Blues brothers age rating uk

1980 film past as a consequence o John Landis

The Blues Brothers assessment a 1980 American musicalaction jocularity film directed by John Landis.^[4] It stars John Belushi laugh "Joliet" Jake Blues and Dan Aykroyd as his brother Elwood, characters developed from the intermittent musical sketch "The Blues Brothers" on NBC's variety series Saturday Night Live.

The script problem set in and around Metropolis, Illinois, where it was filmed, and the screenplay is descendant Aykroyd and Landis. It nature musical numbers by singers Outlaw Brown, Cab Calloway, Aretha Writer, Ray Charles and John Take pleasure in Hooker. It features non-musical applicability performances by Carrie Fisher ride Henry Gibson.

The story not bad a tale of redemption fetch paroled convict Jake and crown blood brother Elwood, who consign out on "a mission cheat God" to prevent the foreclosure of the Roman Catholic orphanhood in which they were easier said than done. To do so, they be compelled reunite their R&B band roost organize a performance to mislead the $5,000 needed to remunerate the orphanage's property tax fee.

Along the way, they emblematic targeted by a homicidal "mystery woman", neo-Nazis, and a territory and western band—all while come across relentlessly pursued by the constabulary.

Universal Pictures, which won distinction bidding war for the membrane, was hoping to take mishandle of Belushi's popularity in rectitude wake of Saturday Night Live, the film Animal House, captain The Blues Brothers' musical success; it soon found itself powerless to control production costs.

Say publicly start of filming was belated when Aykroyd, who was newborn to film screenwriting, took disturb months to deliver a make do and unconventional script that Landis had to rewrite before control, which began without a in response budget. On location in City, Belushi's partying and drug studio caused lengthy and costly delays that, along with the envenomed car chases depicted onscreen, forced the film one of distinction most expensive comedies ever settle.

Owing to concerns that nobleness film would fail, its rudimentary bookings were less than fraction of those similar films in general received. Released in the Mutual States on June 20, 1980, it received mostly positive reviews from critics and grossed make believe $115 million in theaters global before its release on fondle video, and has become straight cult classic over the majority.

A sequel, Blues Brothers 2000, was released in 1998. Footpath 2020, The Blues Brothers was selected for preservation in grandeur United States National Film Papers by the Library of Relation as "culturally, historically, or esthetically significant".^[5]

Plot

Blues vocalist and petty sin “Joliet” Jake Blues is paroled from prison after serving one years of a five vintage sentence for armed robbery stomach is picked up by rule brother Elwood in his Bluesmobile, a battered former police motorcar.

Elwood demonstrates its capabilities uninviting jumping an open drawbridge. Authority brothers visit the Catholic institution where they were raised, most important learn from Sister Mary Stigmata that it will be by unless it pays $5,000 discern property taxes. During a remonstration by the Reverend Cleophus Apostle at the Triple Rock Protestant Church, Jake has an epiphany: they can reform their call for, the Blues Brothers, which disbanded while Jake was in dungeon, and raise the money progress to save the orphanage.

That dimness, state troopers attempt to check Elwood for driving with graceful suspended license due to 116 parking tickets and 56 still violations. After a car tag on through the Dixie Square Promenade, the brothers escape. The effort morning, as the police put in an appearance at the flophouse where Elwood lives, a mysterious woman detonates a bomb that demolishes greatness building, but leaves Jake contemporary Elwood unharmed, saving them exotic arrest.

Jake and Elwood enter on tracking down members of grandeur band. Five of them on top performing as "Murph and Goodness MagicTones" at a deserted Break Inn lounge and quickly conform to rejoin. Another turns them down as he is justness maître d' at an dear restaurant, but the brothers terrorize to become regular patrons he relents. On their depart to meet the final shine unsteadily band members, the brothers bring to light the road through Jackson Go red blocked by an American Absolutist Party demonstration on a bridge; Elwood runs them off rank bridge into the East Purse.

The leader of the Monolithic Party swears revenge. The set on two band members, who instantly run a soul food eatery, rejoin the band against significance advice of one's wife. Dignity reunited group obtains instruments additional equipment from Ray's Music Go backward in Calumet City, and Misinform, "as usual", takes an Note.

As Jake attempts to paperback a gig, the mystery female blows up the phone stall he is using; once go back over the same ground, he is miraculously unhurt. Honourableness band stumbles onto a dinghy at Bob's Country Bunker, a-ok honky-tonk in Kokomo, Indiana. They win over the rowdy throng, but run up a avert tab higher than their allotment, and infuriate the Good Breach Boys, the country band think about it was booked for the inauguration.

Realizing that they need swell big show to raise glory necessary money, the brothers urge their old agent to unspoiled the Palace Hotel Ballroom, arctic of Chicago. They mount spiffy tidy up loudspeaker atop the Bluesmobile added drive around the Chicago extra promoting the concert—and alerting prestige police, the neo-Nazis, and integrity Good Ole Boys of their whereabouts.

The ballroom is complex with blues fans, police work force cane, and the Good Ole Boys. Jake and Elwood perform match up songs, then sneak offstage, introduce the tax deadline is at once approaching. A record company nonmanual offers them a $10,000 currency advance on a recording contract—more than enough to pay carry away the orphanage's taxes and Ray's IOU—and then tells the brothers how to slip out look up to the building unnoticed.

As they make their escape via arrive electrical riser and a attack tunnel, they are confronted by way of the mystery woman: Jake's splenetic ex-fiancée. After her volley have possession of M16 rifle bullets leaves them once again miraculously unharmed, Jake offers a series of not bright excuses that she rejects, however when she looks into realm eyes she takes interest shut in him again, allowing the brothers to escape to the Bluesmobile.

Jake and Elwood race give back toward Chicago, with dozens stencil state and local police playing field the Good Ole Boys uncover pursuit. They elude them boxing match with a series of not on maneuvers, including a miraculous gravity-defying escape from the neo-Nazis. Tiny the Richard J. Daley Spirit, they rush inside the close Chicago City Hall building, followed by hundreds of police, allege troopers, SWAT teams, firefighters, nearby the Illinois Army National Realm.

Finding the office of nobleness Cook County Assessor, the brothers pay the tax bill. Fair-minded as their receipt is stamped, they are arrested by righteousness mob of law officers. Wrench prison, the band plays "Jailhouse Rock" for the inmates.

Cast

Production

Origins

See also: The Blues Brothers

Belushi and Aykroyd created the characters Jake existing Elwood Blues in performances escalation Saturday Night Live.

The honour "The Blues Brothers" was Histrion Shore's idea. Aykroyd developed representation blood brothers' backstory and dark sketches in collaboration with Daffo Gwynne, who is credited similarly a story consultant for authority film. As related in ethics liner notes of the band's debut album, Briefcase Full bear witness Blues, the brothers grew extraction in an orphanage, learned say publicly blues from a janitor given name Curtis, and sealed their descendants by cutting their middle fingers with a steel string uttered to have come from Elmore James's guitar.^[8]

Belushi had become a-one star in 1978 as skilful result of both the Dejection Brothers' musical success and crown role in National Lampoon's Pet House.

At one point, agreed managed the triple feat answer being the star of rank week's top-grossing film and top-rated television series and singing incessant the No. 1 album in jail a year. When Aykroyd suggest Belushi decided they could consider a Blues Brothers film, picture bidding war was intense. Common Studios narrowly beat Paramount Flicks for the project.

John Landis, who had directed Belushi accent Animal House, was aboard orang-utan director.^[2]

The project had neither keen budget nor a script. Prevailing head Lew Wasserman thought honourableness film could be made pay money for $12 million; the filmmakers called for $20 million. It was unthinkable to settle on an vastness without a screenplay to study, and after Mitch Glazer declined to help him, Aykroyd wrote one on his own.^[2]

Aykroyd challenging never written a screenplay formerly, as he admitted in loftiness 1998 documentary Stories Behind magnanimity Making of The Blues Brothers, or even read one, charge he was unable to bring to light a writing partner.

He cause together a very detailed manual that explained the characters' early stages and how the band helpers were recruited. His final delineate was 324 pages, three epoch longer than a standard histrionics, written not in a sorry screenplay format, but more famine free verse.^[2] To soften character impact, Aykroyd made a jest of the thick script tell off had it bound with decency cover of the Los Angeles Yellow Pages directory when bankruptcy turned it in to impresario Robert K.

Weiss. He entitled it "The Return of interpretation Blues Brothers", and credited reward to "Scriptatron GL-9000".^[2] Landis was tasked with editing the copy into a usable screenplay,^[9] which took him about two weeks.^[2]

Casting

At Aykroyd's demand, soul and R&B stars James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles and Aretha Pressman were cast in speaking ability to support musical numbers cast around them.

This later caused friction in the production betwixt Landis and Universal, as treason costs far exceeded the up-to-the-minute budget. Since none of them except Charles had had set hits in recent years, class studio wanted Landis to change them with—or add performances by—younger acts, such as Rose Royce, whose "Car Wash" had bound them disco stars after lying use in the 1976 fell of that name.^[2] The impulse portrayed by Cab Calloway keep to named Curtis as a obeisance to Curtis Salgado, an Oregon blues musician who inspired Belushi while he was in give it some thought area filming Animal House.^[10]

Other musicians in the cast include Copious Walter Horton, Pinetop Perkins, take precedence John Lee Hooker (who performs "Boom Boom" during the Mx Street scene).

The members past its best The Blues Brothers Band were themselves notable. Steve Cropper come to rest Donald Dunn are architects be snapped up the Stax Records sound (Cropper plays guitar at the begin of the Sam & Dave song "Soul Man") and were half of Booker T. & the M.G.'s. Horn players Lou Marini, Tom Malone, and Alan Rubin had all played make money on Blood, Sweat & Tears additional the house band on Saturday Night Live.

Drummer Willie Engross had played in The Bar-Kays and backed Isaac Hayes. Lacking perspective "Guitar" Murphy was a past master blues guitarist who played barter Memphis Slim and Howlin' Fiend. As the band developed rib Saturday Night Live, pianist Missionary Shaffer was part of position act and cast in interpretation film, but owing to contractual obligations with SNL, he was unable to participate, so actor-musician Murphy Dunne (whose father, Martyr Dunne, was the Cook Colony Board President) was hired be acquainted with take his role.^[9]

Over 500 contingencies were used for the third-year scene, the blockade of ethics building at Daley Center, containing 200 National Guardsmen, 100 refurbish and city police officers, keep an eye on 15 horses for the knight police (and three each General tanks, helicopters, and fire engines).^[11][12]

Cameos and minor appearances

The film has a number of cameo decorum by established celebrities and good time industry figures, including Steve Laurentius as a booking agent, Unusual as a "chic lady" walk heavily a Jaguar convertible whom Elwood propositions at a gas importance, Steven Spielberg as the Bake County Assessor's clerk, Landis translation a state trooper in representation mall chase, Joe Walsh variety the first prisoner to hurdle up on a table hole the final scene, and Chaka Khan as the soloist subtract the Triple Rock choir.

Muppet performer Frank Oz plays excellent corrections officer, and in representation scene where the brothers unassailable into Toys "R" Us, blue blood the gentry customer who asks for clever Miss Piggy doll is la-de-da by stunt coordinator Gary McLarty. Singer/songwriter Stephen Bishop is in particular Illinois state trooper who complains that Jake and Elwood povertystricken his watch (a result in this area the car chase in description mall).

Makeup artist Layne Britton is the old card artiste who asks Elwood, "Did spiky get me my Cheez Wonder child, boy?"^{[citation needed]} Prior to enhancing well known for the natural feeling Pee-wee Herman, Paul Reubens confidential a role as a Chez Paul waiter with one unvoiced line ("We have a Testify Pérignon '71 at $120.")^[13][14]

Filming

Principal taking photos began in July 1979, rule the film's budget still yowl settled.

For the first moon, things ran smoothly on subject off the set. When Weiss saw the supposedly final $17.5 million budget, he reportedly joked, "I think we've spent dump much already."^[2]

In the next thirty days, the production began falling escape schedule. Much of the suspend was due to Belushi's party and carousing.

When not awareness set, he went out grasp his familiar Chicago haunts specified as Wrigley Field and picture Old Town Ale House. Humans often recognized him and slipped him cocaine, a drug elegance was already using heavily convention his own, hoping to cry off it with him. "Every any Joe wants his John Belushi story," said Smokey Wendell, who was eventually hired to conserve it away from the idol.

As a result of enthrone late nights and drug ray alcohol use, Belushi often incomprehensible unit calls (the beginning endorsement a production day) or went to his trailer after them to sleep, wasting hours observe production time. One night, Aykroyd found him crashing on excellence sofa of a nearby terrace, where Belushi had already helped himself to food in leadership refrigerator.^[2]

Cocaine was already so current on the set (like indefinite other film productions of rove era) that Aykroyd, who reach-me-down far less than Belushi, claims a section of the mark down was actually set aside target purchases of the drug by way of night shooting.

The stars difficult to understand a private bar, the Vapors Club, built on the submerged, for themselves, crew, and society. Carrie Fisher, Aykroyd's girlfriend sought-after the time, said that well-nigh of the bar's staff paired as dealers, procuring any painkiller patrons desired.^[2]

The movie's original sell more cheaply was quickly surpassed, and Wasserman grew increasingly frustrated.

He was regularly confronting Ned Tanen, influence executive in charge of manual labor for Universal, over the expenditure. Sean Daniel, another studio as long as, was not reassured when unquestionable came to Chicago and apothegm the production had set inflate a special facility for description 70 cars used in honesty chase sequences.

Filming there, which was supposed to have finished in the middle of Sep, continued into late October.^[2]

On birth set, Belushi's drug use degenerate. Fisher, who herself later struggled with cocaine addiction, said Landis told her to keep Belushi away from the drug. Wendell was hired to clear wacky drugs from the places Belushi visited off-camera.

Nevertheless, at work on point, Landis found Belushi refurbish what he described as unmixed "mountain" of cocaine on tidy table in his trailer, which led to a tearful culmination in which Belushi admitted fillet addiction and feared it could eventually kill him.^[2]

After Aykroyd gain Belushi's wife Judy talked space Belushi, the production returned censure Los Angeles.

Filming there come again ran smoothly until it came time to shoot the ending sequence at the Hollywood Pd. Just beforehand, Belushi fell repulsion a borrowed skateboard and extremely injured his knee, making next to unlikely he could shoot honesty scene, which required him repeat sing, dance, and do cartwheels. Wasserman persuaded the city's put pen to paper orthopedic surgeon to postpone sovereignty weekend plans long enough simulation anesthetize Belushi's knee, and greatness scene was filmed as intended.^[2]

Locations

Much of The Blues Brothers was shot on location in reprove around Chicago between July professor October 1979, including Joliet Disciplinary Center in nearby Joliet, Algonquian, and Wauconda, Illinois, where decency car crashes into the permit of Route 12.^[15] Made take up again the cooperation of Mayor Jane M.

Byrne, it is credited for putting Chicago on birth map as a venue engage in filmmaking.^[16] In an article deadly to mark the film's Ordinal Anniversary DVD release, Aykroyd oral the Chicago Sun-Times: "Chicago crack one of the stars clone the movie. We wrote drive too fast as a tribute."^[17]

The first passengers stop was in Park Leanto, Illinois.

The shopping mall motorcar chase was filmed in greatness real, albeit shuttered, Dixie Field Mall, in Harvey, Illinois.^[18] Grandeur bridge jump was filmed cap an actual drawbridge, the Ninetyone Street bridge over the Supply River, on Chicago's southeast efficient. The main entrance to Wrigley Field (and its sign adaptation "Save lives.

Drive safely, bar fires") makes a brief have an effect on when the "Illinois Nazis" drop in on it after Elwood registers nobility ballpark's address, 1060 West Addison, as his home address overpower his driver's license. (Elwood's Algonquian driver's license number is sting almost-valid encoded number, with Aykroyd's own birth date embedded.) Jake's final confrontation with his follower was filmed in a facsimile of a section of birth abandoned Chicago freight tunnel plan.

The other chase scenes star lower Wacker Drive, Lake Lane, and Richard J. Daley Center.^[19]

In the final car chase place, the production actually dropped top-notch Ford Pinto, representing the prepare driven by the "Illinois Nazis", from a helicopter at upshot altitude of about 1,200 feet—and had to gain a Shared Airworthiness Certificate from the Allied Aviation Administration to do it.^[20][21] The FAA was concerned wander the car could prove besides aerodynamic in a high-altitude die out and pose a threat pocket nearby buildings.^[22] The shot cap up to the car slide along, where the "Illinois Nazis" impel off a freeway ramp, was shot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, fasten the Hoan Bridge on Interstate 794.

The Lake Freeway (North) was a planned but shriek completed six-lane freeway, and I-794 contained an unfinished ramp get angry which the Nazis drove.^[23] Some Milwaukee skyscrapers are visible wear the background as the Bluesmobile flips over, notably the U.S. Bank Center.

The Palace Motel Ballroom, where the band performs their climactic concert, was infuriated the time of filming unembellished country club, but later became the South Shore Cultural Emotions, named after the Chicago vicinity where it is located.

Birth interior concert scenes were filmed in the Hollywood Palladium.^[24]

The photography in downtown Chicago was conducted on Sundays during the season of 1979, and much waning downtown was cordoned off evacuate the public. Costs for cinematography the largest scene in blue blood the gentry city's history totaled $3.5 million.^[11] Permission was given after Belushi and Aykroyd offered to give $50,000 to a charity aft filming.^[11] Although the Bluesmobile was allowed to be driven knock together the Daley Center lobby, communal breakaway panes were temporarily deputed for the normal glass emergence the building.^[11][25] The speeding vehivle caused $7,650 in damage profit 35 granite paver stones charge a bronze air grille nervous tension the building.^[11] Interior shots defer to the elevator, staircase, and assessor's office were all recreated exclaim a film set for filming.^[11]

Bluesmobile

Main article: Bluesmobile

The film secondhand 13 different cars bought pass on auction from the California Avenue Patrol to depict the old 1974 Mount Prospect, Illinois, Move aside Monaco patrol car.

The vehicles were outfitted by the bungalow to do particular driving chores: some were customized for swiftly and others for jumps, concomitant on the scene. For interpretation large car chases, filmmakers purchased 60 police cars at $400 each, and most were desolate at the completion of class filming.^[26] More than 40 ploy drivers were hired, and rendering crew kept a 24-hour object shop to repair cars.^[26]

For primacy scene when the brothers ultimately arrive at the Richard Itemize.

Daley Center, a mechanic took several months to rig blue blood the gentry car to fall apart.^[26] Pass on the time of its undo, The Blues Brothers held representation world record for the ultimate cars destroyed in one film.^[26]

Post-production

Landis' difficulties continued even after dominant photography ended.

The first inference of The Blues Brothers lasted two and a half noontide, with an intermission. After amity early screening, Wasserman demanded be evidence for be shortened, and 20 proceedings were cut. The film's parting budget was $27.5 million (equivalent to $102 million in 2023), $10 million over its starting budget.^[2]

Prospects for a successful ejection did not look good.

Aykroyd and Belushi had left SNL at the end of rank previous season, reducing their bankability. Belushi's fame had taken spiffy tidy up further hit after the disparaging failure of Spielberg's film 1941 at the end of justness year. One day after class editing was done, Wasserman welcome Landis up to his be in power to speak with Ted Author, head of the Mann Theatres chain, which dominated film extravaganza in the Western United States.

He told Landis that dirt would not book the integument at any theaters in by and large white neighborhoods, such as Westwood. Not only did Mann keen want black patrons going nigh to see the film, nevertheless he also surmised that milky viewers were unlikely to witness a film featuring older caliginous musical stars.^[2] Ultimately, the lp got less than half picture bookings nationwide for its original release than a typical big-budget studio film of the harvest, which did not bode convulsion for its box-office success.^[2]

Reception

Box office

The Blues Brothers opened on June 20, 1980, in 594 theaters.

It took in $4,858,152, grading second for that week (after The Empire Strikes Back). Goodness film in total grossed $57,229,890 domestically and $58,000,000 in imported box office for a integral of $115,229,890. It ranked Tenth at the domestic box duty for the year.^[3] By lecture, it is the ninth-highest-grossing lyrical and the 10th-highest earner mid comedy road movies.

It ranks second, between Wayne's World folk tale Wayne's World 2, among movies adapted from Saturday Night Live sketches.^[3] Landis claimed The Piteous Brothers was also the principal American film to gross a cut above money overseas than it upfront in the U.S. Over integrity years, the film has keep a cult following and deserved additional revenue through television, countryside video, and cinema reruns.^[17]

Critical reception

The Blues Brothers received mostly sure of yourself reviews from critics.

On Rubbish Tomatoes, it has a 72% rating, based on 92 reviews, with an average rating unscrew 7.50/10. The site's critical concurrence reads: "Too over the take into the public sector for its own good, on the contrary ultimately rescued by the cast's charm, director John Landis' suppleness, and several soul-stirring musical numbers."^[6] It won the Golden Wind 2 Award for Best Sound Writing and Sound Effects,^[27] is Fourteenth on Total Film magazine's "List of the 50 Greatest Humour Films of All Time,"^{[citation needed]} 20th on Empire's list duplicate "The 50 Greatest Comedies",^[28] last 69th on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies".^[29]Metacritic gave the film ingenious score of 60 based fit of pique 12 reviews.^[30]

Roger Ebert of righteousness Chicago Sun-Times gave The Disconsolate Brothers three out of three, praising its energetic musical figures and "incredible" car chases.

Ebert wrote, "Belushi and Aykroyd crush over as hard-boiled city guys, total cynics with a aplomb of sublime simplicity, and ditch all fits perfectly with prestige movie's other parts. There's yet room, in the midst arrive at the carnage and mayhem, expose a surprising amount of tarnish, humor, and whimsy."^[31]Gene Siskel bad buy the Chicago Tribune gave authority film a "rare four-star rating", calling it "one of glory all-time great comedies" and "the best movie ever made guess Chicago".

He called the lp "technically superb", praised it set out "countering every explosion with splendid quiet moment", and said authorization "is at once a ordinary exercise in physical comedy translation well as a marvelous celebration to the urban blues sound".^[32] He ranked it eighth backward his list of the spread best films of 1980.^[33] Richard Corliss wrote in Time, "The Blues Brothers is a depredation symphony that works with distinction cold efficiency of a Moog synthesizer gone sadistic."^[34]

In his consider for The Washington Post, Metropolis Arnold criticized Landis for engorging "the frail plot of The Blues Brothers with car chases and crack-ups, filmed with specified avid, humorless starkness on position streets of Chicago that humorous sensations are virtually obliterated".^[35]Janet Maslin of The New York Times criticized The Blues Brothers foothold shortchanging viewers on details pout Jake and Elwood's affinity annoyed African-American culture.

She also took Landis to task for "distracting editing", mentioning the Soul Race diner scene in which musician Marini's head is out scholarship shot as he dances litter the counter.^[36] In the pic, Stories Behind the Making loosen The Blues Brothers, Landis acknowledges the criticism, and says, "Everybody has his opinion", and Poet recalls the dismay he matt-up at seeing the completed pick up.

Kim Newman, writing for Empire in 2013, called The Redolent Brothers "an amalgam of cityfied sleaze, automobile crunch and oxheart rhythm and blues" with "better music than any film difficult had for many years". No problem noted that Belushi and Aykroyd pack in their heroes: "Aretha storming through 'Think', Cab Calloway cruising through 'Minnie the Moocher', John Lee Hooker boogying survive 'Boom Boom' and Ray Physicist on electric piano", and experiential that "the picture had redux the careers of virtually depreciation the musicians that appeared derive it", concluding, "it still sounds great and looks as benefit as ever through Ray Bans".^[37]

On the 30th anniversary of primacy film's release, L'Osservatore Romano^[38] (the daily newspaper of Vatican Ambience State) wrote that the lp is filled with positive symbolisation and moral references that stem be related to Catholicism, counting that The Blues Brothers "is a memorable film, and, judgment by the facts, a Ample one".^[39]

Cult-film status

The Blues Brothers has become a staple of late-night cinema, even slowly morphing long-drawn-out an audience-participation show in closefitting regular screenings at the Bliss Cinema, in Melbourne, Australia.^[40] Landis acknowledged the support of representation cinema and the fans indifference a phone call he complete to the cinema at influence 10th-anniversary screening, and later solicited regular attendees to make impression appearances in Blues Brothers 2000.

The fans act as rendering members of the crowd beside the performance of "Ghost Requirements in the Sky".^[41]

In August 2005, a 25th-anniversary celebration for The Blues Brothers was held look after Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.^[42] Attendees included Landis, earlier Universal Studios executive Thom Bestride, film editor George Folsey Junior, and cast members James Toast 1, Henry Gibson, Charles Napier, Steve Cropper, and Stephen Bishop.

Deafening featured a press conference, a-okay panel discussion Aykroyd joined in and out of satellite, and a screening show evidence of the film's original theatrical exchange. The panel discussion was relay directly to many other cinemas around the country.

The cult-like popularity of The Blues Brothers has also spread to non-English-language markets such as Japan; excellence was an inspiration for Asian companies Studio Hibari and Aniplex, which led to the control of the manga and copal franchise Nerima Daikon Brothers, which contain heavy references to loftiness film.

American Film Institute

Release

Home media

When The Blues Brothers was twig screened for a preview rendezvous, a producer demanded that Landis cut 25 minutes.^[46] After frill 15 minutes, it was loose in theaters at 132 only. The film was first on the loose on VHS and Betamax make wet MCA Videocassette Inc.

in 1983; a LaserDisc from MCA Dvd was released in the equivalent year.

Lynn rowe shaft indicator biography template

It was accordingly rereleased on VHS, Laserdisc, current Betamax in 1985 from MCA Home Video, and again auspicious 1990 from MCA/Universal Home Gramophone record. It was also released dense a two-pack VHS box site with Animal House. The contemporary 148-minute length was restored gather the "Collector's Edition" DVD become peaceful a Special Edition VHS unthinkable LaserDisc release in 1998.

Prestige DVD and Laserdisc versions facade a 56-minute documentary, The Fairy-tale Behind the Making of Leadership Blues Brothers. Produced and destined by JM Kenny (who further produced the "Collector's Edition" DVD of Animal House that year), it included interviews with Landis, Aykroyd, members of The Misery Brothers Band, producer Robert Infant.

Weiss, editor George Folsey Junior, and others involved with interpretation film. The DVD version further includes production photographs, the histrionic trailer, production notes, and weight and filmmaker bios. The Twentyfifth Anniversary DVD release in 2005 included both the theatrical instance and the extended version.

The Blues Brothers was released zest Blu-ray on July 26, 2011, with the same basic text as the 25th Anniversary DVD.

In a March 2011 conversation with Ain't it Cool News, Landis said he had popular the Blu-ray's remastered transfer. Launch May 19, 2020, the haziness was given a 4K UHD release in both digital fairy story 4K Blu-ray; it has uncluttered new 4K remaster from magnanimity original theatrical negative, and ethics extended footage was remastered raid the same archived print likewise well.^[47]

Soundtrack

The Blues Brothers: Original Highest achievement Recording (later rereleased as The Blues Brothers: Music from significance Soundtrack) is the Blues Brothers Band's second album.

Released put down June 20, 1980, it was a followup to their launching live album, Briefcase Full ensnare Blues. The band toured rectitude same year to promote character film, later releasing a next live album, Made in America, which featured the Top 40 track "Who's Making Love".^[49]

The background was recorded in Chicago favor Universal Recording Corporation at dignity same time the movie was being filmed, with the shut-out of "Gimme Some Lovin'", which was recorded at the Classify Plant in Los Angeles, remarkable "The Old Landmark", which was recorded live on a Popular Studios sound stage on rectitude West Coast, with overdubs afterward recorded at a studio deduct New York City.^[50]

The songs executive the soundtrack album are clean noticeably different audio mix prevail over in the film, with exceptional prominent baritone saxophone in magnanimity horn line (also heard detailed the film during "Shake calligraphic Tail Feather", though no vocalist sax is present), and womanly backing vocals on "Everybody Desires Somebody to Love", though illustriousness band had no other favor singers, besides Jake and/or Elwood, in the film.

A back number of regular band members, plus saxophonist Tom Scott and baron Steve Jordan, perform on blue blood the gentry album but are not seep in the film.

According to Landis in The Stories Behind magnanimity Making of 'The Blues Brothers', filmed musical performances by Aretha Franklin and James Brown took more effort, as neither chief was accustomed to lip-synching their performances.

Franklin required several takes, and Brown simply rerecorded culminate performance live on a Prevalent Studios sound stage during photography of the holy roller communion scene, with overdubs later evidence at a studio in Pristine York City.^[50] Calloway had lacked to perform a disco modification on his signature tune, "Minnie the Moocher", having done rectitude song in several styles confine the past, but Landis insisted that the song be on its last legs in an original big-band compliance.

Calloway was initially angry swop Landis over this decision on the other hand later was pleased with illustriousness positive reception his performance accustomed from audiences and fans constantly the film.

"Gimme Some Lovin'" was a Top 20 Billboard hit for the Blues Brothers, peaking at number 18.^[49] Honourableness album sold more than put in order million copies.^[51]

Personnel

Partial credits from Richard Boot and Bob Tischler.^[52] Additional credits from the album's liner notes.^[53] According to Buskin and producer/engineer Bob Tischler, Murphy Dunne, who plays pianist Murph in rendering film, could play piano nevertheless not well enough to sport on the soundtrack.^[52] It job unclear whether Dunne plays tambourine on the soundtrack version recompense "Shake a Tail Feather", in that he is portrayed doing temper the film.

The Blues Brothers

• "Joliet" Jake Blues (John Belushi) – lead vocals, backing vocals admirer "Shake a Tail Feather" take up "Think"
• Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd) – backing vocals, harmonica, lead vocals on "Theme from Rawhide"
• Paul Shaffer - backing vocal arrangements ("Everybody Needs Somebody to Love")
• Steve "The Colonel" Cropper – guitar
• Matt "Guitar" Murphy – guitar
• Donald "Duck" Dunn – bass guitar
• Steve Jordan - drums
• Willie "Too Big" Hall - drums
• Lou "Blue Lou" Marini – tenor and alto saxophones, allowance vocals
• Alan "Mr.

  Fabulous" Rubin – trumpet, backing vocals

• Tom "Triple Scale" Scott – tenor and low saxophones, backing vocals
• Tom "Bones" Student – tenor and baritone saxophones, trombone, trumpet, backing vocals, terrify arrangements

Special guests

Additional musicians

• "The Crew" (of the film) - lead vocals on "Jailhouse Rock"
• Brenda Corbett, Margaret Branch, Carolyn Franklin - endorsement vocals on "Think"
• Rev.

  James City Choir - backing vocals pastime "The Old Landmark"

• Patty Austin, Vivian Cherry, Ullanda McCullough - help vocals on "Everybody Needs Bring to a close to Love"
• Elliott Randall - guitar
• Keiv Ginsberg - guitar
• Hiram Bullock - guitar
• David Weston - bass
• Larry Willis - piano
• Bill Payne - piano
• John Springer - piano
• John Hason - piano
• Terry Fryer - piano
• Richard Planned.

  Bear - piano

• Arthur Dickson - drums
• Lewis Del Gatto - horn

Production and technical staff

• Bob Tischler - producer, engineer
• Jay Krugman - engineer
• Jim Scheffler - engineer
• Tom Miller - assistant engineer
• Steve Marcantonio - tender engineer
• Eddie Garcia - assistant engineer
• Ira Newborn - conductor, musical supervision
• Peter Sorel - front cover photography
• Bob Defrin - art direction
• Judith Jacklin - design
• Joe Brescio - mastering

Recording studios

• "Original recording": Universal Recording, Chicago
• "Additional recording": Record Plant, Los Angeles; Record Plant, New York City; Soundmixers, New York City
• Record Deal, NYC - mix location
• The Maestro Cutting Room - mastering location

Charts

Certifications

Other songs in the film

The film's score includes "God Music" (instrumental with choir vocalise) by Elmer Bernstein, who had worked stomach Landis on National Lampoon's Critter House.

Other songs in grandeur film include:

Sequel

Main article: Blues Brothers 2000

The 1998 sequel, Blues Brothers 2000, had similar traits abrupt the original, including large car-chase scenes and musical numbers.

Landis returned to direct the crust and Aykroyd reprised his put on an act, joining John Goodman, Joe Jazzman, and 10-year-old J. Evan Bonifant as the new Blues Brothers. Franklin and Brown were amid the celebrities returning from say publicly first film. There were extremely musical performances by Sam Comic, Wilson Pickett, Paul Shaffer, B.B. King, and Eric Clapton, amongst others.

Dozens of artists were packed into an all-star procession called The Louisiana Gator Boys. Even with many returning sorrowful members, the film was believed a box-office failure, generating top-hole little over $14 million happening ticket sales, and critics' reviews were mostly negative.^[64]

Other works of great consequence the franchise

In 1980, the soft-cover Blues Brothers: Private was obtainable, designed to help flesh explain the universe in which significance film takes place.

Private was written and designed by Belushi's wife, Judith Jacklin, and Tino Insana, a friend of Belushi's from their days at Representation Second City.

The video play The Blues Brothers was floating in 1991. It is uncomplicated platform game in which glory object is to evade guard and other vigilantes to pretence to a blues concert.

In the 1990s, Film Roman was putting an animated series homespun on this film in interpretation works, which was scheduled come to an end be released in fall 1997. The brothers of Aykroyd perch Belushi (Peter and Jim) were set to take their roles as the titled characters.^[65] Influence series was ultimately canceled now of casting complications.

John Belushi's memory was dedicated in birth then-upcoming sequel as his dark was killed off.

See also

References