There’s a Three-Hour Version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles No One Has Ever Seen

As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours poring over screenplays and behind-the-scenes documentaries, I can confidently say that John Hughes’ masterpiece, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” holds a special place in my heart. The camaraderie between Steve Martin and John Candy is unparalleled, and the film’s ability to make us laugh, cry, and feel a deep sense of nostalgia all at once is truly remarkable.

John Hughes created more timeless movies during his career than many other directors, with few of even his films holding as much cultural significance as “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” Starring Steve Martin and John Candy, this film is not only one of the most celebrated American comedies from the 1980s but also a cherished annual tradition for many during Thanksgiving. Each year, movie enthusiasts often enjoy watching it alongside their holiday dinner. Interestingly, some fans may be unaware that there was initially a three-hour version of “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” which, regrettably, has never been released.

To clarify, due to numerous revisions by writer-director John Hughes, the screenplay for “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” grew into a lengthy 165 pages. In movie terminology, each page typically represents about one minute of screen time. This means that during the film’s production, Hughes created a version of the movie that was more than double the final 92-minute runtime, which equates to approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes in total.

During an interview with Pro Video Coalition, editor Paul Hirsch shared details about how he and Hughes managed to shorten the film’s runtime within the five months between June 1987 when principal photography ended, and its release in November of the same year. Hirsch disclosed that they removed more footage than they kept, stating, “We actually eliminated a third of the movie at one go.” He then mentioned to John (presumably John Hughes), “You realize, we’ve just discarded 28 days of filming,” to which Hughes nonchalantly shrugged.

What Was Cut From the 3-Hour Version?

One fascinating aspect of the movie “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” lies in its unique blend – it’s both a hilarious journey filled with unexpected detours and a remarkably streamlined production, one of John Hughes’ most compact works. It might be intriguing to know that during editing, Hughes removed quite a bit from the film. This included casual humor and dialogue that, while funny, didn’t significantly contribute to the plot. More substantial scenes were also trimmed. For example, in the original script, the thief (Gary Riley) who burglarizes Del and Neal’s motel room while they sleep was initially portrayed as the pizza delivery boy who also sets up Neal’s beer explosion by placing the cans on the bed that vibrates.

As a movie enthusiast, I discovered that an extended cut of the film featured a side plot where my character’s wife, Susan (Laila Robins), harbored suspicions about my delays, suspecting they were concealing an affair (or multiple affairs). This thread was ultimately left on the cutting room floor during editing, but it enriches Susan’s feelings of relief and happiness when she encounters Del at the end of the final film. Notably, Hughes also removed a climactic Thanksgiving dinner scene at the Pages’ house that was intended to wrap up the comedy. Remnants of this scene are still present in the finished film, such as the moment where my character daydreams about returning home on the train before snapping back to reality and checking on Del.

Among the discarded scenes from the movie, the one that stands out most could be the heartfelt conversation at a train station between characters Del and Neal, which was originally included in Steven Spielberg’s script for Planes, Trains and Automobiles, but was ultimately left out of the final version. In the movie as it was released, Del discloses that his wife Marie had passed away eight years prior to the film’s events, with the narrative swiftly transitioning to a scene of Neal accompanying Del and helping him carry his luggage. However, in Spielberg’s original script, Del’s emotional revelation is followed by a monologue where he shares the heartbreaking circumstances that led to his nomadic lifestyle and explains why he unexpectedly bonded with Neal. This scene, as it appears on paper, is definitely worth reading: It ranks high among the most poignant and beautiful passages Spielberg ever wrote.

What Happened to the Extended Cut?

As a die-hard film aficionado, I’ve always been intrigued by the elusive 225-minute version of “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” that John Hughes never officially released. However, there’s one delightful deleted scene that has circulated for years and occasionally pops up during TV broadcasts of the movie. In this scene, Del, our beloved character, shares his quirky insights on airplane food, adding a touch of the endearing, unpolished charm that Hughes’ original, extended cut possessed. Though it might seem trivial, this scene beautifully captures the screwball spirit of Hughes’ early work. Recently, VHS recordings of other deleted scenes have surfaced, thanks to the meticulous archives Hughes kept during his lifetime.

In a retelling of the movie’s history, Bob Buchi from Paramount Pictures shared with Vanity Fair that during the time when the film was produced, it was standard practice within the industry to eliminate all extra footage – a regrettable practice, although common at the time. All that remains of the original cut of the film, as found by the Hughes Estate, were previously mentioned VHS recordings that the filmmaker had saved of specific discarded scenes and sequences.

It appears highly improbable that fans will witness a fully restored and harmonious re-creation of Hughes’ initial version of “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” Yet, this fact shouldn’t spoil future viewings of the movie. Instead, viewers can celebrate each time they watch “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” knowing that numerous additional instances of humor, sorrow, and nostalgia are hidden among its skillfully chosen edits – more than they initially believed. Although it may not be possible to restore all those moments to their original positions, fans can find solace in the fact that remnants of them often remain visible within the final film.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is streaming now on Paramount+.

2024-11-23 17:09

What Was Cut From the 3-Hour Version?

What Happened to the Extended Cut?

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