Movie Flashback: The Blues Brothers

Another of my All-Time Favorite Movie Comedies.

I have seen all or parts of this film hundreds of times and it still brings a smile to my face every time I watch it.

The Blues Brothers was released in 1980.

The film starred John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, reprising their roles as Jake and Elwood Blues from their performances on Saturday Night Live.

The film was directed by John Landis who had previously directed Belushi in “Animal House“.

The screenplay was written by Aykroyd, his first ever screenplay.

The film featured appearances and performances by many of the true greats in R&B and Blues music, including Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, and many others.

The movie was filmed in and around the Chicago area in 1979.

At the time, the film held the record for most vehicles destroyed on film.

That record was later broken by it’s sequel, Blues Brothers 2000.

Carrie Fisher had a small role billed as “Mystery Woman” with the film being released the same year as the classic “The Empire Strikes Back“.

Carrie Fisher was the guest host on Saturday Night Live during the Blues Brothers first ever appearance on the show.

Carrie Fisher and Dan Aykroyd were briefly engaged during the shoot for the film.

Paul Reubens has a small role as a waiter. This was prior to his days as “Pee Wee Herman“.

Rocker Joe Walsh appears briefly as the first prisoner to jump up on the table in the climactic “Jailhouse Rock” segment at the end of the film.

Director Steven Spielberg has a cameo as the Clerk at the Cook County Assessor’s office near the end of the film.

John Candy had minor role in the film. He, Belushi, and Dan Aykroyd had worked together on Spielberg’s “1941″ and he and Aykroyd would go on to do “The Great Outdoors” and “Nothing but Trouble” together in later years.

Belushi and Aykroyd would team up later with the comedy “Neighbors“.

Thirteen different “Blues Mobiles” were used in the course of filming.

The “Blues Mobiles” were actually 1974 Dodge Monaco’s purchased from the California Highway Patrol.

Frank Oz appears as a Corrections Officer in the beginning of the film. He is best known as the voice of Miss Piggy and Yoda…among others.

The film was made on a then huge budget of $30 Million dollars. It went on to make over $120 Million worldwide, making it a huge hit.

In the final chase scene, the production crew actually dropped a Ford Pinto Station Wagon from a helicopter nearly a mile in the air. They had to have a special certificate from the FAA to do so.

The segment where the Pinto flies off the unfinished freeway overpass was actually filmed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Mall Chase Scene was filmed in the real Dixie Square Mall in Harvey, Illinois. The mall was abandoned at the time.

The film is one that leaves you reciting memorable quotes for days after each viewing.

“Are you the Police?” “No Maam…we’re musicians…”

“They won’t catch us….we’re on a mission from God”

“I hate Illinois Nazis”

“Your women. I want to buy your women. The little girl, your daughters… sell them to me. Sell me your children!”

“Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration, don’t fail me now”

“Use of unnecessary violence in the apprehension of the Blues Brothers HAS been approved”

“It’s 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark… and we’re wearing sunglasses”

Even over 30 years later, the film is still a comedy classic!