Goodbye to a man who wrote one of my favourite stories in National Lampoon ever, a story that went on to become a wonderful film. The story, VACATION 58, appearing in the September 1979 issue of the Lampoon, was of course the basis for National Lampoon's Vacation in 1983. I also much appreciated his story that became the basis for their Christmas Vacation movie, a case of which I liked the written version better, for me nothing could top the ending where the fighting family gathers in the freezing cold to find out what has happened to a stolen car. Looking up, the mother of the family, realizing the significance of the day and what the turmoil that the clan has experienced in this time of supposed joy, notices a bright light in evening sky. She fancies it to be a sign along the lines of the star of Bethlehem.......until a policeman dashes her faint hope with the reality that "it's an airplane."
Oh yes, he also directed some films that were wildly popular such as Sixteen Candles and Pretty In Pink but my introduction to the man via his stories where nothing ever seems to go right for a well-meaning man certainly struck a chord that I've always kept in my mind to this day. From the same issue of the Lampoon is Hughes and his son John III "discussing" the benefits of "growing up". Thanks for the laughs John, you will be missed.
BBC OBIT
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