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National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

1989 film directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a 1989 film in which the Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster. It is the third installment in the National Lampoon Griswold family series.

Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. Written by John Hughes.
Yule crack up! Taglines

Clark W. Griswold

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  • Well I'm gonna park the cars and get the luggage, and well, I'll be outside for the...season.
  • [as an entourage of suits - led by Clark's boss - passes by single file] Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, kiss my ass. Kiss his ass. Kiss your ass. Happy Hanukkah.
  • [the newel post is wobbly, so Clark cuts it off with a chain saw] Fixed the newel post.
  • LOTTA SAP in here. [spits then give an "okay" sign] Looks great! Little full, Lotta sap!
  • I dedicate this house to the Griswold Family Christmas.
  • [handing Christmas lights to Russ] Unravel these. We need to check every bulb. [pulls out a huge tangle of lights] Oop. Little knot here, you can work on that. [hands it to Russ]
  • 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! 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-… [kicks something] sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-assed, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is! HALLELUJAH! HOLY SHIT! Where's the Tylenol?
  • Going for a new amateur recreational saucer sled land speed record, Clark W. Griswold, Jr.! Remember, don't try this at home, kids; I am a professional. Later, dudes. Let 'er rip. Hang 10! [pushes off; goes sledding downhill at ridiculously high speed] OH, SHIIIIIIIIIT!!
  • [sliding through a forest on his saucer sled, barely avoiding trees] This is great! It's great! I'm dead!
  • [last line] I did it.

Cousin Eddie

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  • If that thing had nine lives, she just spent 'em all. Whoo!
  • That right there is a RV, I got it off my buddy of mine. He took my house, I took the RV.
  • I don't know if I oughta go sailin' down no hill with nothin' between the ground and my brain but a piece of government plastic.
  • 'Yeah...I got the daughter in the clinic, gettin' cured off of the Wild Turkey, and the older boy, bless his soul is preparing for his career.
  • Clark, I'd like to try to fumigate this here chair, it's a good quality item. If you don't mind my askin', how much did she set you back?
  • He's cute ain't he? Only problem is, he's got a little bit a Mississippi leg hound in 'im. If the mood catches him right, he'll grab your leg and just go to town. You don't want him around if you're wearing short pants, if you know what I mean. Word of warning though, if he does lay into ya, it's best to just let 'im finish.
  • [after finding out that Clark has received a "Jelly of the Month" club membership in place of a bonus] Clark, that's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year.

Others

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  • Audrey Griswold: Would it be indecent to ask the grandparents to stay at a hotel?
  • Ellen Griswold: I don't know what to say, except it's Christmas and we're all in misery.
  • Ellen Griswold: Welcome to our home - what's left of it.
  • Art: Hurry up, Clark. I'm freezing my baguettes off.
  • Mr. Shirley: [picks up the phone receiver] Get me somebody. Anybody. And get me somebody while I'm waiting.
  • Clark W. Griswold, Sr.: [extreme close-up] SQUIRREL!!!

Dialogue

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Ellen: Clark, Audrey's frozen from the waist down.
Clark: That's all part of the experience, honey.
Todd Chester: [mockingly] Hey Griswold. Where do you think you're gonna put a tree that big?
Clark: [lifts up the mask] Bend over and I'll show you.
Todd Chester: [angrily] You've got a lot of nerve talking to me like that, Griswold.
Clark: I wasn't talking to you. [looking at Todd's wife, Margo, who is insulted]
[Then Clark lifts down the mask, turns on the chainsaw, and starts sawing on the tree, as the Chesters walk into their own house]
Ellen: You set standards that no family activity can live up to.
Clark: When have I ever done that?
Ellen: Parties, weddings, anniversaries, funerals, holidays, vacations, graduations...
[Clark is looking at lingerie, as a voluptuous saleswoman approach]
Mary: Can I show you something?
Clark: Oh, I was just smelling - smiling. I was just blouse - browsing.
Mary: For your wife? For your girlfriend?
Clark: Uh...huh? What happened? I, uh, heh heh. [mops his forehead with a pair of panties] Well, I guess it just wouldn't... [realizes what he'd done and puts the panties back] Oh, hee-hee, it wouldn't be the Christmas shopping season if the stores were any less hooter than they - HOTTER than they are. Whew. It is warm in here, isn't it?
Mary: You have your coat on.
Clark: Yes, oh do I? How'd that happen?
Mary: Because it's cold out?
Clark: Yes, yes, it is a bit nipply out. I mean 'nippy out.' [laughs] What am I saying, nipple? Ah, there is a nip in the air, though.
Clark: 'Tis the season to be merry.
Mary: That's my name.
Clark: No shit.
Audrey: Do you sleep with your brother? Do you know how sick and twisted that is?
Ellen: Well, I'm sleeping with your father. Don't be so dramatic.
Audrey: I have nightmares about what he does in his bed alone when I'm not lying right next to him.
Todd: Well, obviously something had to break the window, SOMETHING had to hit the stereo!
Margo: And why is the carpet all wet, Todd?
Todd: I don't KNOW, Margo.
[After Clark fails at lighting all the exterior Christmas lights at the "lighting ceremony" in front of the entire family]
Art: [sarcastically] Beautiful, Clark.
Frances: Talk about pissing your money away. I hope you kids see what a silly waste of resources this was.
Audrey: He worked really hard, Grandma.
Art: So, do washing machines.
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: [checks his watch] Oh, woo. Look at the time. [walks back into the house] 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...
Art: The little lights aren't twinkling.
Clark: I know, Art. And thanks for noticing.
Eddie: You surprised to see us, Clark?
Clark: Surprised, Eddie? If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am now.
Eddie: [talking about Snots, Eddie's dog] If you scratch his belly, Clark, he'll love you till the day you die.
Clark: I really shouldn't, Eddie, my hands are all chapped.
Clark: Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere, leave you for dead?
Eddie: Naw, I'm doing just fine, Clark.
Eddie: [describing the metal plate in his head] I had to have it replaced 'cause every time Katherine revved up the microwave, I'd piss my pants and forget who I was for a half-hour or so. So, they put in a plastic one, and it ain't as strong, so...I don't know if I ought to go sailin' down no hill with nothin' between the ground and my brains but a piece of government plastic.
Clark: Do you really think it matters, Eddie?
Eddie: [gesturing over the left side of his head] Well, you see, the plate runs underneath my part here, and over here is... [bangs his right side] Nothing. But here, if this gets dented, then my hair just ain't gonna look right.
Clark: Yeah, I know the feeling.
Ruby Sue: Rocky bit my thumb. Him's nervous because Christmas is almost here.
Clark: Nervous or excited?
Ruby Sue: Shitting bricks.
Clark: You shouldn't use that word.
Ruby Sue: Sorry. Shitting rocks.
Ruby Sue: Uncle Clark, are you sure you ain’t Santa Claus?
Clark: I'm sure... I can't even afford to be an elf.
Ellen: What are you looking at?
Clark: Oh, the silent majesty of a winter's morn...the clean, cool chill of the holiday air...an asshole in his bathrobe, emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer.
[Eddie, in the driveway, is draining the RV's toilet]
Eddie: Shitter was full!
Clark: Ah, yeah. You checked our shitters, honey?
Ellen: Clark, please. He doesn't know any better.
Clark: He oughta know it's illegal. That's a storm sewer. If it fills with gas, I pity the person who lights a match within ten yards of it.
[Clark and Eddie are shopping at Wal-Mart]
Clark: So, how's the live bait business, Eddie.
Eddie: I can't complain. How're you doing?
Clark: Not that good, actually.
Eddie: Didn't your company kill all of them people over in India not long ago?
Clark: No, we missed out on that one. Are you pretty set as far as shopping goes?
Eddie: Well, I can't lie to you, Clark. The truth is things ain't been going too good at all. You know I told you that I borrowed the R.V. from my neighbor? Nope. It's mine, we live in it. I had to sell off the house, the barn, the ten acres. All I kept was a fifty-foot plot, pigs, and the worm farm. If only I had back the money that me and Catherine sent that TV preacher that was screwing the hockey players.
Clark: How about the kids?
Eddie: Oh, his kids can fend for themselves.
Clark: No, your kids.
Eddie: Oh, well, that's the bitch of it; I don't know what to do. We rolled into town on fumes, gas money gave out in Gurney.
Clark: Eddie, Ellen and I want help you give the kids a nice Christmas.
Eddie: Oh, Clark, I couldn't do that.
Clark: No, we insist.
Eddie: Oh, no, I'm not one for charity now.
Clark: Oh, I know that, Eddie. This isn't charity, it's family.
Eddie: [Quiety] Mmm-mmm, I don't know about this...
Clark: Now, come on. If you don't tell me what they want, I'll go out and get it on my own.
Eddie: ...Oh, boy. This is a surprise, Clark. This is just a really nice surprise! [hugs Clark tightly] Just a real nice surprise! [laughs in relief, then gives Clark a piece of paper from his pocket] Here's a little list. Alphabetical, starting with Catherine. And if it wouldn't be too much, I'd like to get something for you, Clark. Something...[clicks his tongue with an 'A-okay' gesture] really nice.
Aunt Bethany: Is your house on fire, Clark?
Clark: No, Aunt Bethany, those are the Christmas lights.
Aunt Bethany: Don't throw me down, Clark.
Clark: I'll try not to, Aunt Bethany.
Aunt Bethany: Is this the airport, Clark?
Clark: [inside the house] We're here!
Uncle Lewis: Hey Gris, me and Bethany figured out the perfect gift for you.
Clark: Aw, Uncle Lewis, you didn't have to buy me anything.
Uncle Lewis: Damn it, Bethany, he guessed it.
Aunt Bethany: Oh that was fun. I love riding in cars! When did you move to Florida? Ellen, are you still dating Clark?
Ellen: Oh, Aunt Bethany. You know you shouldn't have done that.
Aunt Bethany: Oh dear, did I break wind?
Uncle Lewis: Jesus, did the room clear out, Bethany? Hell no, she means presents. You shouldn't have brought presents!
Aunt Bethany: It isn’t everyday somebody moves into a new house.
Uncle Lewis: They didn’t move into a new house!
Russ: [noticing something strange about one of the presents he’s holding] Um, mom?
Ellen: In the living room, Russ.
Aunt Bethany: This house is bigger than your old one. Is Rusty still in the Navy?
Ellen: Aunt Bethany, why don't you go with Frances and Catherine into the living room and say hello to everybody?
Aunt Bethany: Hello, everybody?
Ellen: Just in the living room...
Aunt Bethany: I should say it?
Ellen: You should say it.
Aunt Bethany: Hello, everybody!
Ellen: Hello, everybody.
Rusty: [after Aunt Bethany goes into the living room] Mom.
Ellen: What?
Russ: This box is meowing.
Clark: Let me see. [takes the present, shakes it, and a cat wildly meows] She wrapped up her damn cat!
Ellen: Take it to the kitchen and open it up.
Clark: Then we'll have a cat running around the house.
Ellen: We can't leave it in the box.
Russ: Why would somebody wrap up a cat in a box?
Ellen: She gets confused, Rusty. She's old. She and Uncle Louis don't have much money, so she takes things from around the house, wraps them up, and gives them away as presents.
Russ: [mock enthusiasm] Great! Can't wait to see what I got.
Eddie: [comes in with another of Aunt Bethany's gifts] This one here, it's leakin'. [Ellen touches the liquid coming out with her finger and Eddie licks it off her finger] It's lime!
Ellen: That would be her Jell-O mold. I’ll take it, Eddie.
Clark: Since this is Aunt Bethany's 80th Christmas, I think she should lead us in the saying of Grace.
Aunt Bethany: What dear?
Nora: Grace!
Aunt Bethany: Grace? She passed away thirty years ago...
Uncle Lewis: They want you to say "grace".... [Bethany looks confused; emphasizes his words] The BLESS-ING!!
Aunt Bethany: Oh. [everyone at the table folds their hands in prayer and reverently bows their heads] I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, [Clark makes a confused face towards Aunt Bethany; other members of the family start to join in.] and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Clark: [annoyed] ...Amen.
Clark: Hey, kids, I heard on the news that an airline pilot spotted Santa's sleigh on its way in from New York.
[the kids sit up excitedly]
Eddie: [after a pause] You serious, Clark?
[Snots is choking under the table making it shake]
Clark: Uh, Eddie? What's wrong with the dog?
[Snots gags again, table shakes]
Eddie: [looks under table] Oh, he's just yakkin' on a bone. [Snots coughs up the bone] He got it up. He's alright, now.
Clark: Maybe if you wouldn't feed him from the table...
Eddie: No, no. He's probably just nosing through the trash.
[Clark looks to the direction of the kitchen, and sees the trash can has been knocked over, all the trash scattered over the floor]
Uncle Lewis: Hey, Gris, if you're not doing anything constructive, run into the living room and get my stogies.
Clark: Is there anything else I can do for you, Uncle Lewis?
Ellen: He's an old man. This may be his last Christmas.
Clark: If he keeps it up, it will be his last Christmas.
[While eating dinner, Uncle Lewis smokes a cigar and drops it. A flame engulfs in the living room for a split second. Clark notices it and walks into the living room]
Clark: Lewis?! [tears up when he sees that his Christmas tree has been burnt into a crisp] MY TREE!
Uncle Lewis: So, what’s the matter with you?
Clark: Look what you've done to my tree! [notices that Lewis is on fire in the back of his clothes] LEWIS! [uses a curtain, grabs Lewis and pats his back to put out the fire]
[Others come in and look at the destroyed tree]
Art: It was an ugly tree anyway.
Uncle Lewis: At least it's out of its misery!
[Clark has just lost his tree and found out he had been stiffed on his Christmas bonus. He stalks outside the house, with his chainsaw]
Audrey: Uh oh, he's got that crazy look in his eye.
Russ: I told you we should've gone to Hawaii!
Ellen: CLARK, TURN THAT THING OFF AND GET IN THE HOUSE!
Russ: I'll go talk to him. [walks up to Clark] You know, Dad, I've been thinking... [Clark turns and stares crazily at him, his running chainsaw pointed in his direction] Good talk, Dad!
Clark: What?
Ellen: Was that really necessary?
Clark: Well...we needed a tree.
Ellen: Do I need to remind you that-
Clark: This was all my idea? No, I'm well aware of that, honey.
Ellen: Well, maybe you can remember that the next time you go berserk?
Clark: I didn't go berserk; I simply solved the problem. We needed a coffin... er, a tree. There are no lots open on Christmas Eve. Lewis burned down my tree so I replaced it as best I could. Voilà.
Ellen: Are you okay?
Aunt Bethany: What's that sound? [everybody looks up, and returns to activities, then Clark starts hearing it] Do you hear it?! It's a funny, squeaking sound.
Uncle Lewis: You couldn't hear a dump truck driving through a nitroglycerin plant!
[A squirrel is loose in the house]
Clark: Where is Eddie? He usually eats these goddamn things.
Catherine: Not recently, Clark, he read that squirrels were high in cholesterol.
Clark: [tries to catch the loose squirrel] Russ!
Russ: Right here, Dad.
Clark: Go get the hammer.
Ellen: Clark, what do you need a hammer for?
Clark: I'm gonna catch it in the coat...And smack it with the hammer.
Ellen: You are not going to kill that squirrel in front of all these kids!
Clark: Well honey, what do you suggest?
Clark: Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no! We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap-hap happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. [Ellen gives him a glare for his language] And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse! [his eyes twitch]
Art: You're goofy.
Clark: Don't piss me off, Art.
Ellen: Clark, it's over.
Clark: Not according to Santa's watch, it isn't.
Clark Sr.: Clark.
Clark: Stay out of this, Dad.
Ellen: Clark, I think it's best if everyone went home... before things get worse.
Clark: Worse?! How could things get any worse?! Take a look around you, Ellen! We're at the threshold of Hell!
Clark Sr.: [finding Clark after his outburst] Son? I love you. We all love you, but this is a terrible night. Nothing's gone right, it's a disaster. But you are losing your temper with the whole family only makes things worse, and you're too good a father to act like this. Now, in years to come, you'll want your children and family to remember all the love you gave us and how hard you tried to make the perfect Christmas.
Clark: I know, I just...
Clark Sr.: You just cocked it up. [Clark looks at him] But that's okay. It happens.
Clark: All our holidays were always such a mess.
Clark Sr.: Oh, yeah.
Clark: How'd you get through it?
Clark Sr.: I had a lot of help from Jack Daniels.
[the two lightly laugh, then embrace, before Clark Sr. turns to leave]
Clark: Hey, Dad?
Clark Sr.: Yeah?
Clark: Are you going to recite "The Night Before Christmas"?
Clark Sr.: No. It's your house, it's your Christmas. I'm retiring.
Mr. Shirley: I have never been treated like this in my life!
Ellen: I'm sorry. This is our family's first kidnapping.
Mr. Shirley: [to Clark] You're fired! And where's the phone? I'm calling the police!
Eddie: Now, just hold your wad there, fella. Clark had nothin' to do with this. This here, all was my idea.
Mr. Shirley: All right, he's still fired. And you are going to jail!
[Eddie scoffs dismissively]
Clark: No, Eddie. It was my fault. I lost my temper when I got my bonus, and I guess I said a few things I probably shouldn't have.
Mr. Shirley: Bonus? How did you get a bonus? I cut out bonuses this year.
Clark: Yeah? Thanks for telling us. I was expecting a check, instead I got enrolled in a jelly club. 17 years with the company, I've gotten a Christmas bonus every year but this one. You don't want to give bonuses, fine! But when people count on them as their salary, well, what you did just plain...
Russ: Sucks.
Clark: Thank you, Russ. My...cousin-in-law, whose heart is bigger than his brain...
Eddie: I appreciate that, Clark.
Clark: ...is innocent. I'll be more than happy to take the rap on this, on behalf of myself and every other employee you rear-ended this Christmas.
Mr. Shirley: [sees everyone looking at him; having a change of heart] Look, uh...sometimes things look good on paper, but...lose their luster when you see how it affects real folks. I guess a healthy bottom line doesn't mean much if to get it you have to hurt the ones you depend on. It's people that make the difference. Little people like you. So...Carl, whatever you got last year, add...[shrugs] 20 percent.
[Everyone else starts chattering excitedly to one another. A stunned Clark simply faints]
Clark: I think you've made a terrible mistake.
SWAT officer: I told you to freeze, mister!
Clark: [short pause] May we blink?
Mrs. Shirley: [enters the house; relieved] Frank.
Mr. Shirley: Helen!
Mrs. Shirley: [embraces her husband] Oh, Thank God, You're all right.
Mr. Shirley: Oh, I'm fine. I'm just fine. It was a big misunderstanding tonight.
Swat Captain: Excuse me. Would you and Mrs. Shirley like to step outside, so, we can take care of business here?
Mr. Shirley: Oh, there's no business. I'm not pressing any charges.
Mrs. Shirley: What?
Mr. Shirley: It was a mistake.
Mrs. Shirley: Mistake? Frank, honey, you were kidnapped!
Mr. Shirley: I did something I shouldn't have, and these people called me on it. This is Clark Griswold and his family.
Ellen: Welcome to our home. [Mrs. Shirley shakes her hand] What's left of it.
Swat Captain: Release, B Squad.
[SWAT officers stand down, letting everyone go]
Mrs. Shirley: What's going on here?
Mr. Shirley: Remember I was toying with the notion of suspending the Christmas bonuses?
Mrs. Shirley: You didn't!
Mr. Shirley: Well...
Mrs. Shirley: Of all the cheap, lousy ways to save a buck!
Swat Captain: That's pretty low, mister. If I had a rubber hose, I would beat you-!
Mr. Shirley: I've changed my mind! I'm reinstating all the bonuses!

Taglines

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  • Yule crack up!
  • There's No Place Like Home for a Holiday!

See also

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Cast

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Wikipedia
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