European Vacation (1985)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Amy Heckerling

Writers:

John Hughes (screenplay)
John Hughes (story)
(more)

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

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
Peter Hugo	...	Prince Charles
Jeannette Charles	...	Queen Elizabeth
Derek Deadman	...	Taxi Driver
Mel Smith	...	Hotel Manager
Gwen Nelson	...	Hotel Manager's Mother
Robbie Coltrane	...	Man in the Bathroom
Maureen Lipman	...	Lady in the Bed
Paul McDowell	...	First English Motorist
Ballard Berkeley	...	Second English Motorist
Eric Idle	...	The Bike Rider
Elizabeth Arlen	...	Mrs. Garland
David Gersh	...	Mr. Garland
Jacques Herlin	...	Hotel Desk Clerk
Jacques Maury	...	Hotel's Assistant Manager
Philippe Sturbelle	...	Cafe Waiter
Alice Sapritch	...	Dowager on the Eiffel Tower
Isa Carol Horio	...	Blonde Girl at Eiffel Tower
Isabelle Massaro	...	Brunette Girl at Eiffel Tower
Sylvie Badalati	...	Rusty's French Girl
Didier Pain	...	Video Camera Thief
Willy Millowitsch	...	Fritz Spritz (as William Millowitsch)
Erika Wackernagel	...	Helga Spritz (as Erica Wackernagel)
Claudia Neidig	...	Claudia
Victor Lanoux	...	The Thief
Massimo Sarchielli	...	The Other Thief
Jorge Krimer	...	Unfortunate Express Agent
Moon Unit Zappa	...	Rusty's California Girl (as Moon Zappa)
Gloria Charles	...	Stewardess
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Salvatore Billa	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Gary Owens	...	Pig in a Poke Announcer (uncredited)

Directed by
Amy Heckerling

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
John Hughes		screenplay
John Hughes		story
Robert Klane		screenplay

Produced by
Stuart Cornfeld	....	co-producer
Matty Simmons	....	producer

Original Music by
Charles Fox

Cinematography by
Robert Paynter		(director of photography) (as Bob Paynter)

Film Editing by
Pembroke J. Herring

Casting by
Marion Dougherty

Production Design by
Robert Cartwright		(as Bob Cartwright)

Art Direction by
Alan Tomkins
Leslie Tomkins

Set Decoration by
Simon Wakefield

Costume Design by
Graham Williams

Makeup Department
Nick Forder	....	makeup artist
Christine George	....	hair stylist: USA
Daphne Martin	....	hair stylist
Monty Westmore	....	makeup artist: USA

Production Management
Pino Butti	....	production manager
Franco Coduti	....	production manager: Italy
Edward K. Dodds	....	production manager: USA
William Lang	....	production manager
Dieter Meyer	....	production supervisor
Daniel Szuster	....	production manager: France

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gianni Cozzo	....	first assistant director: Italy
Remo De Angelis	....	second assistant director: Italy
Don French	....	first assistant director
Ian Higginbotham	....	second assistant director
Aldric La'Auli Porter	....	second assistant director: USA
Chris Soldo	....	first assistant director: USA
Stefan Zürcher	....	assistant director: second unit (as Stefan Zuercher)

Art Department
Bénédict Beauce	....	art director: France
Dennis Fruin	....	property master
Anthony Mondell	....	set decorator: USA
Stefano Maria Ortolani	....	art director: Italy
Reg Richards	....	construction captain
Adrian Start	....	chargehand painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Wayne Artman	....	sound re-recordist
Tom Beckert	....	sound re-recordist
Tom E. Dahl	....	sound re-recordist
Gordon Daniel	....	sound editing supervisor
Tony Dawe	....	production sound mixer
Tony Dawe	....	sound
Nicholas Eliopoulos	....	sound editor
Greg Orllow	....	sound editor
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Greg Dillon	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Richard Richtsfeld	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Hoyt Yeatman	....	special visual effects: DQI (uncredited)

Stunts
Ottaviano Dell'Acqua	....	stunts
Chuck Waters	....	stunt advisor
Jacqueline Freda	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Stefano Maria Mioni	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Bremner	....	gaffer
Tom Brown	....	best boy gaffer
Mark Carolin	....	clapman
Colin Davidson	....	assistant camera
Victor J. Kemper	....	director of photography: USA
Stephen Morley	....	still photographer
John Payne	....	key grip
Peter Rome	....	camera operator: second unit
Bob Smith	....	camera operator

Animation Department
Sam Kirson	....	animator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Patsy Pollock	....	casting advisor

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rita Wakely	....	wardrober

Editorial Department
Dennie Chikte	....	assistant editor: USA
Mark Gill	....	assistant editor
Russ Woolnough	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Gillian Lynne	....	musical numbers
Tom Villano	....	music editor

Other crew
Jean-Yves Asselin	....	set manager: France
Julie Barnes	....	production secretary
Jean-Jacques Damiani	....	location manager: France
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Carrie Frazier	....	assistant: Mrs. Heckering
Pauline Granby	....	assistant accountant
Regina Gruss	....	publicist
Lilian Havlickova	....	continuity: second unit
Mario Pisani	....	production secretary: Italy
Stewart Richards	....	location manager: second unit
Ilse Schwarzwald	....	production coordinator
Heidi Stroh	....	script supervisor
Arthur Terry	....	production accountant
Tom Lackey	....	location scout (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1988) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1986) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Fazer Musiikki Oy/Fazer Video (1987) (Finland) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1998) (2000) (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1986) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1993) (Finland) (TV) (TV2)

Special Effects

• Dream Quest Images

Other Companies

• Duck Soup Studios  "Pig in a Poke" animation (as Duck Soup Produckions)
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Modern Film Effects  titles

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:

It is revealed in the intro, on his passport, that Clark's middle name is Wilhelm.

Goofs:

Continuity: When they are stuck on the traffic island by Parliament and Big Ben, the long shot shows their Austin Maxi being cut up by a Chrysler 180, but in the close up shot of the impact it has changed to a Morris Ital

Quotes:

[Repeated line]
Audrey Griswold: I miss Jack!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: The Regina Monologues (#15.4)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Back in America

An enjoyable fun-movie

I have seen this movie many times and although it is nearly 20 years old, it still makes me laugh.Europe as experienced by an American family is very funny and even people who are offended by the so-called lack of respect towards the old continent, should agree that the typical characteristics of the English, French, Germans and Austrians are true to life, although admittedly slightly exaggerated.It's an unpretentious movie which aims at offering a better form of slapstick. Chevy Chase with his mixture of good intentions and bewilderment is always hilarious. One good piece of advice: NEVER go to Austria and watch the guys doing those typical male dances in their short leather pants.After having seen this movie, you will be subjected to hysterical laughter!