It's the Christmas movie that's been going strong for more than three decades, and now one of the stars of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation has shared what it was really like to be on set with Chevy Chase.
In the feel-good holiday film, which hit theaters in 1989, Chevy reprized his role as Clark “Sparky” Griswold alongside Beverly D'Angelo, who played his on-screen wife Ellen Griswold while having a night out with her loved ones experienced a chaotic Christmas season.
The hilarious film also starred Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki as the Griswold children as the family prepared for Christmas with their extended family – as well as a few surprise guests, including Ellen's cousin Catherine Johnson and her two children.
Perhaps one of the most unforgettable scenes is when little Ruby Sue Johnson talks to Clark late at night about Santa Claus and ends up swearing – and now the woman behind the enchanting performance has revealed what it was really like to be with the now 80-year-old year old Chevy to work.
National Lampoon's “Christmas Vacation” is the feel-good, festive film that never fails to bring joy
Ellen Latzen pictured with her co-star Chevy Chase, who played the role of Clark Griswold
Ellen, now 43, played the memorable role of Ruby Sue Johnson in the 1989 film
Ellen said Chevy “kind of kept to himself” but described the actor as a “likeable guy.”
Speaking exclusively to , Ellen Latzen revealed how the comedian “kind of kept to himself” during filming, but didn't turn her away when she went to his trailer between scenes to “play cards with him.”
“On this film, and pretty much every film I worked on as a child, all the adults were always very professional but also warm.” “I think that probably from their perspective when working with children, they want them to feel comfortable and feel safe and cared for in an environment that is kind to them,” Ellen said.
“On the set of Christmas Vacation, all the adults were really wonderful, funny and warm and took the time to spend time with me.”
“Chevy kind of kept to himself, but because I was a very sociable kid and liked building relationships with the people I worked with, I would go over to his trailer when neither of us were working and play cards with him or just sit there and .” Chat.
“It was important for me to kind of build those relationships and he was very open to that and filming the scene with him, I think that was probably conducive to that moment,” Ellen continued before discussing the hilarious moment on the Canvas spoke that she had and Chevy shared.
The scene takes place about 50 minutes into the film and sees Ruby Sue interrupting Clark as he dreams of a shopping assistant stripping naked.
The boy asks Clark if he is Santa Claus before admitting that her brother Rocky bit her thumb because “he's nervous because Christmas is almost here.”
When Clark replies, “Nervous or excited?”, Ruby Sue delivers the unforgettable phrase “Sh**tin' Bricks,” and when he quickly tells her that she “shouldn't use that word,” she corrects herself and says, “Tut.” I'm sorry, shit.'
“Having a relationship both on the other side and in front of the camera kind of reinforced the bond that we had in that moment and made it really authentic,” Ellen explained.
In the film, Ellen's character Ruby Sue Johnson swears during a conversation with Clark
Ellen described Chevy as a “genius” when it comes to physical comedy
One of the most memorable scenes in the film is when Clark and his entire family cut up the Christmas turkey
Ellen was just days away from her ninth birthday when filming wrapped, but despite being so young, she said she had no problem saying rude words on screen.
“I learned to swear from my parents, so it's not taboo in my household, even though they always said the same thing: 'You shouldn't use that word,'” she joked.
“And I think I learned to swear when they weren't there, but I loved the fact that I could say shit and they were okay with it. They probably rolled their eyes and said, 'It's part of the movie,' and they didn't think it was a big deal.”
Ellen went on to say that she believes certain “cultural” aspects of the film may not be acceptable in 2023, revealing that one scene was adapted out of fear that it was “too graphic.”
“The film is classic but also quite dated, with cultural elements that were fine in the '80s and '90s, but not so.” [much] Now. But it somehow fits that time and takes you back to that time in a nostalgic way.
Referring to the “graphic” scene, she said: “So the cat is electrocuted and in the film it was portrayed as there being this cat crater under the chair, but another way of looking at it was that they had found this.” The plush white long-haired cat that they had given these eyes that looked like it was popping out of his head and that they might have wanted to use, but I think it was a little too graphic.”
Touching on another memorable scene from the film where Clark carves meat at the family Christmas dinner, Ellen revealed: “The turkey was supposed to explode, not just be super dry on the inside, but for logistical reasons they thought that was probably not the right one Be gone!'
Ellen revealed that the only co-star she is currently in contact with is her brother Rocky, played by actor Cody Burger. She explained: “He is married and has a teenage daughter. We text them and I call him “little brother.” and he calls me “big sister.”
“We still have a really good relationship and I've seen him a few times over the years.” “It's been a minute since we last saw each other but he's the only one I'm in contact with at the moment have.”
Johnny Galecki, Juliette Lewis and Beverly D'Angelo (right) pictured with Chevy as the Griswold family in National Lampoon's “Christmas Vacation.”
Chevy (left) pictured with co-stars Beverly D'Angelo, Miriam Flynn and Randy Quaid at Christmas Con 2023
Ellen pictured with Chevy and her on-screen brother, played by Cody Burger, as well as Randy and Miriam – who played her parents in the film
Ellen confirmed that she will show the film to her daughter Charlotte when she is older
The brunette also spoke about whether it was strange to see her former co-stars getting older, saying: “People like Johnny Galecki and Juliette Lewis, who have been in the spotlight all these years, I've seen them grow.” Hence Isn't it so strange for me to see them where they are now?
“But Chevy Chase, it's harder to see him old, just because… and even for me… I was in that movie and it's still weird to see him, like, see how a parent grows old,” Ellen continued before praising the actor.
“He was a genius himself in his physical comedy, his comedic timing.” “There was a lot of publicity on set and in the film itself, and he excelled at that,” she revealed.
“And he’s a likeable guy. His character and his facial expressions or the way he delivers a line or like I said, his physical comedy, he's so much fun to watch and he's built his career on his ability to do all of those things do and do them well, and that's what made him likeable. And that’s why people love him to this day.”