I have watched PTA many times and still laugh every time. But, I totally agree with you. There are so many scene which should have been left in but so much could have left out. All in all, it was still a fantastic movie. Thank you for this 👍
The scene im sad we missed is the longer dialog from John Candy that Steve Martin has talked about it takes place at the end of the movie in the subway station. Sounds really impactful.
The original script is out there and includes this. Honestly, it's much, much better the way it was released. In the movie of course, Del and Neil part ways on the L platform and then Neil thinks through their time together and realizes what Del had been saying between the lines, then realizes he needs to go back and get him. On the script, they part ways, and then Neil finds Del somehow already at the next stop (how??). Neil starts yelling at him for stalking him, and finally Del goes into a much longer story about how his wife died years ago and they never got the family they always wanted, etc. Then Neil invites him home out of pity, and we get a much longer version of what happens at the house, including at the dining room table. They played this for test audiences and they reacted poorly, actually laughed at Del's tale of misfortune. They realized they had to redo the ending, but lacking budget and weather to re-shoot, they used some outtakes of Steve screwing around on the L train, and some much tighter re-editing of the original footage. To have Neil return to the L platform they actually played the footage backward, and if you watch it frame by frame at the very end of that clip you will see a reflection in the window of a man walking backward to prove that was true. The way we saw it was much, much better, and a much more poignant ending.
Actually, the scene takes place at the 'L' (elevated train) LaSalle/Van Buren Station at 121 W. Van Buren Street Chicago, Illinois. It serves the CTA's Brown, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines.
@@josephtaranta4251 Not this scene. It was filmed at an Amtrak station in California, and was intended to be the stop Neil got off at after leaving Del. In the ending we actually got, we see Del sitting in there, as if it's an interior station near the LaSalle/Van Buren station. But it doesn't really exist there as that station is an elevated outdoor platform.
I watched this movie for the millionth time today then I found your video. So upset that there's all this footage of John Candy in one of his best roles just sitting around unseen.
This reminds me of the Special Edition DVD of This is Spinal Tap, where you have the movie, then you have the audio commentary from the principle actors who are in character, and then you have like almost two hours of deleted scenes. Basically 3 movies in one. Pure gold. What is so funny about the lack of context with the shower scene is I was watching the movie earlier today and for the first time noticed! I thought to myself, "Why is he surprised at the mess?" Neil clearly would have seen it getting _in_ the shower...
You do this better than Movie TH-camrs who have a MILLION Subscribers. Your insane passion for movies is entertaining and I'm exactly the same. THANK YOU, looking forward to more. (You're gonna play in the Big Leagues Son).
It’s a shame we didn’t get these scenes earlier, it’s a masterpiece of a film, but so glad we got them at all rather than them being lost forever! That scene in the hotel filled in so many gaps, the mess, the beers on the bed, who the dude who robbed them was/insulting him, watching that changed my whole view of the hotel stay! Shoulda been kept in. I just wish we had more answers on who was peeping in on Neal’s shower (the eye under his armpit at 4:48) - we know it couldn’t have been the pizza guy cause he saw it was an old dude after he thought it probably a chick
They don't make them like this anymore. Truly, a homage to old school Farce comedies. The sense of impending due when they're driving on the wrong side of the highway was brilliant
For people wondering about Del’s monologue at the end: check out a podcast by Peter Billingsly last year called a Cinematic Christmas Journey. They had the editor from the movie on and he said Del’s monologue at the end was getting laughs from test audiences for some reason. Obviously, that’s not what they were going for so it was cut. He did say the footage of Steve reacting after Del tells him about not having a home and Marie was the actual footage of Steve during Del’s monologue. They just cut out the sound.
👍 Very cool. I agree with these that should of been left in / out of the theater movie release. I've read what I can find on the deleted train station sequence at the end of the movie. After Dell explains he doesn't have a home and Marie has long passed away he goes on a 2minute speech or so about how he ended up in his situation. He tells Neal how he handles his loneliness around the holidays by trying to find a church so he's not alone, but this year he didn't make it and kind of lost it. He apologizes again and is very aware of the mess he's put Neal thru. In interviews Steve Martin says the scene was so powerful he had tears running down his face during the scene. He couldn't believe it was cut out of the final release.
I specifically remember seeing the airplane food scene on TV when I was little. I personally loved that scene and wish it didn't get cut. Especially when the lady in front of him flops her hair over the seat and Del digs through Neil's tray for the hair-brownie lol.
The only one I totally agree that NEEDED to be left in was Del barging in while Neal is showering, because what’s left in - Neal being disgusted by Del’s mess - makes zero sense.
Makes you wonder what was left in the 2 hour version after the first cut for the studio down from 3 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours. -- Amazing that Hughes allowed it to be cut further down to the 90 minutes we have come to love.
One thing would be Del’s extended monologue at the end, where he explains why he travels alone. You can read it in the original script, just search for it.
John Hughes was known for writing really long scripts, and he never cut anything out. He would shoot them all as written. So, the first cuts of movies like The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Uncle Buck were all well over two hours long, and he'd cut out a lot of stuff. Ferris Bueller's Day Off had at least a hour of scenes taken out. That's a extnended cut I'd like to see one day.
1:06 This is dirt common in film comedies for there to be a vast pile of gags, subplots, longer scenes in the workprint. "Caddyshack" was originally three or four hours long, and there as a lot more of the teens in that version, including the Irish girlfriend of the main teen character. All of that got junked because Rodney Dangerfield's bits were funnier.
I’m SO glad the storyline of Neal’s wife thinking Neal was having an affair was cut. In fact, I think they should have still cut out her concerned line of “What’s going on Neal?!” since it makes her appear to be a distrusting wife. Less wife and more Del is what the movie needed, sorry not sorry.
I violently disagree. This makes sense and a little bit of aa backstory about Neil's marriage being a little Rocky might help explain why he is so uptight.
I 100% agree. I am so sick of this modern version of marriage where “SOMETHING has to be wrong”. Why can’t he just have a perfect marriage, ESPECIALLY in a fictional story? There needs to be no extra reason for Neil to want to get home other than he loves his family. That is more relatable than getting home in time for an apology. It’s more wholesome. No, this is Neil & Del’s movie. We don’t need any extra “Three’s Company” misunderstanding shenanigans. Their misadventures are comedy enough, and “the wife” doesn’t need to be one of the antagonists along their journey.
Although, it would explain the wife’s reaction when Del walks in at the end. I always felt her reaction was odd but this explains it. Its relief on her face.
I enjoyed this look at the deleted scenes and agree with most of your points, however, the scene with his wife and mother left in would explain the ending much better. I never understood why his wife looked so relieved and like a huge weight was lifted from her shoulders just because he was late for Thanksgiving dinner. Now seeing that scene it explains everything, that she knows she was wrong about his supposed affair with a woman, and he wasn't lying about this whole ordeal and that he still loves her.
When I learned that Neal's wife suspected he was having an affair, I could at least better understand why she's so glum and sulky about his delay. Without that context, her behavior didn't make sense to me. I could understand being disappointed, but it seemed like she was taking it way too personally.
I first had this movie recorded from TV onto a blank tape. Years later I had the DVD but the DVD is missing the scene with the flight dinner and brownie. WTF??
John Candy an actor Gone Too Soon he was a comedic genius I love him with bobcat in hot to trot he was Don the talking horse John Candy a talking horse genius
Nicely done, but the deleted scene with Neil's wife and her mother wasn't just filler from Hughes. It was actually a complete subplot that Hughes wrote into the film. There is actually another scene written but not shot where Neil calls home and his wife sarcastically asks, "how's Dell?" indicating through her tone that she doesn't even believe there is a Dell. Neil doesn't pick up on the sarcasm, and just responds with a puzzled, "Dell is fine...why are you asking about him?" It's not that she thinks Dell is a woman....she doesn't believe he exists at all. She thinks it's just part of a story Neil is making up. Hughes cut out that entire subplot because it overshadowed the comedy. But, it actually makes the ending a little strange. Neil has been gone for only two days (or he is only two days late). When it cuts to her in the kitchen, why are her eyes so red and why is she so sad? Is it really just because her husband is late getting home and may be missing Thanksgiving? Odd. With the subplot context, we know that she isn't sad because Neil is late, but that she has convinced herself he's having an affair. And, her relief hearing his voice comes across as just relief that he is home. But, her relief is actually from hearing Neil introducing Dell to the family. If you watch the scene it is right at the point where she mentions Dell that you can see her almost taking in a surprised breath of realization. It's because she realizes she was wrong....that Dell actually existed, and that Neil was telling the truth. It also makes her reaction when introduced to Dell make sense. She's never met this guy...and from what we see in the movie, has never even heard of him. Neil never mentions him to her onscreen. Her greeting of him is out of place. Until we know that she's relieved and knows, now, that he is real. Finally, the kiss at the very end between her and Neil is a little odd, too. Again...he's only been gone for two days. Why is she greeting him almost like he's a returning soldier from an overseas tour? It's way too emotional. Until we know that she is not only relieved, but is almost saying sorry (silently) for ever doubting him. I'm glad he cut the subplot, but he really should have probably reshot the ending scene, as it didn't really fit with the finished version of the film.
As with all the John Hughes films with which we’ve been told there is more in the Hughes private vault… I want to see it all. I just do. Bueller has more. Breakfast Club has more. I think this one even has more. These are only a handful that I know about.
Where are the rest of the missing scenes? Would love (love) to see John Candy's monologue at the final diner where he explains why he's been on the road for 15 years (original ending). Sounds like pure gold.
9:00: It would have been fine if they left it only because in some reactions videos I've watched, people don't understand why she's so emotional to see him in the end. For me, however, seeing is as an adult, her being suspicious that something is going on is obvious with every phone call. It's subtle but even more subtle is the suggestion that he's such a work-a-holic that he's hardly ever with his family. It's there but not enough for the story to commit to it. Even bringing it up now is problematic. The only way that it translates and even to us as kids is that Neil is finally in the warmth and comfort of his home, food and family away from the cold and chaos we've seen him go through. The focus has clearly shifted to Del being homeless. Susan's sub plot would have just weighed the movie down. In fact, the editor, Paul Hirsh agrees that cutting this was the right decision to make. He says that they also cut out other phone call scenes Neil makes along the way. Leaving those would have balanced all of this out and Hirsch also agrees that they could have made it work but, in his words, "The tone of the scenes was wrong for the overall film." 9:30: I would love to have seen 3.5 hours of this.
thank you for writing this, I realized after I posted it that I never did explain why seeing that scene set me off the way it did. Because Neil is going through so much we need to know that his wife is there as his rock waiting for him at home. Although it might explain why she calls Dell, Mr. Griffith when she finally meets him. It could be that she is relieved to see that he is indeed a man and that Neil was telling the truth.
@@Scalerious For me, the ending scene was always emotional, but after finding out she was always suspicious of Neil cheating on her and then finding out he was telling the truth made that end scene even better and more emotional. Should they have left it all in? Perhaps, but then the movie would have to be 3 hours long and be a lot different than we know now. Not that I wouldn't want to watch a 3 hour PTA movie- I definitely would! Thanks for the video.
Maybe you can help me with this... I was watching the film maybe fifteen years ago on network television, and I swear there was a scene when Neal was running around the parking lot in St. Louis. He goes up to a phone booth with a woman in it and knocks on the glass. "Excuse me, madame?" The woman replies "I AM NOT A MADAME!!" It's not on my Special Edition DVD or in any TH-cam review of deleted scenes. Is it from "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" or am I confusing it with something from another picture?
I have been thinking about this, because this scene sounded familiar to me too. I googled a ton of Steve Martin movies. I thought maybe in All of Me? or The Jerk, but then it hit me...it's not Steve Martin at all. Could it be Cannonball Run? I can't find the clip but here is the character, Arthur J Foyt.(haha I had to google his name too) He could be mistaken for Steve Martin: th-cam.com/video/UPkr3kFf948/w-d-xo.html (PS looks like I'll watch Cannonball Run again to confirm. LOL I love that movie!!) Hope that helps
I disagree strongly with scene 9 being removed, it never made sense at the end of the movie that Neil's wife got so emotional when he got home until I found out that she thought he was cheating and was relieved to find out she was wrong. I think it would have not only made the end scene more clear but would have added to Neil's redemption arc. Neil was kind of an a-hole and by his own addmission he was neglecting his wife and children so leaving the scene where she confides in her mother adds to Neil's redemption by restoring his wifes faith in him.
I thought long and hard about this scene. Ultimately I thought it should be left out because we need Neil's wife to be his rock, waiting for him at home. She's the prize. She's the gold at the end of the rainbow. She's the Tin Man's heart or the Scarecrow's diploma, a symbol of what Neil has been struggling for. I agree though, it changes things significantly and perhaps even makes the ending scene even sweeter.
I'm about to upload a video that discusses Walter Murch's re-edit of Touch of Evil, I wonder if he would be up for the task of re-editing Planes Trains and Automobiles? Hmmmmm
I think it's been well known that there was the plot where Neil page and his wife are having marital problems. I've read and heard places that they edited that down. She was thinking that he was doing something or whatever. You can really tell by the editing. What about the black eye that Del Griffith got… Obviously somewhere towards the end he got punched. Was that an extra that did not get in the film
Thank you for proving to me you don't know what you're talking about. I doubted you when the pizza delivery guy was left over, the fart scene was omitted but to say when his wife doubts Neal is not worth keeping? Keep your hands off my film! I don't want you editing! That doubt scene makes the end so much sweeter when she finally gets introduced to Dale, that look Laila Robbins "Susan" gives Neal is at a whole new level. All those calls. But it would have been nice to have had the "you overshot Chicago by 100" miles could have been developed.
These are my opinions, you are entitled to yours. In MY opinion, we need to know that Neal's wife is at home, she is his rock, she is the prize he is seeking, she's the reason he is undertaking this crazy adventure.She is the reward. I might agree with you if Neal knew about her suspicions and when he returned home he was proving his loyalty to her, but that was never the intent. He NEVER knew of her suspicions and had NO CLUE she was about to leave him. That's pretty messed up if you ask me. I stand by my opinion. It's better left out. Oh and I'm pretty sure I said the pizza delivery scene should have been left IN. We NEEDED that scene. I would have loved the fart line too, but the prolonged uncomfortable argument is better cut. Please watch the video again, I tackle those scenes separately for exactly that reason. Thanks
The airplane food scene was included in the version that always aired on tv, and was also an extra feature on the original dvd. So we’ve seen that one before. But there’s no way the airplane food scene is a leftover. Most definitely necessary.. shoukd have been left in. that scene is hilarous. First, it actually shows del talking Neal’s ear off, and telling stories without a point (what means he has on different airlines, his friend slicing his finger off cutting carrots) much to Neals growing irritation. Secondly, it doesn’t show Neil is a picky eater, it’s not as if he just didn’t like the meal they served. His lasagna was burned and his roll has hard as a rock. The only good thing was his brownie and as he’s about to eat it, the lady in front of him flips her hair back on it. Which is hilarious, but candy’s reaction into the hair covered brownie is even more hilarious.
My all-time favorite Thanksgiving movie to watch -- along with being a great movie. The things I noticed that I never really noticed before... I know Del is annoying to Neil, but did Del really screw up Neil's plans at all? No. It didn't matter that he stole his cab (they ended at the same place anyway). I understand Neil wants to blame someone - but it was just misfortunes of bad luck over and over again. Other than the rental car... Del helps Neil get home. Also, the editing should have been better. Like how Neil goes back to the train station to find Del alone - how did he get back... how did he know he'd be there alone? I'll leave the wife parts alone because I don't care lol. But there were many missing pieces.
On the editing front, they were clearly taking scenes out wholesale and I think continuity suffered because of it. As for your first point, it's a really good one. I think you are right, while annoying, Del actually does help Neil get home. I kinda feel like that moment I found out Indiana Jones has no influence in the plot of Raiders of the Lost Ark. I'm a little dumbfounded. Thanks
Dell getting punched in the right eye in the jail by Neal was very necessary, I think it was over Dell telling Neal he didn’t get the insurance for the rental car It must have been filmed for the first version to have 210 minutes then to 120 minutes Then it wash shaved again to 93 minutes for the finished edit. Hughes stated the original 210 minute version was most likely stored and likely lost to deterioration.
When Del shows up in the Oshkonoggin cheese truck, he's sporting a black eye, which is never explained. I live near some of the filming locations (in Western New York) and have newspaper clippings from the couple weeks filming was done. There was a scene filmed in a local diner which culminated in a brawl of some sort and I believe this was when Neal punched Del, giving him the black eye that appears briefly. There was then a courtroom scene filmed in a local town hall based on Del and Neal getting arrested due to the fight in the diner. The town hall was given a temporary sign designating it as "Oshkonoggin", which would lead one to believe these scenes were intended to be placed between their scenes of having the car get impounded (which was also filmed locally) and getting picked up in the Oshkonoggin truck. I always thought it was good to cut those scenes from the movie because the scene of them burying the hatchet in the El Rancho Motel is so heart-warming and it should have marked the end of their acrimony forever.
@@Scalerious It was in the shooting script. Just after the car gets impounded, Neil is strip-searched at the police station and Del reveals that, to save Neil a bit of money on his credit card, he didn't purchase rental insurance for the destroyed car. Neil's already in a pissy mood, so he slugs Neil in the eye. I figure we could keep that, but just trim it down. Just before the punch lands, cut to them waiting on the cheese truck.
I have watched PTA many times and still laugh every time. But, I totally agree with you. There are so many scene which should have been left in but so much could have left out. All in all, it was still a fantastic movie. Thank you for this 👍
The scene im sad we missed is the longer dialog from John Candy that Steve Martin has talked about it takes place at the end of the movie in the subway station. Sounds really impactful.
The original script is out there and includes this. Honestly, it's much, much better the way it was released. In the movie of course, Del and Neil part ways on the L platform and then Neil thinks through their time together and realizes what Del had been saying between the lines, then realizes he needs to go back and get him.
On the script, they part ways, and then Neil finds Del somehow already at the next stop (how??). Neil starts yelling at him for stalking him, and finally Del goes into a much longer story about how his wife died years ago and they never got the family they always wanted, etc. Then Neil invites him home out of pity, and we get a much longer version of what happens at the house, including at the dining room table.
They played this for test audiences and they reacted poorly, actually laughed at Del's tale of misfortune. They realized they had to redo the ending, but lacking budget and weather to re-shoot, they used some outtakes of Steve screwing around on the L train, and some much tighter re-editing of the original footage. To have Neil return to the L platform they actually played the footage backward, and if you watch it frame by frame at the very end of that clip you will see a reflection in the window of a man walking backward to prove that was true.
The way we saw it was much, much better, and a much more poignant ending.
Actually, the scene takes place at the 'L' (elevated train) LaSalle/Van Buren Station at 121 W. Van Buren Street Chicago, Illinois. It serves the CTA's Brown, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines.
@@josephtaranta4251 Not this scene. It was filmed at an Amtrak station in California, and was intended to be the stop Neil got off at after leaving Del. In the ending we actually got, we see Del sitting in there, as if it's an interior station near the LaSalle/Van Buren station. But it doesn't really exist there as that station is an elevated outdoor platform.
I watched this movie for the millionth time today then I found your video. So upset that there's all this footage of John Candy in one of his best roles just sitting around unseen.
Some of those scenes are crucial to this movie. You hit every nail on the head.
thanks, PTA is one of my favorite films. I hope the execs who made Hughes cut it up are producing corporate videos now!
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Great movie, I watch it every year. Thanks for doing this.
So good that I watched it again - and subscribed! Goodnight.
Thank you!
This reminds me of the Special Edition DVD of This is Spinal Tap, where you have the movie, then you have the audio commentary from the principle actors who are in character, and then you have like almost two hours of deleted scenes. Basically 3 movies in one. Pure gold.
What is so funny about the lack of context with the shower scene is I was watching the movie earlier today and for the first time noticed! I thought to myself, "Why is he surprised at the mess?" Neil clearly would have seen it getting _in_ the shower...
Hey Mike, nice video and I love short. 10 minutes is perfect. I love that movie so much. Greetings from Switzerland!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent review!
Glad you liked it! Thanks!
3:43 major props for spelling Doobby’s wrong when it’s right on the side of the cab in front of the title!
Great video.
Thank you! And thanks for watching!!
@@Scalerious You're very welcome; keep up the good work!
Hey, this is excellent! Oh, well done.
I agree with your assessment of the last bit of #9. That would have looked like it was turning into a whole different movie, and it didn't need that.
Nice video. It's one of my favorite movies. I'm not sure how I got here. Hopefully that means your channel is about to blow up.
I hope so too, tell your friends! Thanks for watching!
You do this better than Movie TH-camrs who have a MILLION Subscribers. Your insane passion for movies is entertaining and I'm exactly the same. THANK YOU, looking forward to more. (You're gonna play in the Big Leagues Son).
Wow. Thank you. Glad you’re enjoying the videos!
It’s a shame we didn’t get these scenes earlier, it’s a masterpiece of a film, but so glad we got them at all rather than them being lost forever! That scene in the hotel filled in so many gaps, the mess, the beers on the bed, who the dude who robbed them was/insulting him, watching that changed my whole view of the hotel stay! Shoulda been kept in.
I just wish we had more answers on who was peeping in on Neal’s shower (the eye under his armpit at 4:48) - we know it couldn’t have been the pizza guy cause he saw it was an old dude after he thought it probably a chick
They don't make them like this anymore. Truly, a homage to old school Farce comedies. The sense of impending due when they're driving on the wrong side of the highway was brilliant
“You’re going the wrong way!”
“How do they know where we’re going?” Lol. Classic
For people wondering about Del’s monologue at the end: check out a podcast by Peter Billingsly last year called a Cinematic Christmas Journey. They had the editor from the movie on and he said Del’s monologue at the end was getting laughs from test audiences for some reason. Obviously, that’s not what they were going for so it was cut. He did say the footage of Steve reacting after Del tells him about not having a home and Marie was the actual footage of Steve during Del’s monologue. They just cut out the sound.
I found some stills of the script that contains that dialogue. it is powerful stuff. I'd love to see Candy's performance.
Good stuff, ya just got a new subscriber😊
👍 Very cool. I agree with these that should of been left in / out of the theater movie release.
I've read what I can find on the deleted train station sequence at the end of the movie.
After Dell explains he doesn't have a home and Marie has long passed away he goes on a 2minute speech or so about how he ended up in his situation. He tells Neal how he handles his loneliness around the holidays by trying to find a church so he's not alone, but this year he didn't make it and kind of lost it. He apologizes again and is very aware of the mess he's put Neal thru.
In interviews Steve Martin says the scene was so powerful he had tears running down his face during the scene. He couldn't believe it was cut out of the final release.
Wow. I wonder if footage exists of this. I’d love to see it.
I wonder why that doesn't show up in the deleted scenes either.
The fart part should've stayed. His response of let's put up a sail, we'll get home quicker was very funny
thanks Mike! I love this movie
The airplane food scene is on tv airings
I specifically remember seeing the airplane food scene on TV when I was little. I personally loved that scene and wish it didn't get cut. Especially when the lady in front of him flops her hair over the seat and Del digs through Neil's tray for the hair-brownie lol.
The only one I totally agree that NEEDED to be left in was Del barging in while Neal is showering, because what’s left in - Neal being disgusted by Del’s mess - makes zero sense.
Makes you wonder what was left in the 2 hour version after the first cut for the studio down from 3 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours. -- Amazing that Hughes allowed it to be cut further down to the 90 minutes we have come to love.
One thing would be Del’s extended monologue at the end, where he explains why he travels alone. You can read it in the original script, just search for it.
John Hughes was known for writing really long scripts, and he never cut anything out. He would shoot them all as written. So, the first cuts of movies like The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Uncle Buck were all well over two hours long, and he'd cut out a lot of stuff. Ferris Bueller's Day Off had at least a hour of scenes taken out. That's a extnended cut I'd like to see one day.
My astronaut rings are still filled with helium.
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1:06 This is dirt common in film comedies for there to be a vast pile of gags, subplots, longer scenes in the workprint. "Caddyshack" was originally three or four hours long, and there as a lot more of the teens in that version, including the Irish girlfriend of the main teen character. All of that got junked because Rodney Dangerfield's bits were funnier.
I’m SO glad the storyline of Neal’s wife thinking Neal was having an affair was cut. In fact, I think they should have still cut out her concerned line of “What’s going on Neal?!” since it makes her appear to be a distrusting wife. Less wife and more Del is what the movie needed, sorry not sorry.
I violently disagree. This makes sense and a little bit of aa backstory about Neil's marriage being a little Rocky might help explain why he is so uptight.
I 100% agree.
I am so sick of this modern version of marriage where “SOMETHING has to be wrong”. Why can’t he just have a perfect marriage, ESPECIALLY in a fictional story? There needs to be no extra reason for Neil to want to get home other than he loves his family. That is more relatable than getting home in time for an apology. It’s more wholesome.
No, this is Neil & Del’s movie. We don’t need any extra “Three’s Company” misunderstanding shenanigans. Their misadventures are comedy enough, and “the wife” doesn’t need to be one of the antagonists along their journey.
Although, it would explain the wife’s reaction when Del walks in at the end. I always felt her reaction was odd but this explains it. Its relief on her face.
@luthermanning6945 agreed. It’s also likely the reason she calls him “Mr. Griffith”
Same
The old guy on the plan is pasrtially deaf and needs for Del to shout, but he also reacts to every mumbled line by Del. :D
Hahaha.
I enjoyed this look at the deleted scenes and agree with most of your points, however, the scene with his wife and mother left in would explain the ending much better. I never understood why his wife looked so relieved and like a huge weight was lifted from her shoulders just because he was late for Thanksgiving dinner. Now seeing that scene it explains everything, that she knows she was wrong about his supposed affair with a woman, and he wasn't lying about this whole ordeal and that he still loves her.
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When I learned that Neal's wife suspected he was having an affair, I could at least better understand why she's so glum and sulky about his delay. Without that context, her behavior didn't make sense to me. I could understand being disappointed, but it seemed like she was taking it way too personally.
Also it brings clarity as to why she was in tears when they finally made it home.
I first had this movie recorded from TV onto a blank tape. Years later I had the DVD but the DVD is missing the scene with the flight dinner and brownie. WTF??
The brownie scene is usually only added to TV edits to make up for the removal of Neil's F-Bomb tirade...
Those aren't pillows !
John Candy an actor Gone Too Soon he was a comedic genius I love him with bobcat in hot to trot he was Don the talking horse John Candy a talking horse genius
Steve Martin talked about John Candy’s scene in the train station that he said was Candy’s best acting ever. Was that scene not released?
I love this film 🙂
Nicely done, but the deleted scene with Neil's wife and her mother wasn't just filler from Hughes. It was actually a complete subplot that Hughes wrote into the film. There is actually another scene written but not shot where Neil calls home and his wife sarcastically asks, "how's Dell?" indicating through her tone that she doesn't even believe there is a Dell. Neil doesn't pick up on the sarcasm, and just responds with a puzzled, "Dell is fine...why are you asking about him?" It's not that she thinks Dell is a woman....she doesn't believe he exists at all. She thinks it's just part of a story Neil is making up. Hughes cut out that entire subplot because it overshadowed the comedy. But, it actually makes the ending a little strange. Neil has been gone for only two days (or he is only two days late). When it cuts to her in the kitchen, why are her eyes so red and why is she so sad? Is it really just because her husband is late getting home and may be missing Thanksgiving? Odd. With the subplot context, we know that she isn't sad because Neil is late, but that she has convinced herself he's having an affair. And, her relief hearing his voice comes across as just relief that he is home. But, her relief is actually from hearing Neil introducing Dell to the family. If you watch the scene it is right at the point where she mentions Dell that you can see her almost taking in a surprised breath of realization. It's because she realizes she was wrong....that Dell actually existed, and that Neil was telling the truth. It also makes her reaction when introduced to Dell make sense. She's never met this guy...and from what we see in the movie, has never even heard of him. Neil never mentions him to her onscreen. Her greeting of him is out of place. Until we know that she's relieved and knows, now, that he is real. Finally, the kiss at the very end between her and Neil is a little odd, too. Again...he's only been gone for two days. Why is she greeting him almost like he's a returning soldier from an overseas tour? It's way too emotional. Until we know that she is not only relieved, but is almost saying sorry (silently) for ever doubting him. I'm glad he cut the subplot, but he really should have probably reshot the ending scene, as it didn't really fit with the finished version of the film.
I didn’t realize Neil never mentions Dell to his wife on screen. Good catch.
59 y/o me would have loved the fart scene. 😁😁🤣🤣
As with all the John Hughes films with which we’ve been told there is more in the Hughes private vault… I want to see it all. I just do. Bueller has more. Breakfast Club has more. I think this one even has more. These are only a handful that I know about.
Where are the rest of the missing scenes? Would love (love) to see John Candy's monologue at the final diner where he explains why he's been on the road for 15 years (original ending). Sounds like pure gold.
9:00: It would have been fine if they left it only because in some reactions videos I've watched, people don't understand why she's so emotional to see him in the end. For me, however, seeing is as an adult, her being suspicious that something is going on is obvious with every phone call. It's subtle but even more subtle is the suggestion that he's such a work-a-holic that he's hardly ever with his family. It's there but not enough for the story to commit to it. Even bringing it up now is problematic. The only way that it translates and even to us as kids is that Neil is finally in the warmth and comfort of his home, food and family away from the cold and chaos we've seen him go through. The focus has clearly shifted to Del being homeless. Susan's sub plot would have just weighed the movie down. In fact, the editor, Paul Hirsh agrees that cutting this was the right decision to make. He says that they also cut out other phone call scenes Neil makes along the way. Leaving those would have balanced all of this out and Hirsch also agrees that they could have made it work but, in his words, "The tone of the scenes was wrong for the overall film." 9:30: I would love to have seen 3.5 hours of this.
thank you for writing this, I realized after I posted it that I never did explain why seeing that scene set me off the way it did. Because Neil is going through so much we need to know that his wife is there as his rock waiting for him at home. Although it might explain why she calls Dell, Mr. Griffith when she finally meets him. It could be that she is relieved to see that he is indeed a man and that Neil was telling the truth.
@@Scalerious Yes but Neil spent the night with Dell's hand between two "pillows," she SHOULD be suspicious!
@@ZoeDuneCorp HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
@@Scalerious For me, the ending scene was always emotional, but after finding out she was always suspicious of Neil cheating on her and then finding out he was telling the truth made that end scene even better and more emotional. Should they have left it all in? Perhaps, but then the movie would have to be 3 hours long and be a lot different than we know now. Not that I wouldn't want to watch a 3 hour PTA movie- I definitely would! Thanks for the video.
@all of the above - it's "Neal," btw.
Maybe you can help me with this... I was watching the film maybe fifteen years ago on network television, and I swear there was a scene when Neal was running around the parking lot in St. Louis. He goes up to a phone booth with a woman in it and knocks on the glass. "Excuse me, madame?" The woman replies "I AM NOT A MADAME!!" It's not on my Special Edition DVD or in any TH-cam review of deleted scenes. Is it from "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" or am I confusing it with something from another picture?
I have been thinking about this, because this scene sounded familiar to me too. I googled a ton of Steve Martin movies. I thought maybe in All of Me? or The Jerk, but then it hit me...it's not Steve Martin at all. Could it be Cannonball Run? I can't find the clip but here is the character, Arthur J Foyt.(haha I had to google his name too) He could be mistaken for Steve Martin: th-cam.com/video/UPkr3kFf948/w-d-xo.html (PS looks like I'll watch Cannonball Run again to confirm. LOL I love that movie!!) Hope that helps
I disagree strongly with scene 9 being removed, it never made sense at the end of the movie that Neil's wife got so emotional when he got home until I found out that she thought he was cheating and was relieved to find out she was wrong. I think it would have not only made the end scene more clear but would have added to Neil's redemption arc. Neil was kind of an a-hole and by his own addmission he was neglecting his wife and children so leaving the scene where she confides in her mother adds to Neil's redemption by restoring his wifes faith in him.
I thought long and hard about this scene. Ultimately I thought it should be left out because we need Neil's wife to be his rock, waiting for him at home. She's the prize. She's the gold at the end of the rainbow. She's the Tin Man's heart or the Scarecrow's diploma, a symbol of what Neil has been struggling for. I agree though, it changes things significantly and perhaps even makes the ending scene even sweeter.
i really loved the movie, especially the last sequense on the platfrorm
Paramount is too lazy and stupid to cleanup these deleted scenes and give us an extended version!
I'm about to upload a video that discusses Walter Murch's re-edit of Touch of Evil, I wonder if he would be up for the task of re-editing Planes Trains and Automobiles? Hmmmmm
I think it's been well known that there was the plot where Neil page and his wife are having marital problems. I've read and heard places that they edited that down. She was thinking that he was doing something or whatever. You can really tell by the editing. What about the black eye that Del Griffith got… Obviously somewhere towards the end he got punched. Was that an extra that did not get in the film
Thank you for proving to me you don't know what you're talking about. I doubted you when the pizza delivery guy was left over, the fart scene was omitted but to say when his wife doubts Neal is not worth keeping? Keep your hands off my film! I don't want you editing! That doubt scene makes the end so much sweeter when she finally gets introduced to Dale, that look Laila Robbins "Susan" gives Neal is at a whole new level. All those calls. But it would have been nice to have had the "you overshot Chicago by 100" miles could have been developed.
These are my opinions, you are entitled to yours. In MY opinion, we need to know that Neal's wife is at home, she is his rock, she is the prize he is seeking, she's the reason he is undertaking this crazy adventure.She is the reward. I might agree with you if Neal knew about her suspicions and when he returned home he was proving his loyalty to her, but that was never the intent. He NEVER knew of her suspicions and had NO CLUE she was about to leave him. That's pretty messed up if you ask me. I stand by my opinion. It's better left out.
Oh and I'm pretty sure I said the pizza delivery scene should have been left IN. We NEEDED that scene. I would have loved the fart line too, but the prolonged uncomfortable argument is better cut. Please watch the video again, I tackle those scenes separately for exactly that reason. Thanks
The airplane food scene was included in the version that always aired on tv, and was also an extra feature on the original dvd. So we’ve seen that one before. But there’s no way the airplane food scene is a leftover. Most definitely necessary.. shoukd have been left in. that scene is hilarous. First, it actually shows del talking Neal’s ear off, and telling stories without a point (what means he has on different airlines, his friend slicing his finger off cutting carrots) much to Neals growing irritation. Secondly, it doesn’t show Neil is a picky eater, it’s not as if he just didn’t like the meal they served. His lasagna was burned and his roll has hard as a rock. The only good thing was his brownie and as he’s about to eat it, the lady in front of him flips her hair back on it. Which is hilarious, but candy’s reaction into the hair covered brownie is even more hilarious.
I could have done without the extended discussion about Del's athlete's foot
My all-time favorite Thanksgiving movie to watch -- along with being a great movie. The things I noticed that I never really noticed before... I know Del is annoying to Neil, but did Del really screw up Neil's plans at all? No. It didn't matter that he stole his cab (they ended at the same place anyway). I understand Neil wants to blame someone - but it was just misfortunes of bad luck over and over again.
Other than the rental car... Del helps Neil get home.
Also, the editing should have been better. Like how Neil goes back to the train station to find Del alone - how did he get back... how did he know he'd be there alone? I'll leave the wife parts alone because I don't care lol. But there were many missing pieces.
On the editing front, they were clearly taking scenes out wholesale and I think continuity suffered because of it. As for your first point, it's a really good one. I think you are right, while annoying, Del actually does help Neil get home. I kinda feel like that moment I found out Indiana Jones has no influence in the plot of Raiders of the Lost Ark. I'm a little dumbfounded. Thanks
Dell getting punched in the right eye in the jail by Neal was very necessary, I think it was over Dell telling Neal he didn’t get the insurance for the rental car It must have been filmed for the first version to have 210 minutes then to 120 minutes Then it wash shaved again to 93 minutes for the finished edit. Hughes stated the original 210 minute version was most likely stored and likely lost to deterioration.
This is an interesting tid bit. Del was punched? I only recall him getting punched in the gut, “that’s how Houdini died”
When Del shows up in the Oshkonoggin cheese truck, he's sporting a black eye, which is never explained.
I live near some of the filming locations (in Western New York) and have newspaper clippings from the couple weeks filming was done. There was a scene filmed in a local diner which culminated in a brawl of some sort and I believe this was when Neal punched Del, giving him the black eye that appears briefly. There was then a courtroom scene filmed in a local town hall based on Del and Neal getting arrested due to the fight in the diner. The town hall was given a temporary sign designating it as "Oshkonoggin", which would lead one to believe these scenes were intended to be placed between their scenes of having the car get impounded (which was also filmed locally) and getting picked up in the Oshkonoggin truck.
I always thought it was good to cut those scenes from the movie because the scene of them burying the hatchet in the El Rancho Motel is so heart-warming and it should have marked the end of their acrimony forever.
@@Scalerious It was in the shooting script. Just after the car gets impounded, Neil is strip-searched at the police station and Del reveals that, to save Neil a bit of money on his credit card, he didn't purchase rental insurance for the destroyed car. Neil's already in a pissy mood, so he slugs Neil in the eye. I figure we could keep that, but just trim it down. Just before the punch lands, cut to them waiting on the cheese truck.