As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for classic movies, I can’t help but marvel at the twists and turns that the film industry takes. The tale of Chris Columbus and the almost-directed Christmas Vacation is a perfect example of how one man’s misfortune can lead to another’s fortune.
Director Chris Columbus nearly steered another beloved holiday movie instead of Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
This week, I found myself reminiscing about an unusual encounter with Chevy Chase that set me on the path to a renowned film franchise, all while discussing my latest project, the reimagined ‘Nosferatu’ hitting theaters on Christmas Day, during a chat on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast.
The story takes off when John Hughes, another Chicagoan, handed Columbus the script for National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, a project Hughes was planning to produce. He asked Columbus to direct it, which was just what Columbus needed after a string of box office flops had clouded his future prospects as a director. Excited by the opportunity, Columbus agreed and started filming additional footage during Christmas.
Later on, Columbus found himself seated with Chevy Chase, the movie’s lead actor. The conversation soon became uncomfortable. “I kept asking him questions, but he seemed uninterested and distracted,” Columbus explained. “I thought, ‘This is strange. An actor who’s fully invested in this project seems disinclined to discuss it.’ Forty minutes into our chat, he said something completely bizarre that I’ve never encountered in a professional setting before or since. He asked me, ‘Hold on, are you the director?’ To which I replied, ‘Yes.’ He then responded, ‘Oh, I thought you were a drummer.’ I still can’t fathom what he meant by that.
Following this encounter, Columbus shared with Hughes a rather unsettling account of their meeting. Hughes proposed they share a meal together in an attempt to smooth things over. However, according to Columbus, this second encounter was even more uncomfortable. [Chase] appeared to be deliberately avoiding him. It seemed as though he wasn’t part of the film at all. Every time Columbus tried to discuss the movie, Chase would steer the conversation away. Eventually, Columbus felt compelled to withdraw from the project, unsure if he’d ever get another chance to direct.
A mere seven days passed, and Hughes, showing great kindness and thoughtfulness, forwarded Columbus another holiday-themed script he penned and planned to direct – the iconic “Home Alone”. Thirty-five years hence, Columbus would reflect on this serendipitous event, remarking that they had narrowly missed a significant bullet.
Initially, Columbus had reservations about casting Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister in the movie, but Hughes persisted. As Columbus later acknowledged, “John Hughes was an exceptional producer for a director, and I learned a lot from him.” Hughes suggested, “‘Would you consider meeting Macaulay?’ To which I replied, ‘I’d like to meet Macaulay, but I’d also like to meet the other potential candidates.’ In the end, I met around 300 other children as well. It was an enormous waste of time, as when I met Macaulay again, it was enchanting.
Reflecting on the intriguing tale of Chris Farley’s potential casting in Home Alone, I’d say, “It’s true; during his early days in the industry, I invited Chris to audition for the film on a Saturday morning, which was unusual as it was for the Santa Claus character. Arriving fresh from an all-nighter in Chicago, he wasn’t in top form. Unfortunately, we had to let him know that this time around, the role wasn’t his. Over the years, as our paths crossed, Chris and I shared stories about that audition, a memory that remains vivid even today.
Columbus joined in the popular online discussion regarding the profession of the McCallister parents, who were able to afford their luxurious home in Chicago.
In the past, John and I had a discussion about it, and we determined the tasks at hand, as Columbus stated. It’s known that Catherine O’Hara’s character, Kate McCallister, was a successful fashion designer, hinted by the mannequins found in their basement. As for John Heard’s character, Peter McCallister, it isn’t clear what he did, though it could have been advertising based on John Hughes’ personal background, but I can’t recall his profession. One thing we can be certain of is that he wasn’t involved in organized crime, despite the fact that there was a lot of organized crime happening in Chicago at the time.
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2024-12-25 08:24