Like just about all of John Hughes' movies, Planes Trains And Automobiles features a number of cut scenes that continually pop up on television airings of the film. Is it that Hughes films are always just shy of the runtime needed to fill a two hour time slot? Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller, Planes, Trains And Automobiles... all seem to lengthen by a few minutes when they hit broadcast TV.

In the case of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, there are three differences in versions shown on TV. Note that none of these appear on the DVD, released in late 2000 by Paramount Home Entertainment. Like most extra footage included in TV airings, most likely these are reinserted to pad out the runtime and earn more ad revenue, not for any sort of artistic purpose.

• There is an extended scene on the flight where Del and Neal try to eat to great comic effect.
• The scene with Del and the "rent-a-car" lady was shot in two versions. The theatrical version, complete with all the obscenities, and a "clean" version for network TV.
• A scene of Del brushing his teeth appeared in some trailers and TV spots, but not in the film itself

»» Back To The Cut List