Poster for the film
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is considered a beloved Christmas film by many people and is aired numerous times during the holiday season. As such it should come as a surprise to many that the film has many deleted scenes that have not been released, only existing as photographs, script details, or trailer shots. Oddly, the tree lot scene was featured on the back of the DVD release despite no deleted scenes being included.
Deleted Scenes[]
- Clark flips off the redneck truck with a double middle finger instead of just one.
- Clark replies with “Yup, and I hope they’re hungry “ rather than “Whatever Russ” when Rusty comments about burning rubber.
- Audrey confesses a sin while the family is stuck under the log truck before Ellen starts saying The Lord’s Prayer.
- An extended version of the scene with the family wandering through the snow looking for a tree.
- Clark and Rusty have frozen lips once they’re ready to cut the tree.
- A scene between Rusty asking Clark if he brought a saw and the shot of the family driving away with the uprooted tree where Clark meets the tree lot owner named Jolly Jerry whom Clark pays $75 for the tree and receives a shovel when asking for help cutting it down.
- Scene of the family decorating the tree and getting covered in sap.
- Audrey catches Clark and Ellen fooling around in bed, still covered in sap.
- Extended dialogue between Clark and Bill revealing Bill hates Christmas time.
- Alternate dialogue instead of “Kiss my ass, kiss your ass, etc”
- Alternate dialogue between Clark and Mary.
- Extended scene of Clark and Rusty walking through the mall after the encounter with Mary where Clark accidentally walks into a ladies restroom.
- Ominous music followed by three bangs as the grandparents arrive rather than the simple doorbell heard in the final film.
- Extended dialogue when the grandparents first arrive.
- Extended dialogue between Todd and Margo after Todd comments about Clark not being lucky enough to break his neck.
- The grandmothers have dialogue loudly talking overtop the sleeping grandfathers as they watch the parade.
- There is no “Ellen are you smoking again?” followed by Ellen chopping the lettuce head featured in the script.
- Rusty does not make an excuse to decline helping Clark with the lights. This was an ad-lib.
- Clark finds 3 other dusty gifts in the attic besides the Mother’s Day one shown in the film.
- Clark tests for bald bulbs through the vent grate in the attic after the family pulls away without him.
- Deleted scenes of the family shopping at the mall while Clark is stuck in the attic.
- Clark makes footprints in the ceiling while stepping between the joists in the attic.
- Todd speaks the line “After you shower of course” instead of Margo.
- Alternate dialogue between Art and Clark after the house won’t light up.
- Deleted scene of Art in the bunk bed investigating the pinup poster on the ceiling that Clark fell through.
- Deleted scene of Rocky and Ruby Sue sleeping on a bed with a cage of gerbils between them and Rocky wetting the bed.
- Deleted scene of Clark and Ellen in bed discussing Eddie’s arrival.
- Mr. Shirley’s presents are all poinsettias in the script.
- Extended dialogue between Ruby Sue and Clark after the dream sequence.
- Clark goes back to the window looking for Mary after Ruby Sue goes to bed.
- Eddie only greets Todd with “Merry Christmas!” rather than adding “Shitter was full” a second time.
- Clark throws Uncle Lewis’ toupee back on like a Frisbee rather than simply placing it back on in the final film.
- Uncle Lewis has much more vulgar dialogue and has a scene of him examining the tree prior to it burning.
- Aunt Bethany believes she broke wind while smelling the turkey before the dinner scene.
- Clark finds a can of dressing inside the turkey.
- Extended scene of Clark and Eddie carrying the chair to the curb after the cat is electrocuted.
- Rocky has dialogue after Lewis burns down the tree.
- Rusty yells squirrel instead of Clark Sr.
- The squirrel runs up Aunt Bethany’s skirt.
- Mrs. Shirley’s description of Eddie was ad-libbed.
- Ruby Sue has dialogue when the blow mold Santa sleigh flies across the moon.
- Clark gives Snots the dog a present before the credits roll.
- Todd and Margo have a post credits scene where the blow mold sleigh crashes through their bedroom roof as they’re about to go to sleep.
Gallery[]
Deleted tree lot scene
Alternate publicity photo of tree lot scene
Tree lot photo featured on back of DVD
Tree decorating scene
Tree decorating scene
Clark testing lights from the attic vent