Key Takeaways
- John Hughes’ original cut of Planes, Trains and Automobiles was nearly three hours long, containing over 165 script pages.
- Significant plotlines and character development were cut during editing, including a subplot involving Neal’s wife suspecting an affair.
- An official extended version has never been released, with most deleted scenes lost due to industry practices of the era.
Unveiling the Lost Extent of a Classic
The beloved film Planes, Trains and Automobiles, directed by John Hughes and featuring stars Steve Martin and John Candy, stands as a classic of 1980s cinema. It’s particularly cherished as a Thanksgiving favorite, drawing viewers for annual rewatching. However, many fans may be unaware that an original cut existed that spanned nearly three hours, which has sadly never been made public.
Hughes’ penchant for rewriting contributed to what became a sprawling 165-page shooting draft. The Hollywood standard suggests that one page translates to about one minute of screen time, indicating that the initial runtime could have exceeded 225 minutes. Editor Paul Hirsch recounted the rigorous editing process where significant cuts were made in a short span before the film’s November 1987 release. In a major reduction, Hirsch noted that they removed over a third of the film, representing nearly 28 days of shooting—an astonishing leap to the final 92-minute cut.
Among the material that didn’t make the final edit were both minor and significant scenes. For instance, the original narrative introduced a thief, who initially appeared as a pizza delivery boy, tying his actions to a humorous setup involving a vibrating bed and a beer explosion. Another critical cut involved a subplot where Neal’s wife, Susan, suspects her husband of lying about his delays, hinting at deeper insecurities related to fidelity. Furthermore, key emotional content was eliminated, such as a Thanksgiving dinner scene meant to conclude the story, which still lingers in fragments in the final production.
One of the most poignant deleted scenes includes a heartfelt exchange between Del and Neal, where Del’s backstory and motivations are fleshed out in a deeply moving monologue. This part, among Hughes’ most beautifully crafted writings, is noted for its emotional depth.
Despite the existence of some behind-the-scenes materials, most of Hughes’ original content has unfortunately been lost, reflecting a common industry practice of discarding unused footage from that era. The Hughes Estate has only been able to recover minimal edits and VHS-quality remnants of deleted scenes.
Ultimately, while the complete and cohesive version of Hughes’ extended cut may remain elusive, fans can appreciate the layers of humor and depth integrated into the existing film. The unfulfilled potential of the lost scenes adds to the rich legacy of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, allowing viewers to enjoy the film while recognizing the depth of what might have been. The classic is currently streaming on Paramount+.
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