发布时间: 12/26/2025
Imagine this: Juliette Lewis, the young star from one of our favorite holiday romps, only just discovered a heartbreaking twist behind that unforgettable squirrel chaos in *National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation*. Back in 1989, as a teenager on set, no one breathed a word about it to her. The film tracks the Griswold family's epic quest for the ultimate Christmas, led by dad Clark (Chevy Chase), whose good intentions spiral into hilarious disasters that we all quote every holiday season.
Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik and penned by John Hughes, *Christmas Vacation* boasts a stellar cast including Beverly D'Angelo as Ellen, Lewis as daughter Audrey, Johnny Galecki as son Rusty, plus John Randolph, Diane Ladd, E.G. Marshall, Doris Roberts, Randy Quaid, Miriam Flynn, and Mae Questel. Oh, and keep an eye out for a cameo from Julia Louis-Dreyfus, right before *Seinfeld* exploded onto screens.
The Wild Squirrel Scene That Stole the Show
Clark's stubborn hunt for the perfect real Christmas tree unleashes pure pandemonium when a frantic squirrel bursts out, tearing through the house like a furry tornado. Fans still lose it over this *Christmas Vacation squirrel scene*, but filming dragged on for three full days. Crew tricks included a stuffed squirrel puppet strapped to Chevy Chase's shoulder for most shots, adding that raw, unscripted energy we love.
At this year's Fan Expo Chicago, Lewis and D'Angelo reunited, chatting about the 'whole squirrel in the tree gag.' Lewis recalled, 'I think we shot that for three days,' straight from the vibes there. Then D'Angelo dropped the bombshell: 'Cause the first squirrel died. Did you know that? Because you were young.'
Behind-the-Scenes Heartbreaker
Turns out, the pro squirrel prepped for the role suffered a heart attack right before cameras rolled. 'So the squirrel that we ended up using was not the original squirrel,' D'Angelo shared candidly. 'It was not trained. And Chevy ended up wearing a stuffed squirrel on his shoulder for everything but the leap at the camera. I've destroyed the magic.' Lewis just nodded, 'That was sad,' her voice carrying that real mix of nostalgia and shock.
Thank goodness *National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation* stays a feel-good riot amid these somber production tales—though it tugs heartstrings too. It hit theaters at No. 2, climbed to No. 1 next week, earned mixed buzz initially, but now reigns as a must-watch holiday staple for Griswold-level family fun.
Dive Deeper into Classic Film Secrets
Craving more juicy *Christmas Vacation behind the scenes* stories or holiday movie lore? Sign up for the newsletter packed with raw set antics, tragic twists, and insider gems on timeless flicks.
Subscribe
Unlock More Holiday Classics Insights
Get exclusive peeks into production chaos—from goofy gags to poignant moments—in our newsletter on beloved holiday films.
Subscribe
By signing up, you agree to newsletter and marketing emails, plus Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime, no hard feelings.
Lewis soon wowed with her Oscar-nominated turn in *Cape Fear*, then rocked *Natural Born Killers* and *From Dusk Till Dawn*. Her *Christmas Vacation* 'brother' Johnny Galecki later became Leonard on *The Big Bang Theory*. Yet, both forever shine in this timeless holiday frenzy.