It’s a question that has puzzled viewers of the classic holiday film, Christmas Vacation, for years – is the snow real? While it may seem like a small detail, the answer can have a big impact on how we view the movie and its production.
The short answer: Yes, the snow in Christmas Vacation is real. But there’s more to the story than that.
The making of Christmas Vacation
Before we dive into the snow situation, let’s take a look at how Christmas Vacation was made. The film was released in 1989 and directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. It stars Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, a hapless family man trying to create the perfect Christmas for his family.
The movie was filmed on location in various parts of California, including Burbank and Breckenridge. The production team had to get creative when it came to creating a winter wonderland in sunny California.
The snow
So how did they make it snow in California? The answer is simple – they used fake snow for some scenes and real snow for others.
According to an interview with Randy Quaid (who played Cousin Eddie), the production team used a combination of potato flakes and foam for some of the snow scenes. This allowed them to control the amount of snow on set and create specific effects (like footprints).
However, for other scenes, they used real snow that was brought in from nearby mountains. This gave those scenes a more authentic look and feel.
The impact on viewers
Knowing that some of the snow is fake and some is real doesn’t necessarily change how we view the movie. However, it does add an interesting layer to our understanding of its production.
Additionally, it speaks to the creativity and ingenuity required when making movies. Sometimes you have to use unconventional methods (like potato flakes) to achieve the desired effect.
Conclusion
So to answer the question – yes, the snow in Christmas Vacation is real. But it’s not quite as simple as that. The production team used a combination of fake snow and real snow to create different effects on set.
Regardless of how they did it, the end result is a holiday classic that continues to be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. And now you can watch it with a new appreciation for the hard work and creativity that went into making it.