Friday, October 14, 2022

Five Fascinating F*ck-Related Facts from the Film Planes Trains, and Automobiles

One of most memorable and quoted moments in PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES is when Neal Page, played by Steve Martin, returns to the Marathon car rental counter at the St. Louis airport and has his fuck-filled tired that ends with "I want a f*cking car, right f*cking now!" and, of course, the classic come-back of the rental agent.

Here are five fascinating f*ck-related facts from the film:

1) The scene is exactly one minute long from the time Neal starts his tirade to the clerk’s final retort. In those sixty seconds, the "F" word is used nineteen times (eighteen by Page).


2) If it weren’t for this single scene, the film would've easily been rated PG or PG-13 by the MPAA.



3) Steve Martin was convinced to join the production after favoring two scenes he had read from the script: the seat adjustment-scene in the rental car, and the F-word tirade at the rental counter desk.


4) John Hughes regularly re-filmed scenes and got actors to ad lib in character differently for each take. Edie McClurg, who played the rental counter clerk, improvised the phone discussion with a family member about Thanksgiving plans.


 

5) McClurg claims that to this day random people who recognize her approach her and ask her to tell them they're fucked. 


 


 

 

These trivia bits and more are available in the 2022 book The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles




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