Controversy. That's what this blog is about. Today we examine the most significant controversy I made up myself in my own head. Also, it's January, and I'm posting a Christmas movie. I considered waiting for next year, but let's face facts, what are the odds I'll still be doing this a year from now? Exactly.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation – The Movie

Third, holiday-themed sequel to National Lampoon's Vacation sees family man Clark Griswold with another set of kids spending some not-so-quality time over the Christmas holiday. Clark awaits word of his expected Christmas bonus to pay for the pool he's putting in. The movie is mostly a series of comedy vignettes with the Christmas bonus plot barely holding it together.

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation – The Fur(s)

The Christmas bonus plot pays off in the last act as Clark's brother Eddie kidnaps Clark's boss to blackmail him into giving back the bonus. The cops are called, and in marches the boss's wife. She is credited as Mrs. Shirley and played by Natalija Nogulich. She arrives via cop car in a short shot before entering the house.

I will refer to this as… big fox fur coat #1. It is on screen for a scant 10 seconds as she exits the car and walks across the screen.

The scene shifts back indoors, and… the controversy begins. I am about 80% sure this is a different coat. Shall we say big fox fur coat #2?

I won't lie, I watch this clip a lot, and there are times that I decide I'm just crazy, and maybe it is the same coat. But, the size of the collar suggests otherwise.

In any case, the plot of the film, such as it is, is resolved when the Christmas bonus is reinstated and the Griswold family swimming pool is saved.

So, here they are, side by side. Again, maybe the coat's collar is closed when she's outside, but it just seems like there is a lot more of it once she “steps indoors.” I think the sleeves could be different as well.

Comment below your unfounded opinion on the matter if you desire to. I'll either agree or disagree with you, depending on what I thought the last time I watched the clip. The fur(s) is only on screen for about one minute, but it's a great example of the few decent foxes you could find in 1989. For fur fashion, the 80s ended around 1988. Things went way downhill from there.