European Vacation (1985)

Director:

Amy Heckerling

Writers:

John Hughes (screenplay)
John Hughes (story)

Release Date:

26 July 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Romance

Tagline:

For over two thousand years, Europe has survived many great disasters. Now for the real test. Chevy Chase & his family are coming from America!

Plot:

The Griswalds win a vacation tour across Europe where the usual havoc ensues.

Plot Keywords:

Germany | Italy | Vacation | Tourist | Stonehenge

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Dec. 2

8:00 PM

WGNAMER

Cast

Chevy Chase	...	Clark Griswold
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Ellen Griswold
Dana Hill	...	Audrey Griswold
Jason Lively	...	Russell 'Rusty' Griswold
John Astin	...	Kent Winkdale
Sheila Kennedy	...	Game Show Hostess #1
Paul Bartel	...	Mr. Froeger
Cynthia Szigeti	...	Mrs. Froeger
Malcolm Danare	...	Son Froeger
Kevi Kendall	...	Daughter Froeger
Tricia Lange	...	Game Show Hostess #2
William Zabka	...	Jack
Wendy Goldman	...	Stewardess
Angus MacKay	...	Announcer at Court
Julie Wooldridge	...	Princess Diana

Also Known As:

National Lampoon's European Vacation (UK) (video box title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian | German | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | USA:R (original rating) | Finland:K-7 (2006) | Finland:K-8 (1986) | Netherlands:6 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Chile:14 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Canada:PG (Manitoba)

Filming Locations:

Bressanone, Bolzano, Trentino - Alto Adige, Italy

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

In this film, the family name is Griswald, with an "a". In the other Vacation films, their name is Griswold.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In Ellen's dream The Griswold family meet The Royal Family of England and they hug when greeting each other. In Kingdoms the habit is that no one is not allowed to physically touch the Royal Family. (Ellen probably didn't know this.)

Quotes:

Kent Winkdale, host of 'Pig in a Poke': What are the pyramidal tracks?
Clark Griswold: [thinking] ... Kent, I believe the pyramidal tracks are housing development outside of Cairo.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Nanny: A Decent Proposal (#5.6)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

Baby It's You, Yes I Am

Funny!

I'm surprised by all the negative comments - this was the first National Lampoon movie I saw, so I came to it fresh. OK, so it's not a great work of art, but I thought it was side-splittingly funny in places, and cleverly parodies all the national stereotypes that people tend to use.

As a great fan of visual humour, my favourite moment in the film has to be the scene where, having had all their clothes stolen, the family go shopping in a boutique in Italy and emerge on to the street dressed in absurdly over-the-top designer creations. It really is one of the funniest sights I have ever seen in a film. I defy anyone with a sense of humour not to laugh.