Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
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An uptight executive and a friendly salesman become unlikely companions while trying to navigate a series of travel mishaps to reach Chicago before Thanksgiving.
The story
In New York City, two days before Thanksgiving, advertising executive Neal Page is eager to return to his family in Chicago. After a prolonged business meeting with an indecisive client and with a snowstorm threatening, Neal struggles to secure a taxi during rush hour. Although he bribes a man to give up a cab he has hailed, another man swoops in and takes it instead. Neal arrives at LaGuardia Airport to discover that his flight is delayed. While waiting, he encounters Del Griffith, a chatty and affable traveling shower-curtain-ring salesman who unknowingly took his cab. Del's overly friendly demeanor immediately clashes with Neal's uptight and repressed personality.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Two days before Thanksgiving, uptight advertising executive Neal Page finds himself stranded in New York City due to a snowstorm. He ends up sharing a flight and a hotel room with Del Griffith, an overly-friendly traveling salesman. After a series of mishaps—including a plane diverted to Wichita, a shared room where they swap credit cards, and a train ride that is interrupted by a breakdown—the two are forced to travel together by bus and car. After a car fire leaves them stranded, they eventually reach Chicago in a truck's refrigerated trailer. Upon arrival, Neal discovers that Del has been living on the road alone since his wife's death. Touched by Del's situation, Neal brings him home to meet his family.
- First release year
- 1987
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John Hughes
- Writers
- John Hughes · writer
- Cast and characters
- Steve Martin · Neal Page; John Candy · Del Griffith; Laila Robins · Susan Page; Michael McKean · a state trooper who impounds a fire-damaged car that Neal and Del are driving; Dylan Baker · Owen Mooney; Carol Bruce · Joy; Olivia Burnette · Marti Page; Diana Dill · Peg
- Genres
- comedy; road trip
- Themes
- friendship; loneliness
- Tone and mood
- comedy; heartfelt
- Setting
- New York City, Wichita, Kansas, Jefferson City, Missouri, St. Louis, and Chicago during the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
- Premise and plot tags
- road trip; buddy comedy; holiday
- Reception
- The film was a critical and commercial success, praised for its blend of comedy and sentiment and the performances of Martin and Candy. It was noted as a departure from Hughes's typical teen-oriented comedies and developed a cult following.
- Production trivia
- The initial cut of the film was nearly four hours long.; The film was inspired by a real-life disastrous trip from Chicago to New York City taken by John Hughes.; A planned subplot involving the state trooper and a detour in Wisconsin was cut from the final film.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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