Revealing mistake: In the film's first scene, as Clark and Russ Griswold make a left hand turn to pull into the used car lot in Chicago, the upper quarter of the screen shows mountains and palm trees in the background, which is an impossibility for Chicago. I believe the nearest mountain range to Chicago is in Arkansas and the nearest palm trees reside in Louisiana. (This scene was filmed in California, which explains the mountains and palm trees, BUT nonetheless a mistake.)
National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
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Directed by: Harold Ramis
Starring: Eugene Levy, Chevy Chase, John Candy, Randy Quaid, Anthony Michael Hall, Beverly D'Angelo, Jane Krakowski, Eddie Bracken, Christie Brinkley, Imogene Coca
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More mistakes in National Lampoon's Vacation
Cousin Vicki: I'm going steady, and I French kiss.
Audrey Griswold: So? Everybody does that.
Cousin Vicki: Yeah, but Daddy says I'm the best at it.
Trivia: Not a mistake but a "before they were famous": little cousin Vicky with the blonde hair is Elaine on Ally McBeal (Jane Krakowski).
Question: In all the Vacation movies, the children are played by different actors. What is the reason behind this? Is it simply a joke?
Answer: Ironically in 2003, Dana Barron (the original Audrey in the first film) returned as Audrey Griswald in "Christmas Vacation 2: Eddie's Island Adventure" although this film did not contain Chevy Chase, Beverly D' Angelo or a Rusty actor (Rusty not in this film).
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Answer: According to the commentary from "Christmas Vacation" this is an inside joke referencing the fact that Clark is away from home so much with work, he hardly even recognizes them anymore. "European Vacation" could not obtain the same kids who played in the original Vacation, namely Anthony Michael Hall, and tried to cast kids whom looked close. Thus the joke began. No doubt the actors' aging between movies also plays a part.
Jazetopher