Jake Blues rejoins his brother Elwood after being released from prison, but the duo has just days to reunite their old R&B band and save the Catholic home where the two were raised, outrunni... Read allJake Blues rejoins his brother Elwood after being released from prison, but the duo has just days to reunite their old R&B band and save the Catholic home where the two were raised, outrunning the police as they tear through Chicago.Jake Blues rejoins his brother Elwood after being released from prison, but the duo has just days to reunite their old R&B band and save the Catholic home where the two were raised, outrunning the police as they tear through Chicago.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 1 nomination total
Gerald Walling
- Prison Guard
- (as Gerald Walling S.J.)
Southern California Community Choir
- Choir
- (as James Cleveland's Southern California Community Choir)
Steven Williams
- Trooper Mount
- (as Steve Williams)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
I thought the film was thrilling after a rather slow beginning and it becomes explosive with funny jokes, crashing cars and of course, music. Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles and Cab Calloway were tremendous and it seems that nothing can go wrong. The great turns of Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi are fine and they reform the band to raise money with a lot more crashing and gradually it goes nowhere. The last twenty minutes are rather sad with again the police and the Army and lots more crashes which are rather silly. It was great early on and had me smile almost all the time.
My high school music teacher screened this for class all those years ago, and it's one I can watch over and over for sure. Sure it has its laugh out loud moments, but it's a film for the ages where absurdity is the new level of normality for the Blues Brothers.
Where to begin? I WISHED the adults in my life took me to see it when it first came out! But alas, it would be years later when I'd first see it, on TV, and on VHS, then many more times on TV. READ the list of cast from start to end! You will be amazed who was in this movie! Including Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia in Star Wars), and even Steven Spielberg acted in this movie too!
Everyone should be required to see this movie, as kids, teens, and adults! Every age group will enjoy this movie. NICE family movie too! The kids and adults will 100% enjoy watching it. It is sooo sad that many of those music legends are forgotten, are not taught about in any school, and remain unknown! I never knew who Ray Charles was until I finally saw this movie! Possibly the first ever movie in which the soundtrack sold as well as the movie. There is even a tribute to Elvis at the very end. The re-watch factor is NICE - one never ever gets tired of re-watching this movie over and over! Which is unheard of with present day movies.
Everyone should be required to see this movie, as kids, teens, and adults! Every age group will enjoy this movie. NICE family movie too! The kids and adults will 100% enjoy watching it. It is sooo sad that many of those music legends are forgotten, are not taught about in any school, and remain unknown! I never knew who Ray Charles was until I finally saw this movie! Possibly the first ever movie in which the soundtrack sold as well as the movie. There is even a tribute to Elvis at the very end. The re-watch factor is NICE - one never ever gets tired of re-watching this movie over and over! Which is unheard of with present day movies.
After John Landis had directed John Belushi in "Animal House", and after John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd had co-starred in "1941", all three collaborated on a movie with which they will forever be associated: "The Blues Brothers". The plot of course has Jake (Belushi) and Elwood Blues (Aykroyd) on "a mission from God" to save the orphanage where they grew up. This necessitates reassembling their blues band and going on tour. By going on tour, I mean making a mess of everything. Whether it's their boorish behavior in a ritzy restaurant, the demolition of a mall, or an infinite number of car crashes, these guys are the bane of orderly society.
Of course, the real star is the music. Making guest appearances are some of the twentieth century's most renowned artists. Ray Charles plays a music store owner, James Brown plays a preacher, Aretha Franklin plays The Soul Food Cafe owner, and there's many more. This movie reminds us why the blues remain an integral part of our national heritage. The big concert is probably the best example (especially with Elwood's crazy dance).
Also appearing are Carrie Fisher as a woman out to kill Jake, John Candy as the police chief chasing them, Henry Gibson as an Illinois Nazi out to get Jake and Elwood after a most unusual encounter, and Steven Spielberg as the Cook County Clerk. All in all, this is one movie that won't disappoint you. Because everybody needs some movie to love (some movie to love/some movie to love). It needs you, you, you...
Of course, the real star is the music. Making guest appearances are some of the twentieth century's most renowned artists. Ray Charles plays a music store owner, James Brown plays a preacher, Aretha Franklin plays The Soul Food Cafe owner, and there's many more. This movie reminds us why the blues remain an integral part of our national heritage. The big concert is probably the best example (especially with Elwood's crazy dance).
Also appearing are Carrie Fisher as a woman out to kill Jake, John Candy as the police chief chasing them, Henry Gibson as an Illinois Nazi out to get Jake and Elwood after a most unusual encounter, and Steven Spielberg as the Cook County Clerk. All in all, this is one movie that won't disappoint you. Because everybody needs some movie to love (some movie to love/some movie to love). It needs you, you, you...
This definitive cult classic combines two of the pioneers of Saturday Night Live in a hilarious comedy, indulging into their characters from the show. John Belushi and Dan Akroyd are Jake and Elwood Blues, two eccentric brothers who are "On A Mission From God". They seem to inevitably find themselves in large amounts of trouble. The most fun is living vicariously through them as they stick it to the police and other authority figures and evade the consequences. Blues fans will rave over the fantastic soundtrack full of classic blues tunes from the biggest stars. This film is one that will have you quoting lines, singing along, and quite possibly dancing like Elwood. By the way, sunglasses can be worn at all times, black never goes out of style, and dry white toast is quite possibly the world's perfect food.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSome performers were not used to lip-syncing to pre-recorded songs, standard procedure for movie musicals. James Brown ended up singing his number live with a recorded backing (the rest of his choir was lip-syncing). John Lee Hooker's performance of "Boom Boom" was recorded live at Chicago's Maxwell Street Market. Aretha Franklin's performance is cut together from many, many takes, using the parts where her lip-syncing was actually in sync.
- Goofs[1:26:41]When the Good Old Boys arrive at Bob's Country Bunker, it is clearly after closing time. No explanation is given as to why they are so late, and they would realize that the bar is now closed and would not expect to play their set.
- Crazy creditsWhen in Hollywood, Visit Universal Studios (Ask for Babs) [see also National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)]
- Alternate versionsThe Collectors' Edition on DVD runs 18 minutes longer than the original release and includes the following expanded or newly added scenes:
- The two Joilet guards come to get Jake in his cell and have trouble waking him up.
- One additional line from Frank Oz as he rattles off Jake's material possessions.
- An additional line for the Penguin regarding missions: "I'll be sent to the missions... Africa, Latin America... Korea."
- Jake and Elwood discuss getting the money for the mission honestly outside of the Triple Rock Baptist Church.
- The "The Old Landmark" number is considerably longer, incorporating more dance sequences and extra verses.
- After the demolition derby in the shopping mall Elwood parks the Bluesmobile in a hiding place beside an electrical power box. (John Landis explains that Aykroyd thought this would show how the car gets its incredible endurance, but also goes on to explain that it never did make any sense, so the scene was cut.)
- A few extra lines of dialog when Elwood and Jake rest in his apartment.
- When the cops come to arrest Jake and Elwood in the motel, they first stop at the registration desk and intimidate the manager. They also greet Sam, who seems to be known by everyone.
- An entire sequence with Elwood boosting chemicals from his day job, then quitting the job to become a priest, is restored.
- After the above sequence, Jake and Elwood study a cigarette box with "the last known address of Bones Malone and Blue Lou Marini".
- After getting the new address of Bones Malone, Elwoods thanks Ms Tarantino before leaving.
- Jake has an extra line of dialog while pep-talking Murph and the Magictones at the Holiday Inn ("Now, who here at this table can honestly say that they played any finer or felt any better than they did when they played with the Blues Brothers?")
- One line of dialog for Henry Gibson is restored for the Illinois Nazis scene at the bridge, with regards to the swastika ("The sacred and ancient symbol of your race since the beginning of time!")
- The "Boom Boom" number is much longer, with extra shots of John Lee Hooker laughing and arguing with his band. Jake and Elwood watch for a moment then enter the Soul Food Cafe.
- "Think" has extra verses and shots of dancing.
- When the band arrives at Bob's Country Bunker, Bob hands the request list to Bones Malone, who looks at it blankly.
- The "Theme from Rawhide" and "Stand By Your Man" numbers are slightly longer.
- The original Picwood preview included another musical number, "Sink the Bismark", but that footage has been lost.
- More lines of dialog for Maury Sline in the steam room scene, mostly regarding to the old gigs having been turned into (gay) discos.
- When Jake fills up the tank for the Bluesmobile, he overfills it and gas spills over. When they peel out from the station, Elwood flicks a cigarette out of the window and causes the station to explode. (Landis now says he doesn't remember why this particular scene was cut.)
- Before the sound-check Curtis (Cab Calloway) explains to the band that they need to do it for the kids, since the Blues Brothers will use the money raised from that concert to pay the taxes for a church. The look on the faces of the band after they hear it is priceless!
- The "Minnie the Moocher" number is considerably extended.
- As Jake and Elwood sneak into the show, Elwood takes the chemicals that he stole from the show and sneaks them into the tires of the cop cars.
- Both the "Everybody Needs Someone to Love" and "Sweet Home Chicago" numbers are extended.
- When Jake and Elwood sneak out, the gas in the cop cars tires reacts and causes the tires to explode on some to delay the police.
- An alternate line of dialog for Carrie Fisher in the sewer when she confronts Jake, about how her father "used up her last favors" with the Mafia for her wedding. In the original release it was changed due to complaints of the Italian-American community.
- The lengthy climactic chase to (and through) Chicago features many extra lines and shots of racing autos.
- The "assault on Daley plaza" and the Assessor's Office scenes also feature extra lines and shots.
- The "Jailhouse Rock" number is slightly longer.
- As the prisoners riot at the end of the film, there is a brief shot of riot-geared police guards racing into the mess hall that has been added. It changes the end of the film subtly.
- The "cast of characters" and end credits are extended to accommodate the new footage.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Stories Behind the Making of 'the Blues Brothers' (1998)
- SoundtracksSomebody Loan Me a Dime
(uncredited)
Written and Performed by Fenton Robinson
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Los hermanos caradura
- Filming locations
- 15101 Dixie Highway, Harvey, Illinois, USA([28:20]Shopping Mall Complex with infamous car chase scene. They broke my watch! Demolished)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $27,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $57,229,890
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,858,152
- Jun 22, 1980
- Gross worldwide
- $115,229,890
- Runtime2 hours 13 minutes
- Color
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