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National Lampoon's 'Christmas Vacation' is a holiday classic, but filming the 1989 comedy wasn't always smooth, especially during one of its most chaotic scenes involving a squirrel. The cast recently came together at Fan Expo Chicago, where they delighted fans with insider tales from the set, including the challenges they faced while filming a particularly tricky sequence.
The Squirrel Problem on 'Christmas Vacation' Set
Juliette Lewis, who played Audrey Griswold, explained that the family-tree squirrel gag took three days to film. Beverly D'Angelo revealed that the original trained squirrel had died of a heart attack, which Lewis hadn't known at the time. Consequently, the filmmakers relied on an untrained squirrel for the scene, which meant Chevy Chase spent almost every take with a stuffed squirrel perched on his shoulder—only swapping it out for the brief instant when the real squirrel lunged toward the camera. D'Angelo admitted that this mishap had disrupted the magic of the scene, and Lewis agreed it was a sad turn of events.
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Image Courtesy: Entertainment Weekly
The scene, which shows the Griswold family scrambling around the house as the squirrel jumps from the tree, remains one of the most memorable moments in the film and leads to the movie’s climactic chaos.
Challenging Moments on 'Christmas Vacation' Shoot
The 'Christmas Vacation' cast reunion also reflected on other challenging moments during filming. Chase found it difficult to perform the scene where Clark Griswold has a meltdown over the trashed Christmas tree, so his co-stars helped by holding placards with his lines to assist him.
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Image Courtesy: IMDb
'Christmas Vacation' has become a holiday staple alongside films like 'Home Alone,' 'A Christmas Story,' and 'Elf,' with its blend of physical comedy, family mishaps, and memorable performances from Chase, D'Angelo, along with others and supporting stars including E.G. Marshall, Diane Ladd, and many others.
Even decades later, fans continue to revisit the Griswold family's chaotic holiday adventures, appreciating the behind-the-scenes stories that reveal the challenges of bringing such iconic comedy moments to life.
