Planes, Trains, and Automobiles - The Extended Journey

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Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1987
Original Running Time:
93
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
141
Time Added:
48
Subtitles Available?
Brief Synopsis:
For decades, there had been discussions and rumours of an extremely long first cut of the John Hughes film, while only 1 deleted scene has been seen in TV cuts of the film. The 2022 4k disc championed that it featured all-new unseen footage, taken from a VHS workprint.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles: The Extended Journey reintegrates as much of this newly released material into the final film, crafting a glimpse into what an earlier cut of the film could of been. Almost 50 minutes longer, the film is almost unrecognisable, with several sequences massively restructured, with new subplots, characters, jokes, motivations, improv, and just more of the late, great John Candy.
Intention:
After reading interviews with editor Paul Hirsch, watching videos and listening to podcasts on the topic, I was estatic when this Blu-Ray was announced with all this new material. In a rare move, I pre-ordered the disc and got to work as soon as it arrived. Seeing all this new material was like watching a new film, and I knew I had to get as much footage to work as possible. I wanted to try and create a cut that felt like something that could of been screened at some point during early editing.
Additional Notes:
This edit is featured in 4:3 standard definition, as the main source is a VHS tape, as done to make the deleted scenes blend more seamlessly into the final film.
Other Sources:
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) VHS - A VHS tape was used as the main source

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (2022) 4k Blu-Ray - All deleted scenes were taken from the "Lost Baggage" bonus disc.

New Songs: The Stars of Heaven - Wheels, I'll Show You Something Special - Balaam And The Angel, Wanted Dead Or Alive - Bon Jovi, Continenal Trailways Blues,Guitar Town,The Devil's Right Hand - Steve Earle

SFX from Youtube, Freesound and Zapsplat - VHS Noise, Cold wind, Airport Tarmac, Shower Run-Off, Truckrunning, Passing Truck, Squeak, 1953 Studebaker Idle, Wash Hands, Water Splash, Diner Ambiance, Water Splash
Release Information:
Digital
Special Features
- What's In Del's Trunk?: Additional Unused Scenes
- Bobson Introduces The Extended Journey (40-min podcast)
Editing Details:
The blu-ray states that it features "over 70 minutes of deleted and extended scenes", which is true as the total runtime is 75 minutes. There is a lot of crossover with footage from the final film, as the total amount of new footage adds up to about 50 minutes.
Adding back that amount of SD 4:3 VHS footage to clean HD 16:9 Blu-Ray, there was no way that I was going to be able to make that look seamless or watchable. So I decided to make a VHS copy of the film the main source.
A lot of the added Workprint footage is of very poor quality, even by VHS standard, so it's not the cleanest, but I've done my best to make it gel with the final film.
Every new scene needed a rebuilt sound mix as they were presented raw with only dialogue being mixed, so ambiance, foley, music and more needed to be worked on.
Cuts and Additions:
- extended scene of Neal meeting Del at the airport terminal, waiting for the plane
- extended scene of Neal boarding the plane, and trying to get into first class
- extended scene of the duo chatting on the plane, with Del doing most of the chatting and showing off his shower ring merchandise
- added scene with the duo getting an airline meal and discussing it
- extended scene in Dooby's Taxiola in Wichita, with Dooby now extremely unsettling yet hilarious
- massively extended sequence in the Braidwood Inn, with the pair ordering pizza, butting heads in the bathroom, and exploding beer
- extended motel argument, with Del being more irritating, and Neal throwing out even more insults, before they both relax for the night
- extended burglery as it's now revealed who robbed the pair in the middle of the night
- added scene of Del waiting at breakfast while Neal is on the phone to his wife, and realising the motel dry-cleaning shrunk his suit
- extended scene of the duo at breakfast, talking about the previous nights events, and getting out of the bill for breakfast
- added scene with Neal's wife talking to her mother about Neal, and her thinking he is having an affair
- extended scene with Neal letting Del into the El Rancho Motel room
- extended El Rancho motel room sequence, with the pair getting along more, and bonding over alcohol from the minibar
- extended scene in The Oshkonoggin Cheese Truck
Braidwood Inn (Shower)

User reviews

3 reviews
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0(3)
Audio Editing
 
10.0(3)
Visual Editing
 
10.0(3)
Narrative
 
10.0(3)
Enjoyment
 
10.0(3)
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
Fantastically integrated deleted scenes! Must watch!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
S
1 reviews
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 0
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
This is a fun trip through a journey I'm very familiar with. The deleted material adds & extends many character moments, giving the viewer a chance to know these people a bit better, Really nice stuff. Of course, there's also some additional comedy via Martin & Candy. There's nothing that's sorely missing from the final film, but it all makes for a fantastic scenic route that you really should take the time to see.

I've given the A/V quality a 10 even though it's been degenerated to look/sound like a copy of a copy of a VHS. This approach allows the deleted scenes to blend in seamlessly with the official footage.
Since this is the intention, & it's executed wonderfully, the poor A/V gets a 10.
Bobsun's editing is inventive & flawless, creating a seamless bootleg experience.

This is a must-see for fans of the film!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 2 0
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
Funny funny movie with more funny added. Watching this in 4:3 and it looking like it is a very used VHS tape being played on a VCR with extremely dirty heads. I almost wanted to get up adjust the rabbit ears and put more foil on them. Then I snapped back to the present. And the memories returned. I gave this high marks because of what I think Bobson was/is trying to achieve with the look. and to add almost an hour to the film. And on my popcorn scale it gets a 4.5 out of 5 because it reminds me I gotta check between my pillows.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 2 0