Produced on a budget of $15 million , the film earned approximately $49.5 million at the box office. Thematic Elements
It has become a seasonal staple for Thanksgiving, much like A Christmas Story is for December. Production and "Lost" Content Planes, Trains & Automobiles
While the plot is driven by slapstick and verbal sparring, its lasting legacy is the "soul" revealed in the final act, specifically John Candy's monologue regarding his character's loneliness. Produced on a budget of $15 million ,
The film explores the frustration of a "control freak" (Neal) when faced with the unpredictability of life, specifically through failing infrastructure (canceled flights, delayed trains, broken cars). The film explores the frustration of a "control
Neal Page, an uptight marketing executive, attempts to travel from New York to Chicago to reach his family for Thanksgiving dinner. After a snowstorm diverts his flight, he is forced into a three-day odyssey alongside Del Griffith, an overly friendly and talkative shower curtain ring salesman.
Steve Martin (Neal Page) and John Candy (Del Griffith)