.
Is the house in Home Alone the same as Christmas Vacation?
Probably one of the most iconic houses in not just holiday movies, but in all movies, the real “Home Alone” house is located on Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois. Nearly 30 years later, the exterior of the house looks the same, but the interior of the house has been significantly remodeled.
Is Walley World a real place?
Did you know that there is an actual Walley World? It is a water park that is part of a larger complex known as East Park in London, Ontario, Canada.
Who is Clark Griswold's wife?
Plot. Chicago-area resident Clark Griswold plans to have a great Christmas with his entire family. He gathers his wife Ellen, daughter Audrey, and son Rusty and drives out to the country to find a tree. After walking through the snow for hours, Clark picks out the largest tree he can find.
Who wrote Christmas Vacation?
Christmas Vacation was written by John Hughes, who based it on "Christmas '59", his short story published in National Lampoon. The film stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, and Randy Quaid.
When was Christmas Vacation made?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a 1989 American Christmas family comedy film, the third installment in National Lampoon magazine 's Vacation film series. Christmas Vacation was written by John Hughes, who based it on "Christmas '59", his short story published in National Lampoon.
How many lights does Clark have?
Clark, however, maintains a positive attitude, determined to have a "fun old-fashioned family Christmas". He covers the house's entire exterior with 25,000 twinkle lights, which fail to work at first, as he has accidentally wired them through his garage's light switch.
Who wrote the Christmas song for National Lampoon?
In its place is a song entitled "Christmas Vacation" that was written for the movie by the husband-and-wife songwriting team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and performed by Mavis Staples of The Staple Singers fame. The song was covered in 2007 by High School Musical star Monique Coleman for the 2007 Christmas album Disney Channel Holiday. Popular Christmas songs featured in the film include Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters Hawaiian-themed " Mele Kalikimaka ", and, during the climax of the film, Gene Autry 's " Here Comes Santa Claus ". For the latter song, Autry's re-recorded 1957 Challenge Records version is used.
Who played Ellen Griswold in the movie?
Juliette Lewis as Audrey Griswold, Clark and Ellen's daughter. She was previously portrayed by Dana Barron and Dana Hill in the last two films.
Who plays Bethany in The Griswolds?
Mae Questel as Bethany, Clark's 80-year-old senile aunt and the wife of Lewis. Sam McMurray as Bill, Clark's co-worker and best friend at work. Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Margo Chester, the Griswolds' yuppie neighbor who despises Clark and takes the brunt of the Griswolds' antics.
Forgetting To Bring A Saw
Some things make no sense about Christmas Vacation. For example, how in the heck did the family uproot an entire tree using nothing but their bare hands? Clark brings the entire family deep into the woods so they can cut their own Christmas tree.
In-Laws & A Cramped House
Clark wants desperately to provide his family with a good Christmas, and that includes housing everyone at his place for the holiday season. However, it's clear that Clark has great anxiety about the whole endeavor.
Falling Off The Roof
Unfortunately, Clark has a heck of a time putting the lights on the roof. This is one of the funniest Christmas movies, and it shows during this extended sequence. First, Clark uncovers a giant ball of knotted lights (which he gives Rusty to work out and unspool).
The Lights Don't Work
And after all that work (and those injuries), the lights don't even work. Clark spends literally the entire day stapling 25,000 lights to the house, and he gleefully gets his family outside so they can watch them come on.
Eddie's Unannounced Arrival
There are numerous quotes that live rent free in fans' heads, and most of them come from Cousin Eddie. He is easily the star of the show, even though he sits out half the movie. Clark is too busy celebrating his magnificent lights to notice that Eddie and his entire family have arrived.
Buying Gifts For Eddie's Kids
Eddie immediately makes a horrible impression. He breaks one of the Griswolds' Christmas decorations, rudely leaves his eggnog mug laying around, and lets his disgusting, snotty dog drink from the Christmas tree water.
Lewis Burns Down The Tree
Clark tells Eddie to stop his dog from drinking the Christmas tree water, but Eddie doesn't listen (of course not). This in turn results in the tree drying out. So, naturally, all hell breaks loose when Lewis lights a cigar near the dry tree.
10 "Burn Some Dust Here. Eat My Rubber!"
To say that Clark Griswold was out of touch with the cool kids was definitely an understatement. He demonstrated this time and time again by failing to realize just what an imbecile he was being, particularly during the opening act. While driving out into the wilderness to get a Christmas tree for the house, Clark suffered a bit of road rage.
9 "Can't See The Line, Can You Russ?"
Clark might have been a loving father and a devoted husband, but he clearly had some trouble ignoring the opposite sex, particularly if the woman in question was attractive. While out shopping for Christmas gifts, he came across Mary, who was eager to show him some lingerie.
8 "Russ, When Was The Last Time I Overdid Anything?"
Clark wanted to make that year's Christmas the best ever, and that meant going above and beyond the call of duty. This was a trademark of his personality - a desire to get a rise out of his family and loved ones by giving them an awesome spectacle. That year, it was a house loaded to the brim with Christmas lights.
7 "Surprised, Eddie? If I Woke Up Tomorrow With My Head Sewn To The Carpet, I Wouldn't Be More Surprised."
After struggling to get his enormously ambitious Christmas light project to work in one of the funniest National Lampoo n movie scenes, Clark was overcome with joy. The entire family came out on the front lawn to witness the blinding spectacle, giving cousin-in-law Eddie Johnson, his wife and kids, and their dog Snots time to slip in unnoticed.
6 "Can I Refill Your Eggnog For You? Get You Something To Eat? Drive You Out To The Middle Of Nowhere... Leave You For Dead?"
Within the first hour of showing up, Eddie had already worn out his welcome with Clark. He'd gotten into the eggnog, and started recounting stories that normal folks would be ashamed of. It was becoming too much for Clark to bear.
3 "We Needed A Coffin... Uh, I Mean... A Tree..."
After Uncle Lewis inadvertently burnt down the family Christmas tree while lighting a cigar, Clark got the bad news about his supposed bonus. He was coming apart at the seams, yet he was determined to salvage the operation. His first order of business was to go outside with a chainsaw and slice down the nearest tree.
2 "Nobody's Leaving! Nobody's Walking Out On This Fun Old Fashioned Family Christmas! Noooo, No, We're All In This Together!"
When things got so bad that Christmas seemed unsalvageable, Clark's family decided to pack up and take off, rather than stick around for the aftermath. They believed it was better if everyone just left before things got worse.
What does Clark do?
Clark enjoys playing arcade games and pinball machines. He is a professional in the prepared food industry and is an expert in the field of additives and preservatives. Clark can be a bit of a jerk. He is very headstrong and goes off the rails when he doesn't get his way, flying into temper tantrums.
Who played Sparky in Vacation?
Portrayed by. Chevy Chase. First Appearance. National Lampoon's Vacation. Clark Wilhelm "Sparky" Griswold, Jr. is the main protagonist in four of the five theatrical films in the "Vacation" franchise. In the fifth movie, he has a brief though highly significant role.
Overview
Cast
• Chevy Chase as Clark W. "Sparky" Griswold Jr., the patriarch of the Griswold family. Perpetually optimistic, and sometimes in denial, he is nonetheless passionate about and dedicated to putting on the perfect family holiday.
• Beverly D'Angelo as Ellen Griswold, Clark's wife. She does not share her husband's outlook but still supports him in his Christmas endeavor.
Plot
Chicago-area resident Clark Griswold plans to have a great Christmas with his entire family. He drives his wife Ellen, daughter Audrey, and son Rusty out to the country to find a tree. After walking through the snow for hours, Clark picks out the largest tree he can find. Realizing too late that they did not bring any tools to cut the tree down, they are forced to uproot it instead, before driving home with the tree strapped to the roof of their car.
Production
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation originated from a short story by writer John Hughes called "Christmas '59," which was published in the December 1980 issue of National Lampoon magazine. "The studio came to me and begged for another one, and I only agreed because I had a good story to base it on," said Hughes. "But those movies have become little more than Chevy Chase vehicles." Director Chris Columbus initially was to direct the film, but due to a personality cl…
Music
The musical score for National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation was composed by Angelo Badalamenti. It is the only installment of the Vacation film series not to include Lindsey Buckingham's "Holiday Road". In its place is a song entitled "Christmas Vacation" was music by Barry Mann, lyrics by Cynthia Weil and performed by Mavis Staples of The Staple Singers fame. The song was covered in 2007 by High School Musical star Monique Coleman for the 2007 Christmas …
Release
The film has been released on home media several different times: VHS and Laserdisc in early 1990, a bare bones DVD in 1997, and a "Special Edition" DVD in 2003. HD DVD as well as Blu-ray editions were released in 2006. In 2009, a second Blu-ray of the film was released as an "Ultimate Collector's Edition". A steelbook Blu-ray was released in 2015 with remastered picture quality.
Reception
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. The movie eventually topped the box-office charts in its third week of release and remained #1 the following weekend. It went on to gross a total of $71,319,546 in the United States while showing in movie theaters. It was the highest-grossing film in the series, until the release of Vacation in 2015.
Sequels
The fourth film in the series, Vegas Vacation, would follow in 1997, without the involvement of either Hughes or National Lampoon.