One of the most common questions I see asked, whenever someone notices/attends to the book Del Griffith (John Candy) is reading when he and Neal Page (Steve Martin) officially meet for the first time at LGA in Planes, Trains and Automobiles is whether it's a real book.
It is a real book.
It was originally published in the 80s by a publisher called BEELINE. They produced hundreds of pornographic novels over the years.
The "final shooting script" from John Hughes called for Del to be reading a "pornographic novel." Also in the script is a bit of dialogue from Del that takes place when they are on the plane that didn't make its way into the final cut where Del explains why he was reading the book.
“I’m just happy to have someone to talk to. I finished my book about an hour ago. Filthy goddarn thing. When you travel as much as I do, you run out of reading material. If it’s been published, I’ve read it. Fiction, non-fiction, the classics—Robbins, Krantz, Iacocca. You name it, I’ve read it. I got so hard-up last week on a layover in Atlanta, I read a biography of Prince. That’s not his real name, by the way, It’s Rogers Nelson.”
It's believed that either Candy, or the prop team, or maybe both, decided it would be funny to use that particular book as a cheeky nod to the actor's Canadian heritage.
Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, who has shared he is a huge fan of John Candy, had a prop version of that book made for Deadpool. Wade Wilson is reading it or carrying it in some scenes, and it's his nod to an icon he adores.
Seeing the book appear as a prop in the Deadpool movies is what made me want to do more research into the book. Which eventually led to learning that it was a real book.
And so, in time for the 35th anniversary of the release of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, I released my own version of the book. My version, instead, was meant for fans, like me, who adore the film and would like to relish in further details about it.
I created the book to be the exact same page count as the original and subtly changed the text on the cover to be in line with what my book was, instead of what the original was.
The BEELINE logo was modified to a Stark Publishing logo modified into the same shape as the "bee."
I altered the text on the back of the book from:
NORTHERN NYMPH
Ann-Mare is sexually very free. Throughout the land of Canada, many men have had her—some are famous, some are shady, but they all admit, she’s one very horny lady!
to this:
NORTHERN TRIBUTE
In the movie, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, John Candy is seen holding a paperback that, in the original script written by John Hughes, reads that Del Griffith is reading a pornographic novel at the airport. That's what inspired this book
My book also has a bar code on it. The original book did not have one, as it was published in a time when that was not a book industry standard practice.
So, ultimately, the answer is: YES, the book was real. And also, it's "back" in a form meant for fans of the movie.
If you are a fan, and end up picking it up.....here's the link....
https://books2read.com/thecanadianmounted
....let me know what you think.
And, if you're tempted, perhaps you can bring it with you on your next flight, and take a fun selfie of yourself reading it while waiting to get on a plane. You might get some funny looks from fellow passengers. But you might also catch the eye of a fellow observant fan of the 1987 classic Thanksgiving film.
