Why the Original "Christmas Vacation" Director Walked Away: A Tense Encounter With Chevy Chase

Dan Lalonde
Dec 23, 2024
2 min read

Chris Columbus, the filmmaker who eventually directed the holiday classic Home Alone, initially signed on to direct National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. However, an uncomfortable working relationship with Chevy Chase led Columbus to make a tough decision: walk away from the project.

In a revealing interview with Vanity Fair, Columbus recounted his experience with Chase, which ultimately redirected his career path. At the time, Columbus was a rising director eager for a project. He was working alongside the legendary screenwriter John Hughes, who had penned the script for Christmas Vacation. However, a series of interactions with Chase during pre-production soured the experience.

A Troubled Start

Columbus first met Chase during second-unit filming, expecting to discuss the creative direction of the film. Instead, the meeting took a bizarre turn. After Columbus presented his vision for the movie, Chase offered no feedback for over 40 minutes. Then, inexplicably, he asked Columbus, “Wait a second. You’re the director?” Chase added, “Oh, I thought you were a drummer.” The remark left Columbus baffled.

A follow-up dinner meeting with Hughes and Chase further cemented Columbus's doubts. “I was basically nonexistent,” Columbus said, as the conversation between Hughes and Chase avoided anything related to the movie. Reflecting on these encounters, Columbus concluded, “First of all, he’s not engaged. He’s treating me like [expletive]. I don’t need this.”

A Fortunate Departure

Columbus ultimately decided he couldn’t proceed with Christmas Vacation. He called Hughes to resign, and Hughes, understanding the situation, didn’t push back. Shortly afterward, Hughes sent Columbus a new script: Home Alone. The move turned out to be serendipitous. “Home Alone,” Columbus explained, “was even more personal, a better script. I thought, I can really do something with this, and I don’t have to deal with Chevy Chase.”

A Lasting Legacy

Christmas Vacation went on to be directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik and released in 1989 as the third installment of the Vacation series. Despite Columbus’s departure, the film remains a holiday favorite, with Chase starring alongside Beverly D’Angelo. Meanwhile, Columbus’s work on Home Alone made cinematic history, becoming one of the most beloved holiday films of all time.

This behind-the-scenes story serves as a reminder that even challenging setbacks can lead to unexpected opportunities.