National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Director Opens Up About Leaving Film Over Dispute With Star

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Director Opens Up About Leaving Film Over Dispute With Star

The original director of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation addresses leaving the film due to an argument with Chevy Chase, calling him “a complete idiot.” Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik, with a screenplay by John Hughes, the classic 1989 comedy and the third Vacation The film follows Clark Griswold’s attempt to have an old-fashioned family Christmas, although his plans spiral comically out of control. Chevy Chase led Christmas holidaysis cast as Clark Griswold alongside Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, Randy Quaid and many others.

During a recent interview with Empire Magazine, the original National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation director Chris Columbus talked about leaving the film because of a fight with Chevy Chase. The original director shot the second establishing shots for the film, but after meeting with Chase, the “was a complete idiot“Columbus decided to leave the film even though he desperately needed the job. Shortly afterwards, John Hughes sent him the script Home alonewhich became his breakthrough project. Read his full comments below:

John Hughes had the same agent as me and sent me the script for Christmas Vacation. I found it very funny. I even shot some of the first second unit shots for the film – shots that are now included in the film. And then I met Chevy Chase. It’s no surprise – you’ve heard this story a million times – but he was a complete idiot. And even though I was in a situation where I desperately needed a job, I decided I had to quit. Two weeks later I received two scripts from John Hughes again. One of them was a script called “Reach The Rock,” which I didn’t respond to. And the other was home alone.

What it meant for Chris Columbus to leave the Christmas holidays

He then directed Home Alone.

From his early days Saturday Night Live for his last regular role Community, Chevy Chase is often accused of being difficult to work withas he has clashed with someone in almost every production he has been a part of. In the case of Chris Columbus, his run-in with Chevy Chase and his subsequent decision to drop out National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation finally got his career going. However, he would be replaced by Jeremiah S. Chechik, and Christmas holidays When it became a classic, John Hughes sent him the script for another Christmas comedy. Home alone.

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Home alone ended up being a much bigger box office hit, grossing over $476 million on a budget of $18 million, becoming the second highest-grossing film of 1990, and becoming Columbus’ breakthrough film. He returned to direct the sequel. Home Alone 2: Lost in New Yorkand followed this success with another box office hit: Ms. Doubtfire. While many of Chris Columbus’ films later in the 1990s achieved mixed results, Columbus once again found commercial acclaim for directing the first two Harry Potter films, Philosopher’s Stone And Chamber of Secretswith much success.

Our take on Chris Columbus leaving for the Christmas holidays

It boosted his career

Chris Columbus’ run-in with Chevy Chase and his subsequent decision to leave Christmas holidaysWhat may have seemed like a setback at the time ultimately benefited the director. Although his successor, Jeremiah S. Chechik, directed a popular Christmas film, his name is largely forgotten. In the meantime, Columbus took over the direction Home alone and many other box office hits, such as Ms. Doubtfire and two Harry Potter Movies. In hindsight, Columbus’ encounter with Chase and the decision to leave National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation create the conditions for a successful career.

Source: Empire Magazine

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