Wednesday, June 23, 2010

National Lampoon's New Vacation

Since I was old enough to define 'lewd' I was reading National Lampoon's Magazine.  Later I graduated to enjoying the series of National Lampoon's Vacation films beginning in 1983 with Vacation, and European Vacation in 1985 (25 years ago!).  Apparently, the franchise isn't done with Chevy Chase & Beverly D'Angelo just yet.

It's rumored that New Line Cinema is producing a new Griswold Vacation movie, apparently directed by David Dobkin, known best for his role in developing Wedding Crashers, the 2005 comedic insta-hit with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson.   We'll keep our fingers crossed for as explosive of a hit. 

Confusing the rumors is a series of promotional shorts of Ellen and Clark Griswold (called Hotel Hell Vacation) commissioned by an online vacation property company (HomeAway.com).  This 14 minute Vacation video was released by HomeAway following a Griswold HomeAway Superbowl ad.  




Boris Vallejo was the artist tasked with designing the iconic images gracing the VHS boxes and movie posters for National Lampoon's Vacation and European Vacation.  The art for Vacation is buried in a celebrity collection, the other is making its way to auction this year - perhaps it will overlap with some interesting news about the newest Vacation flic?  In August 2010 Heritage Auctions (HA.com) is offering this painting from National Lampoon's European Vacation in an online/Live auction of Illustration Art.


BORIS VALLEJO (American, b. 1941)
National Lampoon's European Vacation, 1985
Oil on board
37 x 25 in.
Signed lower left
National Lampoon's European Vacation, original one-sheet movie poster illustration.

In any case, 2010 should be a good year for fans of Chevy Chase and National Lampoon's Vacation franchise...(insert favorite Griswold quote here).  

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