Recently, a special edition DVD of 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' was released under the name "Those Aren't Pillows!" Edition. The artwork gives a wrong impression, because this isn't a Christmas movie. Neal Page (Steve Martin) is going home for Thanksgiving. It seems this special edition has to appeal to Christmas buyers. However, it's only a lenticular slipcover and the DVD case itself has different artwork which is the image on the right. (Sorry for the low resolution.)
It is known that a lot of footage was shot for this movie. According to the late director John Hughes you could assemble a 3 hour version, which would take massive editing. This special edition DVD features only one deleted scene which can be seen in television versions of the movie. This is a dinner scene which takes place on the plane. Sadly, it isn't incorporated into the movie. I'd rather had two cuts of the movie, one without this scene and one with. But the best would be to have a third cut, which includes (all) other filmed material.
Further extras are: "Getting There is Half the Fun: The Story of Planes, Trains and Automobiles", "John Hughes for Adults" and "A Tribute to John Candy". I have been told that the tribute to John is way too short. One of the extras contains the press conference which was given for 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles'. You can see a part of the press conference here.
Besides a bunch of footage, stills of the movie and behind the scenes photos, another thing that should've been added as an extra is missing. It's a news episode of WKBW-TV (Buffalo, NY) in which John is interviewed by Mike Randall while having his hair permed for the role of Del Griffith. This news episode originally aired on February 27, 1987. Watch it here.
I have been told that the picture quality is an improvement over the first DVD. So overall, I think we must be happy a special edition got released. Hopefully, a definitive edition will see the light of day within a few years. On Blu-ray maybe?
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I didn't know previously there could have been a 3 hour cut for this film. I bought the SE with the lenticular (Christmas like) slipcover and I am happy with the video transfer, much better than the older edition. That being said we may never see the 3 hour cut since John Hughes passed away (RIP, you will be missed), unless some other Director takes over and re-edits the whole entire film. No matter what this is an improved edition and I will hope and pray for a Planes, Trains and Automobiles Extended Cut one day perhaps. btw, Nice article, it's appreciated.
ReplyDeleteHi there. Good to hear the video quality is such an improvement! Well, I do hope the rest of the footage will turn up on DVD in the near future. Maybe for a 25th anniversary edition in 2012? Thanks for the compliments on this article. More is coming up soon.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, i might try about ordering that one for christmas. Sounds good, and i had no idea there were additional scenes in that film that were cut.
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