The Director's Chair Network

Buckle up for a riotous retro road trip on this special anniversary episode of the podcast, where we dive headfirst into the 40th anniversary of National Lampoon’s European Vacation (released July 26, 1985), reliving the Griswold family's uproarious misadventures from London fog to Roman fountains and German beer halls, all while unpacking the film's satirical jabs at American tourist stereotypes and its star-studded cameos by Monty Python's Eric Idle and others. Joined by returning guest Zo from the Back Look Cinema podcast—a deep-dive series celebrating overlooked cinema, from 80s schlock to indie gems (check out episodes on cult classics like The Lost Boys or Clue at backlookcinema.com)—the conversation zips across the mid-'80s European pop culture landscape, spotlighting Live Aid's transatlantic unity in 1985, the synth-pop invasion via Duran Duran and Depeche Mode dominating UK charts, Berlin Wall-era tensions fueling new wave anthems like Nena's "99 Luftballons," the aerobics craze with leg warmers echoing Jane Fonda's VHS workouts, and blockbuster imports like Back to the Future mirroring the Griswolds' time-warped chaos, blending nostalgia, laughs, and cultural crossovers for fans of neon-drenched excess and heartfelt hindsight.