A “bizarre” encounter with actor Chevy Chase forced then-unknown director Chris Columbus to leave National Lampoon’s Christmas break. The Nosferatu producer reflected on the experience publicly for the first time, detailing how Chase’s disrespectful attitude toward him forced him to quit when he desperately needed another project.
In a new conversation with Vanity Fair, Columbus revealed that he was represented by the same agent at the time after the release of the movie Heartbreak Hotel, which was a “total fiasco.” He talked about his connection with John Hughes. Although it was a box office failure, the director of The Breakfast Club sent him the script for Christmas Vacation.
Columbus sprang into action and began firing on a second force at Chicago around Christmas.
“I signed a contract…and I met Chevy Chase, and I realized that given my situation at the time when I needed to make a movie, I couldn’t work with this guy,” he said. Ta. “I was one of the many people who couldn’t work with him. So I called John and said, ‘This is really difficult for me, but I can’t do this movie with Chevy Chase. ” he said.
The director of Gremlins met with Chase twice, during which the Saturday Night Live alum said nothing for 30 minutes and rejected Chase as director of the film.
“He must have known that I was directing the movie,” Columbus explained. “I talked about how I saw this movie and how I wanted to make this movie. He didn’t say anything. We talked for about 30 minutes. He didn’t say anything. He stopped and said – and this makes no sense to any human being on the planet, but I’ll tell you, I probably haven’t told this story 40 minutes into the meeting. , he said, “Wait a minute.” Are you the director? And I said, “Yeah…I’m directing the movie.” And he said the most surreal and weird thing to me. I still can’t figure it out. He said, “Oh, I thought you were a drummer.” I said, “Oh, I understand.” Let’s start talking about movies again. “After about 30 seconds, he said, ‘I have to go.’ ”
During the second meeting, which was also attended by Mr. Hughes, the Mrs. Doubtfire director said that Mr. Hughes was “basically non-existent” and that Mr. Hughes and Mr. Chase discussed things other than the film. At that moment, my next decision was made. “First of all, he’s not engaged. He treats me like shit. I don’t need this. I’d rather not work anymore. I’d rather write,” he said. “Did you think this is how we should work together?” I’m going to go to the set, but he’s not listening. (VF said Chase did not respond to requests for comment.)
It’s unclear whether Chase is teasing or “teasing” Columbus, but Jeremiah S. Chechnik was hired to direct the 1989 film, the third in the ’80s Vacation series. Columbus called Hughes and explained that he couldn’t continue with the project, saying, “This guy can’t make a good movie. I’m going to let him down,” but Hughes accepted.
But all’s well that ends well. The following weekend, Hughes sent the script for Home Alone. And the rest is Christmas history.
