Unraveling the Mystery: Where Did Marty McFly Get His Controversial Hair Dryer?

by

In the movie “Back to the Future,” Marty McFly’s use of a hairdryer as a prop has sparked debates due to inconsistencies over the years. The film, filled with plots holes and paradoxes, often leads to discussions, and Marty’s unusual use of a hair dryer is a popular topic. In the first movie, when Marty (played by Michael J. Fox) travels back in time to 1955, he tries to persuade his father, George, to take Lorraine Baines to the dance. To scare the man, Marty disguises himself in a yellow hazmat suit and uses the hair dryer as a makeshift weapon, pretending to be a character from another planet, claiming he is “Darth Vader” from the planet “Vulcan.

This particular scene in ‘Back to the Future’ is still vividly etched in memory due to its timely popular reference, but it gained even more notoriety because of a blunder. In the part where Marty threatens his younger father, the hairdryer prop used as a weapon mysteriously vanishes between shots. ‘Back to the Future’s’ missing hairdryer became a famous blooper that was frequently mentioned for years. However, it was eventually revealed that this wasn’t actually a goof, but rather an editing oversight, as the extended scene demonstrated what truly transpired. Despite this clarification, many still ponder where Marty obtained the hairdryer in the first place.

The Hair Dryer Was In A Suitcase Inside The DeLorean

Back To The Future’s FAQs Reveal The Hair Dryer’s Origins

In 1888, hair dryers were invented, but they weren’t widely used due to their heavy, unsafe designs. It wasn’t until the ’60s that they became lighter, safer, and more affordable, making them commonplace. So, it might have seemed odd that Marty was using a modern-looking hair dryer in 1955 as depicted in the movie Back to the Future, but it turns out this was an intentional anachronism. The creators of the film actually clarify the unusual hair dryer’s origin in their FAQs. Here is the full explanation:

FAQ: Why does Marty McFly use a futuristic hair dryer in 1955?
A: In Back to the Future, the creators intentionally used a futuristic hair dryer to emphasize the contrast between the modern world (1985) and the past (1955). This anachronism was meant to highlight Marty’s out-of-place presence in 1955.

In the Darth Vader scene, there’s a contemporary hairdryer hidden in Marty’s waistband, which clearly wasn’t around in 1955. So, one might wonder, where on Earth did this modern gadget originate?

In a suitcase I found tucked away in the DeLorean trunk, 1985 me had stowed. At Twin Pines Mall, there was a moment where 1955 me rummaged through the bag’s contents, picked up an item that resembled a hair dryer, and curiously asked, “What’s this?” To which I responded, “It’s a hair dryer.” Confused, he shook his head and wondered aloud, “A hair dryer? Isn’t there towels in the future?” Unfortunately, this intriguing exchange was omitted from the final version of the film.

The contemporary hairdryer is traced back to a suitcase within the DeLorean car, which traveled from Marty McFly’s time in 1985, according to the movie’s timeline for “Back to the Future.” Since this scene explaining the origin of the hairdryer was removed from the film, viewers may have been left puzzled. Interestingly, the enigma surrounding the hair dryer in the “Darth Vader” scene has long intrigued fans, as it ranks high on the FAQs for “Back to the Future.” Thus, it’s great to finally understand where the hairdryer came from, as it resolves all doubts related to this device.

A Deleted Back To The Future Scene Would’ve Explained The Hair Dryer Mystery

1955’s Doc Brown Checks Out The Suitcase Packed By His Older Self

In order to maintain a smooth flow and adhere to time constraints or brevity, certain scenes from “Back to the Future” were eliminated. Had the movie chosen to retain one specific scene, it would have immediately resolved the hair dryer conundrum, thus eliminating any subsequent confusion about anachronisms and historical accuracy. The deleted scene in question occurred after Marty’s initial encounter with 1955 Doc Brown, where they were both in Doc’s lab as he inspected the suitcase sent by his future self. Here is the full scene for your perusal:

(For the sake of brevity, I have combined the sentences containing “Back to the Future” into a single phrase.)

While sifting through the luggage that arrived from 1985, Doc unearths contemporary underwear, a copy of Playboy, and a hairdryer. This scene is noteworthy because it demonstrates how the 1985 version of Doc interacts with his younger self. The presence of the hairdryer also prepares us for the “Darth Vader” sequence later on. Regrettably, despite its brief duration of just 1 minute and 30 seconds, this scene was thought to be insignificant in terms of content, so it was eliminated from the theatrical version of Back to the Future, which explains why they chose to remove it “for time’s sake.

Source: Back to the Future website

Read More

2025-04-19 15:11