Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)

A man must struggle to travel home for Thanksgiving, with an obnoxious slob of a shower ring salesman his only companion.

Director:

John Hughes

Writer:

John Hughes

Stars:

Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Martin	...	Neal Page
John Candy	...	Del Griffith
Laila Robins	...	Susan Page
Michael McKean	...	State Trooper
Kevin Bacon	...	Taxi Racer
Dylan Baker	...	Owen
Carol Bruce	...	Joy
Olivia Burnette	...	Marti
Diana Douglas	...	Peg
Martin Ferrero	...	Second Motel Clerk
Larry Hankin	...	Doobie
Richard Herd	...	Walt
Susan Kellermann	...	Waitress (as Susan Kellerman)
Matthew Lawrence	...	Little Neal
Edie McClurg	...	Car Rental Agent

Storyline

All that Neal Page wants to do is to get home for Thanksgiving. His flight has been cancelled due to bad weather, so he decides on other means of transport. As well as bad luck, Neal is blessed with the presence of Del Griffith, Shower Curtain Ring Salesman and all-around blabbermouth, who is never short of advice, conversation, bad jokes, or company. And when he decides that he is going the same direction as Neal....

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Plot Keywords:

thanksgiving | shower | shower curtain | bad luck | slob | 

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Taglines:

What he really wanted was to spend Thanksgiving with his family. What he got was three days with the turkey.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 November 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Filming Locations:

Batavia, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$49,230,280 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Hughes Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Del clears his sinuses in the motel room, his nose whistling sounds out the final chords to Shave and a Haircut.

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Goofs

After Neil yells at Del Griffith in the Wichita motel, it shows Del Griffith sit back down on the bed with the lamp behind him turned on, then it goes to a shot of Neil, but when it goes back to Del Griffith the lamp is turned off

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Quotes

Del: How do you turn this thing off?
[lightbulb breaks]
Del: Ouch!

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Crazy Credits

As the title Planes, Trains & Automobiles scroll across the screen, we hear the sound of them at the same time.

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Connections

Referenced in Workaholics: The Business Trip (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Everytime You Go Away"
(1980)
Written by Daryl Hall
Performed by Blue Room
Produced by Steve Levine

User Reviews

Heartwarming Little Holiday-Themed Film.

Very good comedy that has businessman Steve Martin trying to get home for the Thanksgiving holidays but having absolutely no luck. What is worse is that he cannot shake traveling salesman John Candy. The duo go through so many crazy situations trying to get Martin home and the question is will they survive the experience? The film is not all fun though as John Candy has a secret that will be discovered by the film's finale. John Hughes is at his best here. Along with "Home Alone" this is his best work. He adds outstanding comedy with just a pinch of real drama to create a really good film that keeps entertaining as the years pass by. 4 stars out of 5.