15 Little-Known Facts About National Lampoon’s European Vacation

Photo courtesy Everett Collection

Join us for Happy Hour Thurs, May 14. The day's special: European Vacation at 6p. Posted May 11th, 2015, 9:05 AM by IFC

Pack up the family truckster and head out for some family fun with the Griswolds! Here are a few facts we learned about their European Vacation.

1. It's Solely a Griswold Family Affair

European Vacation is the only movie in the Vacation series that doesn't feature Randy Quaid's Cousin Eddie character and his family.

2. Walley World Makes an Appearance

The t-shirt and sweatshirt that Clark wears throughout the movie are from Walley World, the fictional, Disney-like amusement park the family drives to in the original Vacation movie.

3. Rusty Was Almost the Same Actor as the First Movie

In the Vacation series, the Griswold children famously change actors with each movie—but Anthony Michael Hall, who played Rusty in the original Vacation, was set to reprise his role in European Vacation. Before shooting started, however, Hall dropped out to star in the movie Weird Science (he was replaced by Jason Lively). Weird Science happens to be written and directed by John Hughes, who wrote the original short story that inspired the series and the screenplays for Vacation, European Vacation, and Christmas Vacation.

4. A Member of Monty Python Kept Popping Up

The bike rider whom Clark hits with his car in London, and who pops up again in Rome, is none other than Eric Idle, a founding member of the great Monty Python comedy troupe. His line about his injuries only being a "flesh wound" is a nod to the famous Black Knight scene from the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

5. Eric Idle and Chevy Chase Came Up with an Idea for the Third Vacation Movie… and Then Scrapped It

Following European Vacation, the two created initial drafts of a third Vacation movie called Australian Vacation, but the movie was scrapped as they moved on to other projects. Chase also allegedly wrote a script for a new movie called Swiss Family Griwold about the family going on a cruise.

6. Griswold or Griswald?

European Vacation is the movie in which Griswold is spelled "Griswald."

7. We Finally Find Out What the "W" Is in Clark W. Griswold

A passport seen in the opening credits reveals the W stands for "Wilhelm."

. 8. Chevy Chase Brought a Lot of His Own Stuff with Him

Chase provided most of his own wardrobe, including Clark's camcorder.

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Tags: lists, Mental Floss, Movies, National Lampoon's European Vacation

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