‹ All movies
Planes, Trains and Automobiles poster

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

year 1987decade 80sdirector John Hughesgenre Comedy

92 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Steve Martin Neal Page
John Candy Del Griffith
Laila Robins Susan Page
Michael McKean State trooper
Dylan Baker Owen Mooney
Olivia Burnette Marti Page

Planes, Trains and Automobiles | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Van Lathanproducer Craig Horlbeck format 35th anniversary
Explore episodeClose episode

Half-Assed Internet Research

Deleted wife, pizza, beer and reimbursement scenes; production logistics, improvisation and generosity anecdotes.

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:16:40Read transcript
  • Deleted subplot had Neil wife disbelieve Del existence; Wichita suspicion survives.
  • Editor reportedly restored Del offer to reimburse Neil, changing screening audiences from seeing exploitation; host skeptical of impact.
  • Deleted pizza scene explains low tip and later returning thief.
  • Deleted beer explosion better omitted but pizza-tip/theft explanation preferred restored; robbery otherwise seems random.
  • Exterior plane reportedly same as Airplane; Blue Room cover because Paul Young approval unavailable.
  • Transport companies avoided inept depiction, fictional companies used; Neil house reportedly built seven months100000dollars angering Paramount.
  • Candy brought exercise equipment never used according to Martin; Baker spit-hand adlib at Hughes direction around take11 elicited real disgust.
  • Candy reportedly generous, invited film workers for1000dollars pizza during Oscars.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Del’s home may be emotional rather than literal; whether a bus qualifies as an automobile remains unsettled.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:23:13Read transcript
  • Del may have a physical home but avoid it because of his dead wife; literal homelessness considered less likely, destination Chicago raises ambiguity.
  • Why title omits Buses? Bus qualifies as automobile asserted then uncertainty/search leads semantics, unresolved.

Casting What-Ifs

Reported Hanks and Travolta alternatives prompt disagreement about age and role suitability.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:38:54Read transcript
  • Tom Hanks considered plausible later but too youthful then; hard-ass performance not familiar until League of Their Own aside from Turner and Hooch.
  • Hughes reportedly wanted Hanks as Neil,Travolta as Del; Hanks filming Big, could work with younger children; different suggestion Travolta could nail Neil.
  • Paramount reportedly vetoed Travolta as box-office poison after Perfect/Staying Alive; later Look Who’s Talking rebound noted.

Roger Ebert's review

Rating not yet verified

Positive Ebert review discussed; rating is garbled as “3 and F stars” and remains numerically unresolved.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:41:43Read transcript
  • Siskel and Ebert loved film; Siskel called Candy best role; Ebert rating machine text garbled three and F stars.
  • Ebert review praises casting,construction and heartfelt road/buddy genres.

Most Rewatchable Scene

Wrong-way driving and hotel check-in through the pillows scene are distinct preferences; the emotional return is separately called the best essential scene.

In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 00:45:40Read transcript
  • Opening boardroom delay,Bacon cameo and cab theft get film moving without dead time.
  • Room/one-bed discovery,disgusting shower and sleep noises; forty-five minutes footage reported, cuts arguably better.
  • Tirade and hurt reply elite; reading vomit bag singled out.
  • Those arent pillows iconic line and defensive Bears talk funny; sexual insecurity in shower invitation/bed scene noted.
  • Ring sales and dinner when Del emphasizes missed Thanksgiving pageant precious moments praised.
  • Rental-agreement disposal and dangerous airport walk create justified fury; counter clerk response devastatingly funny,19 swear words and Nichols advice recalled.
  • Car ball-handling argument; extra balls/fingers reply favorite line.
  • Wrong-way sequence with skeletons/devil should not work but masterful silly comedy.
  • Drunk hotel bonding needed, compared with Midnight Run train chicken exchange.
  • Final truth confession/return and walk home praised; The longer monologue was reportedly cut, not in released deleted footage.
  • One preference wrong-way driving as most rewatchable, distinguishes emotional return as best essential scene.
  • Other preference hotel check-in through Those arent pillows, would keep watching from channel surfing.
  • Bus singalong explicitly recalled for most rewatchable: Neil Three Coins in a Fountain vs Del universally known Flintstones shows difference.

What’s Aged the Best?

Candy’s quirks, ordinary antagonists, callback details and unpredictable travel.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:56:39Read transcript
  • Canadian Mounted airport reading and Griswold-mobile callback.
  • Hughes ordinary service-worker villains indifferent to protagonists; Vacation dead aunt/sandwich grotesque humor comparison.
  • Candy shower-ring occupation,shoe relief,constant smoking and corny work/wife motto praised.
  • Whopper/hot seat quips and singular physical performance compared with Tommy Boy.
  • Travel remains a dice game despite careful plans.

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

The wife and family lack development after subplot cuts.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:06Read transcript
  • Wife/family underwritten after cuts; a daughter recital phone call could establish affection.
  • Lawrence child uncertain; wife actress reportedly expected Roxanne lead before this and lost major subplot, cut arguably helps.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Traveling sales, the cover song and pre-digital travel habits.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:04:27Read transcript
  • Traveling shower-ring salesman obsolete with Amazon.
  • Cover of Every Time You Go Away instead of the Paul Young version regretted; rights reportedly unavailable.
  • Smoking,no phones/apps/Uber/Lyft/Airbnb,travel suits,arriving two minutes before flight and no text/email contact exchange dated.
  • Remake must address modern communication; finding separated friends used to require investigation/phonebooks.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Candy receives insufficient historical respect; Belushi, Farley and Candy are compared on talent, humor and acting.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:20Read transcript
  • Candy under-respected and skipped between Belushi/Farley despite most enduring body of work.
  • Belushi most talented,Farley funniest,Candy best blend and stronger acting discussed.
  • No additional hot take offered.

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Unidentified actor playing Ferris Bueller’s father preferred over several recognizable supporting faces.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:12Read transcript
  • Ben Stein,Edie McClurg,Ferris father,Friends cab driver,Longest Yard Unger hotel clerk candidates; unidentified Ferris father preferred.
  • Ferris father instant recognition in tiny youll never make six role explains choice.

Recasting Couch

Clooney, Affleck and several all-Black pairings considered; remaking the film is opposed despite hypothetical casting.

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:13:26Read transcript
  • Clooney2000s ideal Neil,Affleck proposed but perhaps too old now.
  • British casting joke leads Daniel Kaluuya as Neil; Kevin Hart suggested then Tracy Morgan as Del preferred.
  • Reported Will Smith/Kevin Hart remake opposed; ask for new material.
  • Uptown Saturday Night remake had appealed, but this remains rewatchable so no remake; Total Recall remake anger comparison.
  • Chappelle as weird Del proposed; Half Baked praised and Ben Simmons dislike reported.
  • Idris Elba too attractive to face obstacles rejected; Sterling K Brown with Chappelle preferred conditional on Chappelle commitment.

Apex Mountain

Martin no; Candy’s Uncle Buck; road-movie split between this and Midnight Run; Thanksgiving movie and train stop yes.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:17:16Read transcript
  • Martin no; late70s standup/The Jerk likely peak, second film career acknowledged.
  • Candy Uncle Buck agreed because carries film despite this film remembered more fondly; Stripes important alternative and Culkin/Home Alone follow-on.
  • Mid80s Chicago Ferris Bueller; road movies disagreement this vs Midnight Run, best decade broadly praised.
  • Due Date and Tommy Boy derivative; Road Trip favorite,Overnight Delivery and The Chase recalled, kidnapped Silverstone film unresolved until276.
  • LaSalle Van Buren train stop yes; Thanksgiving movies unequivocal yes.

Picking Nits

Money and shared room, bathroom timing, driving duration, burnt-car safety, black eye and short overall ordeal.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:20:06Read transcript
  • Why spend75dollars on cab not own hotel room? Only-one-room and Neil pays correction debated; Craig correction acknowledged.
  • Neil money unresolved,extra50dollars room argued despite no vacancies; one traveler should sleep on floor.
  • Dirty bathroom timing explained by deleted Del havoc after Neil enters shower.
  • StLouis–Chicago drive only4–4.5hours questioned against apparent12hours.
  • Burnt car drivability/hot upholstery and freezing open vehicle/truck exposure implausible.
  • Burglar explained earlier; black eye reportedly Neil punches Del in unshown deleted scene, removal appropriate to character.
  • Craig invited nitpick:Tuesday–Thursday ordeal exaggerated,underwear since Tuesday is only day/36hours; leaving Monday would help.

Just One Oscar

Candy, with a subsequent screenplay alternative.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:27:44Read transcript
  • Candy agreed, then screenplay alternative noted.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Keep the wallet out of the glove compartment; ask people about their trauma.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:30:07Read transcript
  • Never wallet in glove compartment,fire risk.
  • Ask about trauma and whether someone is okay; earlier connection could uncover Del pain.

More from the conversation

35th anniversary, celebrated Thanksgiving/holiday/road movie; new Blu-ray deleted footage promised to explain gaps.
Approx. transcript time · 00:02:37Read transcript
Road movie works through mismatched travelers driven by family; Candy makes annoying Del sympathetic in hotel confrontation.
Approx. transcript time · 00:03:35Read transcript
Opening travel anxiety relatable; nominally noble family-bound Martin becomes less relatable antagonist.
Approx. transcript time · 00:05:26Read transcript
Road-movie lineage from Vacation through Sure Thing, Peewee, Over the Top, Rain Man, Midnight Run, Thelma and Louise, Dumb and Dumber and Tommy Boy.
Approx. transcript time · 00:07:17Read transcript
One speaker favors Midnight Run as road movie.
Approx. transcript time · 00:08:11Read transcript
Other speaker ties this film and Tommy Boy, while also loving Midnight Run.
Approx. transcript time · 00:08:28Read transcript
Candy strongly associated with childhood; death preceded adulthood, lasting comforting effect.
Approx. transcript time · 00:09:18Read transcript
Early Candy memories SCTV,1941,Blues Brothers and Stripes; Blues Brothers considered partly road movie/musical.
Approx. transcript time · 00:10:28Read transcript
Candy progression Splash,Volunteers,Brewsters Millions,Summer Rental,Armed and Dangerous,Spaceballs,Planes,Great Outdoors,Harry Crumb,Uncle Buck. Summer Rental and Harry Crumb defended despite box-office limitations.
Approx. transcript time · 00:11:14Read transcript
Candy A-list arrival and Belushi/Farley niche, improvisation expertise;84-day shoot and extended improv scenes reported.
Approx. transcript time · 00:12:18Read transcript
Lovable performer underrated; Hughes shoots excess and shapes by editing; deleted plane lasagna/brownie scene praised. Lean92minutes perhaps could sustain105.
Approx. transcript time · 00:13:48Read transcript
Hughes opposites-road-trip idea connects to48Hours; exception to privileged travel creates connection.
Approx. transcript time · 00:18:14Read transcript
Del has friends/connections and charm even selling misleading rings; Neil poor at interactions, rental counter freakout treasured.
Approx. transcript time · 00:19:13Read transcript
Martin quoted on Candy sweetness/broken heart and deleted final monologue; lean finale invites relitigating earlier clues.
Approx. transcript time · 00:21:36Read transcript
Hughes1983–90 creative run listed; regarded as defining1980s pop culture with Michael Jackson-level impact.
Approx. transcript time · 00:24:20Read transcript
Other speaker Ferris Bueller favorite Hughes movie, Christmas Vacation favorite Christmas movie; temptation acknowledged but no revised overall favorite.
Approx. transcript time · 00:25:53Read transcript
One speaker Breakfast Club first, Ferris Bueller second, Vacation tentative third.
Approx. transcript time · 00:25:53Read transcript
Hughes fast scriptwriting/genius; enduring family,teen archetypes echoed by Cant Buy Me Love and Saved by the Bell.
Approx. transcript time · 00:26:28Read transcript
Minor characters such as Dylan Baker trucker and Cousin Eddie exceptional; flawed Griswold remains relatable despite attempted infidelity.
Approx. transcript time · 00:28:52Read transcript
Hughes mostly white Midwestern settings still relatable across race/geography through familiar cousins,rich uncles and tricksters; Louisiana family anecdote.
Approx. transcript time · 00:30:27Read transcript
Breakfast Club least personally relatable due younger age at release, but HBO access and sympathetic flawed characters explain attachment; Del extraordinary example.
Approx. transcript time · 00:32:27Read transcript
Hughes talent selection compared with Apatow: Broderick,Candy,Martin,Chase,Ringwald.
Approx. transcript time · 00:33:43Read transcript
Del authenticity contrasts with effort to reach people beneath affectation, illustrated by unnamed rapper interview.
Approx. transcript time · 00:34:03Read transcript
Del immediate authenticity admired.
Approx. transcript time · 00:35:03Read transcript
Martin everyman phase1986–92; The Jerk/Airplane/Animal House cultural fading and offensive material discussed.
Approx. transcript time · 00:37:18Read transcript
Martin combines good prior persona with difficult Neil, adult appearance and smile/scowl control; physical comedy strong in Parenthood and chase/falls/rental counter.
Approx. transcript time · 00:38:54Read transcript
Martin reported real travel/weather trouble mirroring movie, Buffalo relocation,14degrees, snow continuity and84-day shoot.
Approx. transcript time · 00:41:21Read transcript
Uncle Buck favored Candy best role; Harry Crumb defended but rejected, Great Outdoors too straight.
Approx. transcript time · 00:41:57Read transcript
Ending moving because grief and small familial rescue stakes matter more than world-saving spectacle.
Approx. transcript time · 00:42:56Read transcript
Craig invited to contribute; calls this Candy best role; simultaneous humor/sadness and positivity after tragedy discussed.
Approx. transcript time · 00:44:31Read transcript
Craig explicitly invited, prefers this as Candy best role.
Approx. transcript time · 00:44:31Read transcript
Craig closing invited:lean editing praised against modern2h20m or five-partNetflix tendency; Anchorman2 example of overlong comedy.
Approx. transcript time · 01:30:57Read transcript
Anchorman2 cut/alternate versions overlong,partially enjoyed,cult appeal; first film94minutes classic.
Approx. transcript time · 01:31:42Read transcript
Anchorman funniest scenes:punting Baxter,Afternoon Delight,insult exchange; all scenes praised,uncovered episode saved as exalted territory like Boogie Nights.
Approx. transcript time · 01:32:29Read transcript