During the filming of the beloved holiday classic, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, actor Chevy Chase encountered some unexpected challenges. Recently, the stars of this iconic film, including Randy Quaid and Beverly D'Angelo, reunited at the Chicago Fan Expo to reminisce about their experiences, particularly highlighting Chase's struggles while portraying the bumbling patriarch, Clark Griswold.
Randy Quaid, who famously played Cousin Eddie, shared an amusing anecdote about Chase's difficulties with memorizing lines during a particularly intense breakdown scene towards the film's climax. Quaid noted, "When Clark has the meltdown, that was a tough scene because Chevy had to remember all these lines. It was just impossible for him to do because his brain doesn't work that way." This revelation sheds light on the pressures faced by actors in delivering memorable performances.
Beverly D'Angelo, who portrayed Clark's supportive wife, Ellen, revealed a creative solution devised by the crew to assist Chase during filming. "We had 'em around our necks because for him to act, there was no point in him thinking about the words," she explained. This innovative approach allowed Chase to focus on his performance without the distraction of memorizing his lines. Chase confirmed this method, stating, "I had to cover all of those words. Every one of them had a sign in front of 'em."
D'Angelo emphasized that Chase's background in live comedy contributed to his performance style. "Chevy's a comedian, he's live. That's how he stays alive," she remarked. The use of placards around their necks allowed Chase to immerse himself in the character without the anxiety of forgetting lines. Quaid humorously added, "Yeah, we were all wearing the dialogue," illustrating the collaborative effort among the cast to ensure a seamless production.
Chase took particular pride in writing the infamous meltdown scene, which had to be toned down to fit the film's PG-13 rating, a departure from the R-rated original film released in 1983. "They all had my lines in front of 'em," he recalled, explaining the creative process behind the scene. "I had to come up with a lot of strange stuff," he continued, humorously noting the shift from more explicit language to something more family-friendly.
The chaotic meltdown scene occurs when Clark Griswold receives his much-anticipated Christmas bonus, only to discover it is a subscription to a jelly-of-the-month club. His explosive reaction includes a humorous tirade in which he describes his boss in a series of colorful, albeit PG-13 friendly, insults. This scene has become a hallmark of the film and is fondly remembered by audiences.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is the third installment of the original Vacation series starring Chase, following the 1983 original and the 1985 sequel, European Vacation. While the saga initially concluded with Vegas Vacation in 1997, Chase and D'Angelo returned in supporting roles for the 2015 reboot, Vacation, which followed their on-screen son Rusty, now played by Ed Helms.
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