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Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon

  • Film, Comedy
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Time Out says

This 2015 documentary, directed by Douglas Tirola, explores the phenomenon behind National Lampoon

Before the name National Lampoon became synonymous with Chevy Chase ruining Christmas or the Griswold family trekking across country with their dead nana strapped to the roof of a car, it was one of the most popular comedy and satirical magazines in the States during the '70s.

Every issue tackled a particular theme, including death, puberty, the future and self-indulgence, usually in the form of a parody. It was smart and ahead of its time, but didn't take itself too seriously. 

Aimed at the college audience, the magazine was started by a bunch of Harvard grads in 1970 as a spinoff from the Harvard Lampoon. Writers for the mag included later famous alumni author PJ O'Rourke and director John Hughes. 

The first spinoffs from the magazine included radio and theatre shows and later the National Lampoon series of films, which starred John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis, amongst other comedy legends.

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