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Kara’s awesome post on A Charlie Brown Christmas inspired me to write about my favorite Christmas movies. We’ve already watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation three times this year, and we’ll probably watch it again during at least one of our family Christmases. I love it so much I made Christmas cards based on some of my favorite quotes. Well, I want to share the love with you guys. Here are a few things you probably never knew about Clark and the Griswold family.
1. The Capra family must have Christmas in their genes – the assistant director of Christmas Vacation, Frank Capra III, is the grandson of the legendary Frank Capra, who directed It’s a Wonderful Life. The part where Clark “fixes” the newel post by sawing it off with a chainsaw is an homage to his grandfather’s movie – the newel post at the Bailey’s house was also loose. Also, Russ is watching It’s a Wonderful Life on TV when his grandparents arrive.
2. In the scene where Clark has his total breakdown after receiving his “Christmas bonus” – membership in a jelly of the month club – he rattles off a jawbreaking, tongue-twister of an insult about his boss. The crew had placed cue cards all over the set behind the camera so Chevy Chase could read the whole insult without stopping. In its entirety, the quote is:
“Hey. If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I’d like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, d**kless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey s**t he is. Hallelujah. Holy s**t. Where’s the Tylenol?”
3. You gotta love/hate cousin Eddie. He’s just so deliciously white trash. Eddie’s “dress clothes” – a white sweater with a black dickey, with the dickey very obviously showing through the sweater – was Randy Quaid’s wife’s idea. A genius detail. Cousin Eddie went on to star in his own made-for-TV Christmas Vacation – Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure. Haven’t seen it; heard it was awful. I have to admit, the beauty of Cousin Eddie is that you get him in little doses. A whole Cousin Eddie movie would be a bit much, I think.
4. I can always relate to the scene where the two grandpas are asleep in the armchairs while the Christmas parade is on T.V. in the background. This always happens at our Thanksgivings and Christmases – grandpas, dads, uncles. What makes the scene even funnier is that the actors who played the grandpas were really both asleep.
5. Aunt Bethany (“Is your house on fire, Clark?”) is played by Mae Questel, the voice of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl. Christmas Vacation was her last movie.
6. Being from the Midwest, Friends and I always laugh when we see the Griswolds driving to get their Christmas tree at the beginning of the movie. Check out the large mountains in the scenery. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never seen mountains like that in these parts. Turns out this part of the film was shot in Breckenridge, Colorado, which makes much more sense. The house scenes were shot on set in California. This is evident during outdoor scenes – you never see any of the cast’s breath when they are standing around waiting for Clark to show them the lights on the house. There are also a few shots where you see non-evergreen trees with full leaves and no snow on them.
7. Pretty much the whole movie is quotable, but among the ones that get used regularly around our house are:
“Don’t throw me down, Clark.” – Aunt Bethany
“I don’t KNOW, Margo.” – Todd the yuppie next-door neighbor
“SQUIRREL!!!” – Clark Sr.
“Lot of sap in here. Looks great… little full. Lotta sap.” – Clark
“They want you to say grace. THE BLESSING.” – Uncle Lewis (complete with finger gesturing, of course).
8. The kids in Christmas Vacation (Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki) are the third set of kids. The first Audrey and Rusty were Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall in Vacation, the second are Dana Hill and Jason Lively. When Vegas Vacation was released n 1997, the kids were played by Marisol Nichols and Ethan Embry.
Do you love Christmas Vacation or hate it? What’s your favorite part?
[Image credit: Bubba.org]
Comments (41)
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Absolutely, 100%, hands-down my favorite Christmas movie. Some of my picks for best quotes are:
Cousin Eddie: “Sh***er’s full!
Clark, to Ellen: “Have you checked our sh***er, honey?”
Chief of Police, to Clark’s boss: “If I had a rubber hose I would beat you…”
Aunt Bethany: “Is Rusty still in the Navy?”
I love the part when the SWAT team busts in and Ellen’s hands are cupping Clark’s “nether region”, which she promptly puts back in place after shaking hands.
I think I’ll be watching this DVD tonight as I sip eggnog out of those little moose glasses. Classic.
posted by Jill on 12-21-2007 at 8:51 am
my favorite part is the Griswold family Christmas dinner. The entire scene is such a caricature of the every-day family. The dog “yacking” under the table… the kitty food in the jell-o… and Aunt Bethany with “the BLESSING!” (finger motion included).
“Aunt Bethany, why don’t you say Grace.”
“Grace died ten years ago!”
“THE BLESSING!!”
hilarious.
posted by Holly on 12-21-2007 at 8:52 am
I absolutely love this movie, its always the first we watch in the string of Christmas movies each year. We love to quote the “I don’t KNOW, Margo!” line all year long. That and “Shitter was full”…
posted by Tanya W on 12-21-2007 at 8:54 am
I love this movie although I havent watched it in a while… I think I´ll rent it tonight!
posted by GTT on 12-21-2007 at 8:54 am
Okay, how can you write about this movie and not mention the dog with “a bit of Mississippi Mudhoud in him” or Clarke’s amazement that Eddie is standing on his front lawn, “Eddie?..Eddie?” and later…”Can I get you some eggnog? Take you out in the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?” An absolute classic! :-)
posted by Catherine on 12-21-2007 at 9:07 am
So many favorite parts.
—————
“OH my, her eyes aren’t crossed anymore!”
“Yeah, ain’t it something? Falls down a well, eyes go crossed. Gets kicked by a mule, eyes go normal.”
—————
“Hey, Clark. Where are you going to put a tree that big?”
“Bend over and I’ll show you.”
“You’ve got a lot of nerve talking to me like that!”
“I wasn’t talking to you!”
—————
posted by Ryan on 12-21-2007 at 9:08 am
My favorite movie too.
“Take you out in the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?” “Wouldn’t be more surprised if I woke up with my face sewn to the carpet.” Classic!
My whole family quotes this movie constantly – even on the 4th of July.
Where can I get a set of those moose glasses?
posted by mary hall bailey on 12-21-2007 at 9:09 am
The favorite that former co-workers and I beat to death:
“Hey Grizwold, where you gonna put a tree that big?”
“Bend over and I’ll show you.”
It became the default response to most any of the ‘5 w’ questions, particularly those beginning in ‘where’ and ‘what’. Examples:
Where did they put the fax machine?
What are we supposed to do with this report?
Where are you going for christmas?
. . . hours of juvinile fun.
I second the vote for Aunt Bethany’s ‘rusty in the navy’ quote, and will add her “I like riding in cars.”
posted by EV on 12-21-2007 at 9:12 am
Great Movie, I’m told the fit Clark throws when he does not get the lights to come on is so me.
Some of my favorite lines,
Eddie: You surprised to see us, Clark?
Clark: Oh, Eddie… If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn’t be more surprised than I am now.
Clark: Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?
Eddie: Naw, I’m doing just fine, Clark.
Eddie: If that thing had 9 lives you just spent them all. As Eddie and Clark look over the burnt cat shape (still smoking) in the carpet.
posted by Dean on 12-21-2007 at 9:14 am
All time favorite Christmas movie.
“Wouldn’t be more surprised if I woke up with my face sewn to the carpet.”
“Take you out in the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?”
Anyone know where I can get a set of those moose mugs?
posted by mhb on 12-21-2007 at 9:27 am
Love it, Love it, Love it! We always call it Chevy Chase Christmas. The Pledge of Allegiance Prayer is top notch. we say it all year long…
posted by Taylor on 12-21-2007 at 9:40 am
Don’t forget the metal plate in Eddie’s head. “The last time I used a microwave I passed out and pissed myself”. Good stuff! The sledding sequence was outrageous as well.
posted by Joe on 12-21-2007 at 9:45 am
The whole movie is my favorite part! It’s just not Christmas until I’ve watched Christmas Vacation. Clark is just like my father-in-law, and my husband gets more like him every year.
posted by Koka on 12-21-2007 at 9:49 am
If you like the movie, then these are a must have. I think someone was asking about the Moose glasses, so here you go. You might also want to look into the Griswold hockey jersey. Classic. You can also get jelly’s of the month I believe. I guess you cant post links so check out uncrate dot com. You will eventually find it.
posted by Jeremy on 12-21-2007 at 10:06 am
Aunt Bethany: “Is your house on fire, Clark?”
posted by Emily on 12-21-2007 at 10:06 am
I dont know what the rules are on posting about other websites, so i hope I wasnt breaking the rules
posted by Jeremy on 12-21-2007 at 10:07 am
Anyone looking for the moose mugs should just do a search on Google. I found thousands of links.
This is one of my absolute favorite Christmas movies. I can watch it on repeat, and everytime, it makes me laugh hysterically.
One of my favorite quotes is between Clark and Rusty.
Clark: Russ, we checked every bulb, didn’t we?
Rusty: Sure, Dad.
Clark: Hmm… Maybe we ought to just go up there and check…
Rusty: Oh, wow. Look at the time. I gotta get to bed. I still gotta brush my teeth, feed the hog, still got some homework to do, still got those bills to pay, wash the car…
or the classic…
Ruby Sue: Rocky bit my thumb. Him’s nervous.
Clark: Nervous or excited?
Ruby Sue: Shittin’ bricks.
Clark: You shouldn’t use that word.
Ruby Sue: Sorry. Shittin’ rocks.
posted by Melinda on 12-21-2007 at 10:17 am
This is timeless! I agree with Koka – I can’t pick a single scene or quote, so the whole movie is my favorite! I’m actually going to call my house now and leave myself a message to toss our copy in with the rest of our packing – it’ll be fun to gather the whole family around and watch it, no matter how many times we’ve all seen it!
posted by Roger on 12-21-2007 at 10:22 am
I love “So, you about ready to do some kissin.’”
posted by Robert on 12-21-2007 at 11:06 am
Best Quote……
“Can’t see the line can you Russ?”
posted by Dan on 12-21-2007 at 12:01 pm
I work in real estate, and the other day our office closed a sale where the sellers last name was Clark and the buyers last name was Griswold, so the file was labeled Clark/Griswold. It really made my week.
posted by Johnny Cat on 12-21-2007 at 12:16 pm
I love this movie too. I knw I’m going to be redundant here, but what the heck — favorite lines & scenes:
1. SQUIRRELLLLLLLL!!!!!!!
2. Eddie chomping on his cigar: “Sh*tter’s full…”
3. The bathing suit hitting the window during Clark’s pool fantasy
4. Uncle Lewis’s back on fire after the tree explodes: “What are you lookin’ at?”
Such good stuff!
posted by Jim on 12-21-2007 at 12:23 pm
Great post, Stacy. I remember years ago at my job we used to get fairly generous Christmas bonuses. Just like Clark Griswold’s situation, we didn’t get raises on our hourly rate because that large bonus was counted as part of our salary. Then, for some reason, one year the bonuses were pretty chintzy. One of my co-workers stomped into the boss’ office and shouted “Why didn’t you just enroll me in the Jelly of the Month Club?!” and then stormed out. He didn’t come back after the holiday break.
posted by Kara on 12-21-2007 at 12:49 pm
“Clark if he does lay into you…it’s best to just let him finish”.
Classic!
“We all have to make sacrifices Audry, I’m sleeping with your father”.
“Don’t knock me down Clark” (Aunt Bethany)
posted by teach7 on 12-21-2007 at 2:22 pm
Its my Favorite Christmas movie of all time!!!
Aunt Bethany: What’s that sound? Its a funny squeaky sound!
Uncle Lewis:You couldn’t hear a dump drunk driving through a nitro glycerin plant.
posted by Marta on 12-21-2007 at 3:08 pm
I had never seen this movie until I met my soon-to-be inlaws… at my first Christmas with my fiance’s family we sat down to dinner. when his mother told someone to say “grace” I bent my head, but the rest of the family went straight into the whole blessing fiasco without missing a beat. I was so confused. After dinner his mother made us all sit down and watch it because she just couldn’t get over the fact that I had never seen it.
My fiance and I have decided that watching it after Christmas dinner will be a tradition in our home.
posted by Laura on 12-21-2007 at 3:13 pm
This is awesome! One of my favourite Christmas movies. And on another note, hey Stacy! I’m on etsy too. I’ll check out your crafts when I get home; it’s blocked here at work.
I can’t believe I don’t own this movie.
posted by Molly W. on 12-21-2007 at 3:38 pm
Ha! At random times (time of year doesn’t matter), I will tell people, “Don’t throw me down, Clark!” It’s fun to see who gets it, and who just stares at me like I’m a crazy person.
posted by Jill on 12-22-2007 at 3:07 am
“Hey GRIS– as long as you aren’t doing anything conSTRUCtive, go into the living room and fetch my STOgies”. I use variations of that line constantly.
I use “Jelly of the Month Club” as a description of any crappy gift.
posted by JohnL on 12-22-2007 at 9:25 am
Great Christmas movie! For those of you asking abut the glasses, you realize that those are an homage to the first Vacation movie (where they go to Wally World), right? I think one of the characters in the film wears a Wally World shirt at some point too.
posted by Zach on 12-22-2007 at 10:58 am
National Lampoon might have topped itself with its latest christmas effort
Spears family Christmas on youtube… check it out!!!
they should make this a movie
posted by Scott on 12-22-2007 at 11:14 am
I have YET to find a least funny movie than this one; stupid, vulgar, low brow, has Chevy Chase in it…
the ONLY part I have EVER laughed at is whne he turns on the lights and the electric meter spins like a buzz saw.
posted by steve johnson on 12-25-2007 at 8:37 pm
Count me in the minority who really doesn’t care for NLCV. It tries way too hard. Same with “Scrooged.” Unfortunately I’m usually forced to watch both with the in-laws. I find that the double shot of “A Christmas Story” and “Bad Santa” is a good antidote.
posted by Trish on 12-26-2007 at 8:01 am
I love the fact that all of Mr. Shirley’s gifts from his employees are all the same.
Favorite quote:
“I have to eat, so I can take my back pill” —- Art
posted by Dizastrow on 12-26-2007 at 4:43 pm
This movie is a family tradition in my house. But over the years, one question has lingered: Who the heck is on the cover of that People magazine Clark is reading in bed while talking to Ellen (the one where his sap-covered fingers tear the pages)?
posted by Chris on 12-27-2007 at 10:21 am
Our favorite quote is when Eddie’s talking about Snots “laying into your leg” and he says, “It’s best to just let him finish.” That one gets thrown around a lot. That and the “Hallelujah, Holy Sh**. Where’s the Tylenol?”
Priceless.
posted by Pearl on 12-28-2007 at 4:01 pm
Chris, I found this blog because I googled “People Magazine cover in Christmas Vacation.” I watched this movie twice over the holidays with my family (not enough), and we are all VERY curious who that is. Adolf Hitler? I can’t tell. Any, just to throw in my two cents on my favorite exchange between Clark and Eddie…
Eddie: “Yeah, I got the daughter in the clinic, getting cured off the Wild Turkey. And, the older boy, bless his soul, is preparing for his career.”
Clark: “College?”
Eddie: “Carnival.”
Clark: “You got to be proud.”
Eddie: “Oh, yeah. Yeah, last season he was a pixie-dust spreader on the Tilt-O-Whirl. He thinks that maybe next year, He’ll be guessing people’s weight or barking for the Yak woman. You ever see her?”
Clark: “No.”
Eddie: “She’s got these big horns growing right out above her ears. Yeah, she’s ugly as sin, but a sweet gal. And, a hell of a good cook.”
posted by Jeff on 12-30-2007 at 10:22 pm
Definitely a Christmas classic.
Clark in the turban, furs and silk gloves, sitting in the attic watching old home movies.
The grandparents in the bunk beds.
*Ellen lights a cigarette*
Grandma: “Ellen, are you smoking?”
Ellen: “No!” *crushes out the cigarette and waves at the smoke*
The one light switch in the garage that controls all the outdoor lights.
posted by boliyou on 12-31-2007 at 2:20 am
get the moose mugs at wallyworld of course!
posted by Kristen on 11-1-2008 at 12:44 pm
The sledding part is the best quote of the whole movie…
Clark – “It’s a new kitchen lubricant my company has been working on…
We’re really gonna fly down the hill with this stuff…”
Eddie – “Don’t put any of that on my sled Clark, remember the metal plate in my head?”
Clark – “How could I forget?”
Eddie – “Over at the VA they put in a new plastic one on account of every time Katherine revved up the microwave, I’d piss my pants and forget my name for a half hour or so… I don’t think I want to go sailing down no hill with nothing between my brain and the ground but a piece of government plastic…”
Clark – “Do you really think it matters Eddie?”
Eddie – “Well, you see the plate runs right underneath my part, here, and over here, (slaps head) nothin’, but if this over here gets dented, my hair just ain’t gonna look right…”
posted by TurdFerguson74 on 12-24-2008 at 1:23 pm
lol the best is when Eddie is marching the boss in chains up the driveway and gives him a kick in the ass! lol and you hear the boss go \ooomph\ through the sock in his mouth.
posted by Josh on 7-7-2009 at 6:13 pm