One-Shot Wednesday
On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Directed, written, and produced by John Hughes, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a road movie with one goal: to get its two characters home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. Steve Martin and John Candy play the incompatible pair. Martin’s Neal Page is an uptight Chicago ad executive, and Candy’s Del Griffith is a garrulous shower curtain ring salesman.
The long shot above of a guy smirking behind a NYC taxi cab takes place near the beginning of Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
While frantically searching for a cab, Neal encounters “Taxi Racer,” played by Kevin Bacon. The two men sprint through a crowded Manhattan street, seeing who can reach an available cab first. Neal nearly wins, but he trips over Del’s trunk and lands face-first onto the street. “Taxi Racer” claims the cab; before getting in, he offers a sarcastic salute to the fallen Neal.
Here, Hughes films from a low angle because it is a point-of-view shot from Neal’s (lowly) perspective. What’s more, this shot—along with the whole scene—foreshadows the frustrating and often submissive position in which Neal will consistently find himself as he crosses paths with Del on their journey home to Chicago for Thanksgiving.
If you’re wondering why Kevin Bacon plays such a small role in Planes, Trains and Automobiles (indeed, he’s only onscreen for 1 minute), he explains here.
Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday!
Think you’re a Chicago screen buff?
On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title!
You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling.