Director Chris Columbus recently spoke to Vanity Fair about the strange events that led to his departure from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. His decision was partly based on awkward interactions with Chevy Chase, the film’s star.
Columbus was just starting as a director at the time. With his film Heartbreak Hotel, he had just gone through what he called a “complete disaster.” Well-known director John Hughes, Columbus’s agent, offered him the story for Christmas Vacation. It looked like a great chance.
Things went well at the start of filming, with Columbus already getting a second unit video in Chicago during the holidays. But after meeting Chase twice, things changed.
Columbus described his plans for the film during their initial meeting. Chase didn’t say a word for thirty minutes. After that, he asked Columbus, “Wait a second.” “Are you the director?” When Columbus said yes, Chase said, “Oh, I thought you were a drummer.” Soon after, the meeting ended quickly.
Hughes was at the second meeting, which wasn’t any better. Chase and Hughes were talking about things unrelated to the film, which made Columbus feel excluded. “I was pretty much nonexistent,” Columbus remembered of the two-hour dinner.
Columbus decided to leave the project, even though he needed work badly. He said, “I realized I couldn’t work with the guy.” “He’s not interested.” He is being rude to me. This is not what I need. I’d rather not have to work again.”
Columbus told Hughes about his worries and said that he wouldn’t be able to make a good film under those conditions. The project was given to director Jeremiah S. Chechik, who finished the 1989 film, the third in the popular Vacation series starring Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo. Hughes knew this.
Things went well for Columbus in the story. Hughes sent him another story, this time for Home Alone, the weekend after he left. Columbus gained notoriety and established himself as a director of popular holiday films thanks to this project, which turned out to be a great fit.
Chase’s representatives did not answer when asked to comment on Columbus’s report on what happened.
