Classic Movie Pick: ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’

Last week’s “NEWisco Weekend” theme was vacation so let’s gas up the Wagon Queen Family truckster and head west to Wally World! That’s right, this week’s “Classic Pick” is “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” the legendary 1983 version.

The story follows ever optimistic family man Clark W. Griswold’s quest to show his family a good time at any cost, which often results in a very bad time. Clark is played by Chevy Chase, his wife Ellen Griswold by Beverly D’Angelo. Along with their two kids, Rusty and Audrey, they leave their suburban Chicago home and head west to America’s greatest fake theme park and along the way experience everything from stinky backseat feet to cousin Eddie’s decrepit farm and manage to survive Clark’s Evel Knievel maneuver in the aforementioned family truckster where are you? drives off an Arizona mesa, launching his car fifty yards into the air.

In one of the film’s most memorable scenes, the family agrees to drop Ellen’s aunt Edna off in Phoenix, which doesn’t exactly go as planned.

As you probably guessed, the Griswolds eventually make it to Wally World, but find it’s closed. In the original ending, Clark and his family hold Roy Wally and his family hostage. The ending was scrapped, but re-created for one of the future sequels, “Christmas Vacation.” 

“National Lampoon’s Vacation” was Harold Ramis’  directorial followup to “Caddyshack.” The script, written by the legendary John Hughes, was based on one of his short stories called “Vacation 58,” an article he wrote for National Lampoon magazine, which was based on a family vacation he took as a young boy. 

Chase did his fair share of improvising in the film, including Clark’s sandwich dance for Christie Brinkley and his send off of Aunt Edna at her impromptu backyard funeral. In the classic scene between Clark and the State Patrol motorcycle cop who pulls the Griswolds over for tying the dog to the bumper, there was also unintentional improvising. The scene was not supposed to be improved, but turned out that way due to the fact that both Chase and actor James Keach, who played the cop, were actually tearing up because they were trying so hard not to laugh.

It’s hard to picture any other actor playing Clark Griswold throughout the “Vacation” franchise, but actors Richard Belzer, Robert Klein, and Bill Murray were all considered for the role. Robin Williams was actually considered for the role of cousin Eddie. 

And a quick fun fact before I go: In case you’re wondering, the W in Clark W. Griswold stands for Wilhelm, but we don’t find that out until one of the later “Vacation” films.

So with summer right around the corner, what better time than now to check out “National Lampoon’s Vacation.”

Editor’s note: For more movie and entertainment talk, join Pete Schwaba weeknights from 6 p.m. to 8 p .m. for “Nite Lite” on the Civic Media radio network.