If you’re a fan of the Christmas classic, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” you may have found yourself asking the question, “Was the squirrel real?” during that unforgettable scene where a furry little creature wreaks havoc in the Griswold family’s home. Well, we’re here to finally settle this debate once and for all.
First off, let’s set the stage. In this scene, Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) is attempting to decorate his home with an excessive amount of Christmas lights while his family looks on.
Suddenly, a squirrel jumps out of the tree he’s working on and lands on his back. Chaos ensues as the squirrel runs rampant through the house, causing destruction at every turn.
Now, back to our original question: was the squirrel real? The answer is yes and no. According to Randy Pope, who worked as an animal trainer on the film, there were actually two squirrels used for this scene – one real and one fake.
The fake squirrel was used for close-up shots where it needed to interact with actors or props. This was done using a puppeteer who would control its movements from off-camera. Meanwhile, the real squirrel was used for wider shots where it could roam free and create chaos in the background.
So why use both a real and fake squirrel? Well, as cute as squirrels may be in real life, they can also be unpredictable and potentially dangerous when put in unfamiliar situations (not to mention their tendency to chew through wires). By using a mix of both a trained animal and a puppeteer-controlled prop, filmmakers were able to ensure both safety and believability in their final product.
Of course, “Christmas Vacation” isn’t the only movie that has used both real animals and props for certain scenes. Other examples include “Harry Potter,” where various puppets were used throughout the series alongside live animals like owls and snakes, and “The Lion King,” where animatronics were used to create some of the film’s most memorable characters.
In conclusion, the squirrel in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” was both real and fake, with filmmakers using a mix of both a trained animal and a puppeteer-controlled prop for different shots. While it may not be the most groundbreaking revelation, it’s always interesting to get a behind-the-scenes look at how our favorite movies are made.