Burger as Rocky Johnson Ellen Hamilton Latzen as Ruby Sue Johnson who was formerly cross-eyed. Until she got kicked by a mule. William Hickey as Uncle Lewis Mae Questel as Aunt Bethany. This was Questel's final film role before her death in 1998 Sam McMurray as Bill, Clark's co-worker Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Margo Chester, the Griswolds' yuppie neighbor Nicholas Guest as Todd Chester, Margo's husband Brian Doyle-Murray as Frank Shirley, Clark's boss Natalia Nogulich as Helen Shirley, Frank's wife Nicolette Scorsese as Mary, a lingerie counter clerk Alexander Folk as Lead SWAT Officer Jeremy Roberts as cop Woody Weaver as cop Doug Llewelyn as the voice of the Parade Announcer Keith MacKechnie as delivery boy Rick Stevens as Ralph, Ellen's awkward cousin Production Development and writing National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation originated from a short story by writer John Hughes called "Christmas '59", which was published in the December 1980 issue of National Lampoon magazine. "The studio came to me and begged for another one, and I only agreed because I had a good story to base it on," said Hughes. "But those movies have become little more than Chevy Chase vehicles." Director Chris Columbus initially was to direct the film, but due to a personality clash between him and Chase, Columbus left the film and was replaced by Chechik. Hughes eventually gave Columbus the script to Home Alone. Filming Principal photography began on March 27, 1989, in Summit County, Colorado, with footage shot in Silverthorne, Breckenridge, and Frisco. From there the production moved to Warner Bros. Ranch Facilities in Burbank, California, where the set of the Griswold family's house and street is located. Music The musical score for National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation was composed by Angelo Badalamenti. It is the only installment of the Vacation film series not to include Lindsey Buckingham's "Holiday Road". In its place is a song entitled "Christmas Vacation" with music by Barry Mann, lyrics by Cynthia Weil and performed by Mavis Staples of The Staple Singers fame. The song was covered in 2007 by High School Musical star Monique Coleman for the 2007 Christmas album Disney Channel Holiday. Popular Christmas songs featured in the film include Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters Hawaiian-themed "Mele Kalikimaka", and, during the climax of the film, Gene Autry's "Here Comes Santa Claus". For the latter song, Autry's re-recorded 1957 Challenge Records version is used. Despite several popular songs being