National Lampoon's Vacation (film series)
Encyclopedia
National Lampoon's Vacation (film series) is a series of comedy film
s that were originally inspired by National Lampoon magazine. The series primarily features the misadventures of the Griswold family, whose attempts to enjoy vacations and holidays are plagued with continual disasters and strangely ridiculous predicaments.
had previously written for National Lampoon magazine. John Hughes wrote the screenplay for the first "Vacation" film and co-wrote the screen play for the second one. Chevy Chase
, who plays the main role in the first four films, had, during the 1970s performed in the National Lampoon Radio Hour, and in the stage show National Lampoon Lemmings, both of which were spin-offs from National Lampoon magazine.
Many "Vacation" films that came out after National Lampoon's Vacation also include the words "National Lampoon" in their titles, but not all the films did, because a few were made without the permission of the company that owned the rights to that name at the time the film was made.
is a 1983
comedy film
directed by Harold Ramis
and starring Chevy Chase
, Beverly D'Angelo
, Randy Quaid
, Dana Barron
and Anthony Michael Hall
. The film features numerous others, such as comedians John Candy
and Imogene Coca
, supermodel
Christie Brinkley
and future Ally McBeal
and 30 Rock
regular Jane Krakowski
, in smaller roles.
The screenplay was written by John Hughes, based on his short story
in National Lampoon magazine, although the screenplay updates the year to 1983. The original story was (reportedly) a fictionalized account of his own family's ill-fated trip to Disneyland
(changed to "Walley World" for the film) when Hughes was a boy. The success of the movie helped launch his screenwriting career.
The film was a significant box-office
hit, earning over $
61 million in the United States
with an estimated budget of $15 million. In 2000, readers of Total Film
magazine voted National Lampoon's Vacation the 46th greatest comedy film of all time. It is widely considered to be the best film in National Lampoon's series of Vacation films, and continues to be a popular film
and a staple on cable television channels. It also currently garners a 94% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. A "Walley World Water Park" opened in Canada several years after the release of the movie.
On November 18, 2009, Us Weekly
reported that HomeAway announced it was planning to use Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo in a national advertising campaign which would resemble National Lampoon’s Vacation. HomeAway purchased a replica of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster for use in the campaign. The first ad was planned to be broadcast during the CBS television network broadcast of Super Bowl XLIV
on February 7, 2010.
(originally given the working title Vacation '2' Europe) is a 1985
comedy film
. The second film in National Lampoon's Vacation film series, it was directed by Amy Heckerling
and stars Chevy Chase
and Beverly D'Angelo
. Dana Hill
and Jason Lively
replace Dana Barron
and Anthony Michael Hall
as Griswald children Audrey and Rusty. After Hall declined to reprise his role (he decided to star in Weird Science
instead), producers decided to recast both children.
This was the only Vacation film that did not feature Randy Quaid
's "Cousin Eddie" character. In the opening "Pig in a Poke" sequence, the family's name is shown as "Griswald", though in every other instance and film it is spelled "Griswold".
is a 1989
Christmas comedy film
directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik
. It is the third installment in the National Lampoon's Vacation film series. The title song of the same name was written for the movie by the husband-wife song writing team of Barry Mann
and Cynthia Weil
, performed by Mavis Staples
. This was the first National Lampoon's movie to have made Audrey older than Rusty.
is a 1997
comedy film
. It is the fourth film in the Vacation film series centering around the fictitious Griswold family, following Vacation
, European Vacation
, and Christmas Vacation
. Chevy Chase
reprises his starring role as Clark W. Griswold, the patriarch of the family. This is the only theatrical film in the series that was not officially linked to the National Lampoon name.
is a 2003 American made-for-TV
comedy
movie
. It premiered December 20, 2003 on NBC
. It can be considered a sequel to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
, although it is more of a spin-off than a direct chapter in the National Lampoon Vacation series, because the main stars (Chevy Chase
and Beverly D'Angelo
) from the original films do not appear.
It stars Randy Quaid
and Miriam Flynn
, reprising their roles as Cousin Eddie and Catherine. Dana Barron
returns as Audrey Griswold. It was a direct to video 2003 release.
) and Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo
) are going to visit Rusty (Travis Greer) and his family at a vacation rental. Clark decides he and Ellen will have a romantic getaway at a hotel before they get there, but at the hotel everything goes wrong for the Griswolds. They check out and drive the Family Truckster to Rusty's rental. This short film was not given the National Lampoon label, but it was sanctioned by Warner Bros.
(owned by Warner Bros.
, which released the previous films) that a new Vacation film was being produced. It will be produced by David Dobkin
and written by Sam Brown and Dave Neustadter. The story will focus on Rusty Griswold taking his own family to Walley World before the theme park closes permanently.
. It is assumed that the films take place in the year they are made, as no other indication of time is given and the characters' clothing, cars, and environment are contemporary to the time of the films' releases. Rusty appears to be the older child in most of the films. Rusty and Audrey appear to be in their early teens in Vacation (1983), and in their mid-teens in European Vacation (1985) two years later (at one point in the film, Rusty specifically mentions that he is fifteen years old). However, in Christmas Vacation (1989), while Audrey appears to be in her late teens, Rusty looks younger than he did in the previous film. In Vegas Vacation (1997), Rusty seems to be 19 years old and Audrey seems to be 18 years old. In Hotel Hell Vacation
(2010), Rusty is older and has a wife and daughter. In Vegas Vacation Clark tells the kids, "I hardly recognize you anymore!" The next shot freezes for a moment on the kids sitting silently, the scene making fun of the obvious discontinuity.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
s that were originally inspired by National Lampoon magazine. The series primarily features the misadventures of the Griswold family, whose attempts to enjoy vacations and holidays are plagued with continual disasters and strangely ridiculous predicaments.
History
The first film, National Lampoon's Vacation, was based on a story ("Vacation '58") that John HughesJohn Hughes
-Artists:*John Hughes , American film director, writer, and producer*John Hughes , American art director*John Hughes , Irish musician and manager of The Corrs-Clergy:...
had previously written for National Lampoon magazine. John Hughes wrote the screenplay for the first "Vacation" film and co-wrote the screen play for the second one. Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
, who plays the main role in the first four films, had, during the 1970s performed in the National Lampoon Radio Hour, and in the stage show National Lampoon Lemmings, both of which were spin-offs from National Lampoon magazine.
Many "Vacation" films that came out after National Lampoon's Vacation also include the words "National Lampoon" in their titles, but not all the films did, because a few were made without the permission of the company that owned the rights to that name at the time the film was made.
National Lampoon's Vacation
VacationNational Lampoon's Vacation
Vacation, sometimes referred as National Lampoon's Vacation, is a 1983 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall...
is a 1983
1983 in film
-Events:*February 11 - The Rolling Stones concert film Let's Spend the Night Together opens in New York*May 25 - Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy, is released. Like the previous films, it goes on to become the top grossing picture of...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by Harold Ramis
Harold Ramis
Harold Allen Ramis is an American actor, director, and writer, specializing in comedy. His best-known film acting roles are as Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters and Russell Ziskey in Stripes , both of which he also co-wrote...
and starring Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
, Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly Heather D'Angelo is an American actress and singer.-Early life:D'Angelo was born in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Priscilla , a violinist, and Gene D'Angelo, a bass player and television station manager. She is of part Italian ancestry...
, Randy Quaid
Randy Quaid
Randall Rudy "Randy" Quaid is an American actor perhaps best known for his role as Cousin Eddie in the National Lampoon's Vacation movies, as well as his numerous supporting roles in films, including his Oscar nominated performance in The Last Detail, Independence Day, Kingpin and Brokeback Mountain...
, Dana Barron
Dana Barron
Dana Barron is an American actress who has starred in film and on television. Barron is best known for her role as the original Audrey Griswold in the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation which she reprised in 2003's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure for NBC television.-Early...
and Anthony Michael Hall
Anthony Michael Hall
Michael Anthony Hall , known professionally as Anthony Michael Hall, is an American actor, film producer and director who starred in several teen-oriented films of the 1980s. Hall began his career in commercials and on stage as a child, and made his screen debut in 1980...
. The film features numerous others, such as comedians John Candy
John Candy
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in comedy films such as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and Uncle...
and Imogene Coca
Imogene Coca
Imogene Fernandez de Coca was an American comic actress best known for her role opposite Sid Caesar on Your Show of Shows....
, supermodel
Supermodel
The term supermodel refers to a highly-paid fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in haute couture and commercial modeling. The term became prominent in the popular culture of the 1980s. Supermodels usually work for top fashion designers and labels...
Christie Brinkley
Christie Brinkley
Christie Brinkley is an American model and actress best known for her three consecutive appearances on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in the late 1970s and early 1980s, for her long-running contract with CoverGirl, the longest ever of any model in history, and for her marriage...
and future Ally McBeal
Ally McBeal
Ally McBeal is an American legal comedy-drama series which aired on the Fox network from 1997 to 2002. The series was created by David E. Kelley, who also served as the executive producer, along with Bill D'Elia...
and 30 Rock
30 Rock
30 Rock is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey that airs on NBC. The series is loosely based on Fey's experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live...
regular Jane Krakowski
Jane Krakowski
Jane Krakowski is an American actress and singer. She is most well known for her performance of Elaine Vassal on Ally McBeal, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and for her current role as Jenna Maroney on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock, for which she has been nominated for three Emmy...
, in smaller roles.
The screenplay was written by John Hughes, based on his short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
in National Lampoon magazine, although the screenplay updates the year to 1983. The original story was (reportedly) a fictionalized account of his own family's ill-fated trip to Disneyland
Disneyland Park (Anaheim)
Disneyland Park is a theme park located in Anaheim, California, owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts division of the Walt Disney Company. Known as Disneyland when it opened on July 18, 1955, and still almost universally referred to by that name, it is the only theme park to be...
(changed to "Walley World" for the film) when Hughes was a boy. The success of the movie helped launch his screenwriting career.
The film was a significant box-office
Box office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
hit, earning over $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
61 million in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with an estimated budget of $15 million. In 2000, readers of Total Film
Total Film
Total Film is a British film magazine published 13 times a year by Future Publishing. The magazine was launched in 1997 and offers film, DVD and Blu-ray news, reviews and features...
magazine voted National Lampoon's Vacation the 46th greatest comedy film of all time. It is widely considered to be the best film in National Lampoon's series of Vacation films, and continues to be a popular film
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
and a staple on cable television channels. It also currently garners a 94% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. A "Walley World Water Park" opened in Canada several years after the release of the movie.
On November 18, 2009, Us Weekly
Us Weekly
Us Weekly is a celebrity gossip magazine, founded in 1977 by The New York Times Company, who sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986. The publication covers topics ranging from celebrity relationships to the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and entertainment...
reported that HomeAway announced it was planning to use Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo in a national advertising campaign which would resemble National Lampoon’s Vacation. HomeAway purchased a replica of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster for use in the campaign. The first ad was planned to be broadcast during the CBS television network broadcast of Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints to decide the National Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Colts by a score of...
on February 7, 2010.
National Lampoon's European Vacation
European VacationNational Lampoon's European Vacation
European Vacation is a 1985 comedy film. The second film in National Lampoon's Vacation film series, it was directed by Amy Heckerling and stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. Dana Hill and Jason Lively replace Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall as Griswold children Audrey and Rusty...
(originally given the working title Vacation '2' Europe) is a 1985
1985 in film
-Events:* 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.* The Academy Award for Best Picture was won by Out Of Africa, while the highest grossing film was Back to the Future.* Bliss wins AFI Award for best Movie...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
. The second film in National Lampoon's Vacation film series, it was directed by Amy Heckerling
Amy Heckerling
Amy Heckerling is an American film director, one of the few female directors to have produced multiple box-office hits.-Early life:...
and stars Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
and Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly Heather D'Angelo is an American actress and singer.-Early life:D'Angelo was born in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Priscilla , a violinist, and Gene D'Angelo, a bass player and television station manager. She is of part Italian ancestry...
. Dana Hill
Dana Hill
Dana Hill was an American actress and voice actor with a raspy voice and childlike appearance, which allowed her to play adolescent roles into her 30s...
and Jason Lively
Jason Lively
-Career:Jason Lively started his career by appearing in the pilot episode of The Dukes of Hazzard when he was 10 years old. His first film appearance was four years later in the 1983 film Brainstorm...
replace Dana Barron
Dana Barron
Dana Barron is an American actress who has starred in film and on television. Barron is best known for her role as the original Audrey Griswold in the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation which she reprised in 2003's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure for NBC television.-Early...
and Anthony Michael Hall
Anthony Michael Hall
Michael Anthony Hall , known professionally as Anthony Michael Hall, is an American actor, film producer and director who starred in several teen-oriented films of the 1980s. Hall began his career in commercials and on stage as a child, and made his screen debut in 1980...
as Griswald children Audrey and Rusty. After Hall declined to reprise his role (he decided to star in Weird Science
Weird Science (film)
Weird Science is a 1985 American teen comedy film written and directed by John Hughes and starring Anthony Michael Hall, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, and Kelly LeBrock...
instead), producers decided to recast both children.
This was the only Vacation film that did not feature Randy Quaid
Randy Quaid
Randall Rudy "Randy" Quaid is an American actor perhaps best known for his role as Cousin Eddie in the National Lampoon's Vacation movies, as well as his numerous supporting roles in films, including his Oscar nominated performance in The Last Detail, Independence Day, Kingpin and Brokeback Mountain...
's "Cousin Eddie" character. In the opening "Pig in a Poke" sequence, the family's name is shown as "Griswald", though in every other instance and film it is spelled "Griswold".
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Christmas VacationNational Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Christmas Vacation is a 1989 Christmas comedy film directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. It is the third installment in National Lampoon's Vacation film series, and was written by John Hughes, based on his short story in National Lampoon Magazine, Christmas ‘59...
is a 1989
1989 in film
-Events:* Batman is released on June 23, and goes on to gross over $410 million worldwide.* Actress Kim Basinger and her brother Mick purchase Braselton, Georgia, for $20 million...
Christmas comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik
Jeremiah S. Chechik
Jeremiah S. Chechik is the director of such films as National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Benny & Joon, Diabolique and The Avengers....
. It is the third installment in the National Lampoon's Vacation film series. The title song of the same name was written for the movie by the husband-wife song writing team of Barry Mann
Barry Mann
Barry Mann is an American songwriter, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil.-Career:...
and Cynthia Weil
Cynthia Weil
Cynthia Weil is a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann....
, performed by Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress and civil rights activist who recorded with The Staple Singers, her family's band.-Biography:...
. This was the first National Lampoon's movie to have made Audrey older than Rusty.
Vegas Vacation
Vegas VacationVegas Vacation
Vegas Vacation is a 1997 comedy film. It is the fourth film in the original Vacation film series centering around the fictitious Griswold family, following Vacation, European Vacation, and Christmas Vacation. Chevy Chase reprises his starring role as Clark W. Griswold, the patriarch of the family...
is a 1997
1997 in film
-Events:* The original Star Wars trilogy's Special Editions are released.* Production begins on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.* Titanic becomes the first film to gross US$1,000,000,000 at the box office making it the highest grossing film in history until Avatar broke the record in 2010.*...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
. It is the fourth film in the Vacation film series centering around the fictitious Griswold family, following Vacation
National Lampoon's Vacation
Vacation, sometimes referred as National Lampoon's Vacation, is a 1983 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall...
, European Vacation
National Lampoon's European Vacation
European Vacation is a 1985 comedy film. The second film in National Lampoon's Vacation film series, it was directed by Amy Heckerling and stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. Dana Hill and Jason Lively replace Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall as Griswold children Audrey and Rusty...
, and Christmas Vacation
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Christmas Vacation is a 1989 Christmas comedy film directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. It is the third installment in National Lampoon's Vacation film series, and was written by John Hughes, based on his short story in National Lampoon Magazine, Christmas ‘59...
. Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
reprises his starring role as Clark W. Griswold, the patriarch of the family. This is the only theatrical film in the series that was not officially linked to the National Lampoon name.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2
Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island AdventureNational Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure is an American made-for-TV comedy movie. It premiered December 20, 2003 on NBC...
is a 2003 American made-for-TV
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
. It premiered December 20, 2003 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. It can be considered a sequel to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Christmas Vacation is a 1989 Christmas comedy film directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. It is the third installment in National Lampoon's Vacation film series, and was written by John Hughes, based on his short story in National Lampoon Magazine, Christmas ‘59...
, although it is more of a spin-off than a direct chapter in the National Lampoon Vacation series, because the main stars (Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
and Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly Heather D'Angelo is an American actress and singer.-Early life:D'Angelo was born in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Priscilla , a violinist, and Gene D'Angelo, a bass player and television station manager. She is of part Italian ancestry...
) from the original films do not appear.
It stars Randy Quaid
Randy Quaid
Randall Rudy "Randy" Quaid is an American actor perhaps best known for his role as Cousin Eddie in the National Lampoon's Vacation movies, as well as his numerous supporting roles in films, including his Oscar nominated performance in The Last Detail, Independence Day, Kingpin and Brokeback Mountain...
and Miriam Flynn
Miriam Flynn
Miriam Flynn is an American voice actress and character actress. She is best known as Cousin Catherine in the National Lampoon's Vacation franchise. As a voice artist, she has been featured in The Land Before Time series, Taz-Mania as the title character's mother, Jean, Poil in The Spooktacular...
, reprising their roles as Cousin Eddie and Catherine. Dana Barron
Dana Barron
Dana Barron is an American actress who has starred in film and on television. Barron is best known for her role as the original Audrey Griswold in the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation which she reprised in 2003's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure for NBC television.-Early...
returns as Audrey Griswold. It was a direct to video 2003 release.
Part of a commercial: Hotel Hell Vacation
This short film was a campaign ad for the 2010 Super Bowl and it was released on Homeaway.com on February 7, 2010. Clark (Chevy ChaseChevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
) and Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly Heather D'Angelo is an American actress and singer.-Early life:D'Angelo was born in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Priscilla , a violinist, and Gene D'Angelo, a bass player and television station manager. She is of part Italian ancestry...
) are going to visit Rusty (Travis Greer) and his family at a vacation rental. Clark decides he and Ellen will have a romantic getaway at a hotel before they get there, but at the hotel everything goes wrong for the Griswolds. They check out and drive the Family Truckster to Rusty's rental. This short film was not given the National Lampoon label, but it was sanctioned by Warner Bros.
Update/sequel
In 2010, it was announced by New Line CinemaNew Line Cinema
New Line Cinema, often simply referred to as New Line, is an American film studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with larger sister studio Warner...
(owned by Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
, which released the previous films) that a new Vacation film was being produced. It will be produced by David Dobkin
David Dobkin (director)
David Dobkin is an American film director, producer and former screenwriter best known for directing Clay Pigeons, Shanghai Knights, Wedding Crashers, Fred Claus and The Change-Up.-Early life and education:...
and written by Sam Brown and Dave Neustadter. The story will focus on Rusty Griswold taking his own family to Walley World before the theme park closes permanently.
The Griswold Children
Aside from the obvious issues with the characters' physical appearances due to being played by different actors, Rusty and Audrey age on a floating timelineFloating timeline
A Floating timeline is a device used in fiction, particularly in comics and animation, to explain why characters age little or not at all over a period of time - despite real-world markers like notable events, people and technology appearing in the works and correlating with the real world.A...
. It is assumed that the films take place in the year they are made, as no other indication of time is given and the characters' clothing, cars, and environment are contemporary to the time of the films' releases. Rusty appears to be the older child in most of the films. Rusty and Audrey appear to be in their early teens in Vacation (1983), and in their mid-teens in European Vacation (1985) two years later (at one point in the film, Rusty specifically mentions that he is fifteen years old). However, in Christmas Vacation (1989), while Audrey appears to be in her late teens, Rusty looks younger than he did in the previous film. In Vegas Vacation (1997), Rusty seems to be 19 years old and Audrey seems to be 18 years old. In Hotel Hell Vacation
Hotel Hell Vacation
Hotel Hell Vacation is an American online comedy short film. It was released on February 7, 2010 on HomeAway, Inc.'s website. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo reprise their roles as Clark and Ellen Griswold. It is the first time Clark and Ellen have been seen in a Vacation film since 1997's Vegas...
(2010), Rusty is older and has a wife and daughter. In Vegas Vacation Clark tells the kids, "I hardly recognize you anymore!" The next shot freezes for a moment on the kids sitting silently, the scene making fun of the obvious discontinuity.
Walley World
Walley World is mentioned in each of the subsequent films following Vacation.- In European Vacation, Clark tells his wife and children to be open-minded and respectful of other countries' cultures, reminding them, "This isn't Walley World, it's a country." He is seen wearing a Walley World T Shirt.
- In Christmas Vacation, Clark and Eddie can be seen drinking eggnog out of glasses shaped like Marty Moose's head (with the cartoonish oversized antlers serving as handles).
- In Hotel Hell, Rusty can be seen wearing a Walley World t-shirt.
- In an upcoming Vacation film focusing on Rusty as a father, Rusty and his family are said to be taking a road trip to Walley World before it closes permanently.
Clark's tirades
Clark Griswold is usually very laid back and mild mannered, even in the face of adversity or his family's lack of appreciation for his efforts on their behalf. However, when Clark is pushed beyond the limit of his patience he tends to lose his temper rather badly and go on insane tirades, as seen in the first Vacation, where he lashed out at his family for not wanting to continue the trip, and in Christmas Vacation where he went into a tirade against his boss.Cast
Cast changes for the recurring characters in the series as follows:| Character | Film | Short Film | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vacation National Lampoon's Vacation Vacation, sometimes referred as National Lampoon's Vacation, is a 1983 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall... |
European Vacation National Lampoon's European Vacation European Vacation is a 1985 comedy film. The second film in National Lampoon's Vacation film series, it was directed by Amy Heckerling and stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. Dana Hill and Jason Lively replace Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall as Griswold children Audrey and Rusty... |
Christmas Vacation National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Christmas Vacation is a 1989 Christmas comedy film directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. It is the third installment in National Lampoon's Vacation film series, and was written by John Hughes, based on his short story in National Lampoon Magazine, Christmas ‘59... |
Vegas Vacation Vegas Vacation Vegas Vacation is a 1997 comedy film. It is the fourth film in the original Vacation film series centering around the fictitious Griswold family, following Vacation, European Vacation, and Christmas Vacation. Chevy Chase reprises his starring role as Clark W. Griswold, the patriarch of the family... |
Christmas Vacation 2 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure is an American made-for-TV comedy movie. It premiered December 20, 2003 on NBC... |
Hotel Hell Vacation Hotel Hell Vacation Hotel Hell Vacation is an American online comedy short film. It was released on February 7, 2010 on HomeAway, Inc.'s website. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo reprise their roles as Clark and Ellen Griswold. It is the first time Clark and Ellen have been seen in a Vacation film since 1997's Vegas... |
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| The Griswolds | ||||||
| Clark W. Griswold, Jr. | Chevy Chase Chevy Chase Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon... |
Chevy Chase | ||||
| Ellen Griswold | Beverly D'Angelo Beverly D'Angelo Beverly Heather D'Angelo is an American actress and singer.-Early life:D'Angelo was born in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Priscilla , a violinist, and Gene D'Angelo, a bass player and television station manager. She is of part Italian ancestry... |
Beverly D'Angelo | ||||
| Russell 'Rusty' Griswold | Anthony Michael Hall Anthony Michael Hall Michael Anthony Hall , known professionally as Anthony Michael Hall, is an American actor, film producer and director who starred in several teen-oriented films of the 1980s. Hall began his career in commercials and on stage as a child, and made his screen debut in 1980... |
Jason Lively Jason Lively -Career:Jason Lively started his career by appearing in the pilot episode of The Dukes of Hazzard when he was 10 years old. His first film appearance was four years later in the 1983 film Brainstorm... |
Johnny Galecki Johnny Galecki John Mark "Johnny" Galecki is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as David Healy in the ABC sitcom Roseanne, Rusty Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and as Leonard Hofstadter in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.-Early life:Galecki was born in Bree, Belgium, of... |
Ethan Embry Ethan Embry Ethan Philan Randall , although he is known and usually credited as Ethan Embry, is an American film and television actor. He is known for his role as Declan Giggs on the Showtime television series Brotherhood.-Personal life:... |
Travis Greer | |
| Audrey Griswold | Dana Barron Dana Barron Dana Barron is an American actress who has starred in film and on television. Barron is best known for her role as the original Audrey Griswold in the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation which she reprised in 2003's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure for NBC television.-Early... |
Dana Hill Dana Hill Dana Hill was an American actress and voice actor with a raspy voice and childlike appearance, which allowed her to play adolescent roles into her 30s... |
Juliette Lewis Juliette Lewis Juliette Lewis is an American actress and musician. She gained international fame for her role in the 1991 thriller Cape Fear for which she was nominated for both an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress... |
Marisol Nichols Marisol Nichols Marisol Nichols is an American actress best known for her role in the sixth season of 24 as Special Agent Nadia Yassir.-Early life:... |
Dana Barron | |
| The Johnsons | ||||||
| Edward 'Eddie' Johnson | Randy Quaid Randy Quaid Randall Rudy "Randy" Quaid is an American actor perhaps best known for his role as Cousin Eddie in the National Lampoon's Vacation movies, as well as his numerous supporting roles in films, including his Oscar nominated performance in The Last Detail, Independence Day, Kingpin and Brokeback Mountain... |
Randy Quaid | ||||
| Catherine Johnson | Miriam Flynn Miriam Flynn Miriam Flynn is an American voice actress and character actress. She is best known as Cousin Catherine in the National Lampoon's Vacation franchise. As a voice artist, she has been featured in The Land Before Time series, Taz-Mania as the title character's mother, Jean, Poil in The Spooktacular... |
Miriam Flynn | ||||
| Cousin Vicki | Jane Krakowski Jane Krakowski Jane Krakowski is an American actress and singer. She is most well known for her performance of Elaine Vassal on Ally McBeal, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and for her current role as Jenna Maroney on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock, for which she has been nominated for three Emmy... |
Shae D'Lyn Shae D'Lyn Shae D'lyn is an American actress. She's best known for her role as Jane Deaux/Cavanaugh on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg and as Cousin Vicki in National Lampoons' Vegas Vacation.- Biography :... |
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| Cousin Dale | John P. Navin Jr. John P. Navin Jr. John P. Navin Jr. is an American film and television actor from Philadelphia. He is well known for his roles in the 1981 drama film Taps and the 1983 movie Losin' It, in both of which he co-starred with Tom Cruise... |
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| Cousin Daisy Mabel | Violet Ramis | |||||
| Cousin Ruby Sue | Ellen Hamilton Latzen Ellen Hamilton Latzen Ellen Hamilton Latzen is an American actress who appeared as a child actor in television and film roles from 1987 to 1997, including Family Ties, The Equalizer, Mr. North, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation... |
Juliette Brewer | ||||
| Cousin Rocky | Cody Burger Cody Burger Cody Michael Burger is an American former child actor whose noteworthy acting credentials include portraying Cousin Rocky Johnson in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation , an appearance on the hit television program Home Improvement , Mel Gibson's vehicle Forever Young , and most recently,... |
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| Cousin Denny | Zach Moyes | |||||
| Cousin Clark 'Third' Johnson | Jake Thomas Jake Thomas Jake Thomas is an American actor and singer, perhaps best known for his role as Matt McGuire, the titular character's younger brother, in the Disney Channel show Lizzie McGuire. In 2002, he won a Young Artist Award for supporting actor for his performance in Artificial Intelligence: AI... |
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