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. 

The Canadian Mounted

If, like me, you pay attention to when books appear in movies, you might be familiar with the mass market paperback that John Candy (Del Griffith) is reading in PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES.

 

Ryan Reynolds (Wade Wilson) holds the same (or at least a strikingly similar) paperback in DEADPOOL 2. It seems to be a cheeky nod to Candy's character in that classic film. Reynolds has publicly acknowledged being a fan of John Candy and his work.

After being fascinated for years about that hilarious paperback I've decided the world actually needs this book.

So in Oct 2022, 35 years after the original release of the John Hughes classic where the book first appeared as a prop, it'll be coming out.

My version of THE CANADIAN MOUNTED is a combo trivia book and appreciation of PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES as well as John Candy and John Hughes.

The eBook is up for pre-order already. The paperback version will be loaded soon.

And I've been having a blast researching this book.

The Prop Book That Keeps on Popping Up!

Yes, the cover of this book looks a lot like the one Del Griffith (John Candy) is reading at the New York airport in the 1987 movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles. That same book also appears in 2018's Deadpool 2. But prior to now, it was only a fictional prop book. This actual incarnation of The Canadian Mounted explores the use of this prop book and many other intriguing, insightful and entertaining behind-the-scenes details as they relate to the classic 1987 John Hughes film.

Created for fans of the movie and of John Hughes, this book explores and shares stories related to the writing and making of the film, curious tales and collected trivia associated with it, including:

• The incident that inspired Hughes to write the original script
• Del-isms
• The film's eclectic sound-track
• Missing Oxford commas
• Deleted scenes
• Ryan Reynolds' adoration of fellow Canadian John Candy
• General trivia
• And more...

If you love and regularly re-watch Planes, Trains and Automobiles, then this is a book you must read.