The Blues Brother

10/06/2025

The Blues Brothers in concert at the Hollywood Palladium, the climactic scene in “The Blues Brothers” film. (Courtesy of the John Landis collection)
Review by Ty Burr
Does “The Blues Brothers” deserve a book? In the pantheon of gloriously dumb movie comedies derived from “Saturday Night Live” and the National Lampoon, the 1980 John Belushi-Dan Aykroyd R&B farce sits a notch below “Animal House,” “Caddyshack” and “Ghostbusters.” Maybe two notches. An absurdist demolition derby of a film, it’s most memorable for spotlighting soul-music legends like Aretha Franklin and James Brown and providing a loving portrait of Chicago at its smoggiest and seediest. Help support new page (Follow Like and Share) 🙏

The Blues Brothers in concert at the Hollywood Palladium, the climactic scene in “The Blues Brothers” film. (Courtesy of the John Landis collection)
Review by Ty Burr
Does “The Blues Brothers” deserve a book? In the pantheon of gloriously dumb movie comedies derived from “Saturday Night Live” and the National Lampoon, the 1980 John Belushi-Dan Aykroyd R&B farce sits a notch below “Animal House,” “Caddyshack” and “Ghostbusters.” Maybe two notches. An absurdist demolition derby of a film, it’s most memorable for spotlighting soul-music legends like Aretha Franklin and James Brown and providing a loving portrait of Chicago at its smoggiest and seediest.

09/30/2025

Sorry to all you Rocky Horror Picture Fans, but as it is held in the Fox/Disney catalogue, we are unable to screen it with our drive-in equipment. But shed no tears, as 'we are on a mission from god' to bring you a pair of classic car centered films to drive off into the sunset with, and give a proper send off to our summer drive-in. 'Back to the Future' - Sat. Sept 4th & 'The Blues Brothers'

09/19/2025

Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan conducted an extensive series of interviews with the living cast, writers and crew of the first-ever episode of Saturday Night Live, which aired on October 11, 1975 on NBC and has been going ever since. The result of their efforts is Sony Pictures’ upcoming Saturday Night, a movie retelling the story of that night.

Related: Every ‘SNL’ Cast Member Over the Years Since 1975

The pic formerly known as SNL 1975, which Reitman and Kenan co-wrote and which Reitman is directing, tells the chaotic behind-the-scenes story of what happened that first night, just before the live cameras clicked on to launch a late-night institution and a slew of eventual stars among the young, mostly unknown troupe of comedians including John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase and Gilda Radner, all under the watchful eye of creator Lorne Michaels.

09/19/2025

1974 dodge monaco...
it's got a cop motor, a four hundred and forty cubic inch plant. it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. it's a model made before catalytic converters, so it'll run good on regular gas. what do you say? is it the new bluesmobile or what?

09/19/2025

This November MAD House will be reviving Blues Brothers.
If you fancy singing Soul, Rhythm and Blues and Blues with Professional Band in a relaxed and fun setting. Or be involved in the tech aspect of theatre please drop me a DM.... 'auditions' happening the next 2 weeks...

09/19/2025

One of the standout moments in The Blues Brothers (1980) is the unforgettable scene featuring the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin. In the film, she plays the sassy and no-nonsense owner of a small soul food diner—and she steals the show.

When Jake and Elwood Blues (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) come in to convince guitarist Matt “Guitar” Murphy to rejoin their band, Aretha's character isn't having it. She demands respect—literally—by bursting into a fiery performance of her hit song “Think.” It’s bold, it’s full of attitude, and it’s impossible not to tap your foot along.

Wearing a waitress uniform and dancing through the kitchen with her backup singers, Aretha delivers a powerhouse vocal that not only fits the story perfectly but also brings the film to life in a whole new way. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi mostly stand back and let her shine—and she does, in every sense.

09/19/2025

In 1980, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd brought their iconic alter-egos, Jake and Elwood Blues, to the big screen in The Blues Brothers. Dressed in their signature black suits, fedoras, and sunglasses, the duo combined comedy, music, and pure chaos into one unforgettable film.

Belushi’s larger-than-life presence as Jake and Aykroyd’s cool, deadpan delivery as Elwood made them the perfect pair. Together, they turned what started as a Saturday Night Live sketch into a cultural phenomenon that still holds up decades later.

09/19/2025

Celebrating 45 Years of The Blues Brothers: A Rhythm, Soul, and Chaos Classic
Forty-five years ago today, The Blues Brothers roared into theaters in a whirlwind of sunglasses, soul music, and high-speed car chases. Released on June 16, 1980, the film—directed by John Landis and based on characters created by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi during their time on Saturday Night Live—became an instant cult classic.
What began as a comedy sketch about two deadpan musicians on a “mission from God” evolved into a full-blown cinematic spectacle. With its over-the-top action, legendary cameos from Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles, and Cab Calloway, and one of the most chaotic car chase sequences ever put to film, The Blues Brothers fused music and comedy in a way no film had before.
Beyond the jokes and the music, the movie’s real magic was in the chemistry between Aykroyd and Belushi, whose offbeat charm and musical commitment made Jake and Elwood iconic. Even decades later, their black suits, fedoras, and shades remain a recognizable staple of pop culture.
As we celebrate its 45th anniversary, The Blues Brothers stands as a reminder that sometimes the most ridiculous missions—backed by a killer soundtrack—can leave the longest legacy.

09/18/2025

"The Blues Brother 1980 "
John Belushi plays the character of Jake Blues, a charismatic and rebellious figure who leads the charge to save the orphanage. His performance is both funny and heartfelt, capturing the carefree spirit of the character while also showcasing his deep love for blues music. Belushi’s portrayal of Jake Blues became iconic for its mix of humor, physical comedy, and genuine musical talent.
Dan Aykroyd plays Elwood Blues, Jake’s quiet and deadpan brother. While Jake is the more extroverted and reckless of the two, Elwood provides a calm balance. Aykroyd’s performance is marked by his understated humor and smooth harmonica playing. Elwood’s character, like Jake, is deeply rooted in blues culture, and his loyalty to his brother and their "mission from God" drives the plot forward.

09/18/2025

It’s hard to think of it now, but when Aretha Franklin was cast in John Landis’ The Blues Brothers, her career was in a full-on funk. It had been seven years since her last top ten hit. Only two singles since then had even cracked the top 40. She was on such a downturn that the studio didn’t want her in the film. They would have preferred any number of popular disco figures at the time. Which of course, in a movie called The Blues Brothers, sounds patently ridiculous.
Landis had to fight for her. Thank goodness he won that battle.
The Blues Brothers is a big, messy, rollicking musical. Portions of it are flat and others are uproarious. None more so epitomizes the latter than Aretha’s diner scene.
Jake and Elwood show up at the Queen of Soul’s greasy spoon to recruit her husband, Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy back into the band. Mrs. Murphy is so not having it. Sassy and brassy, she tells Mr. Murphy he needs to keep himself at home. Then she breaks into her classic 1967 hit ‘Think’, and the whole enterprise positively leaves the ground. Stalking the diner, wagging her finger, tilting her head, and belting her song, the moment is so electric the movie doesn’t entirely recover from it. Sure, there are other good numbers and funny bits that follow, but nothing touches Aretha’s moment. Everything that follows is a modest let down.
It’s remarkable to consider the fact that Aretha was not cast in another movie until she reprised her role 18 years later in the better left forgotten Blues Brothers 2000. The camera loves her and she all but leaps off the screen. It’s not just the musical portion either. While Aretha may not have had much in the way of formal training as an actor, she sure as hell knew how to perform. She is both funny and formidable. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to picture a killer sitcom based around her Mrs. Murphy character. And had she wanted to dig deeper, it’s no reach to imagine her as the matriarch of a southern family in a film written by Horton Foote.
What a missed opportunity.
Aretha Franklin died today at the age of 76 due to complications attached to pancreatic cancer. Everyone knows what a great singer she is, and while her contributions to film are sparse, this one moment, this grand 5 minutes and 33 seconds of screen-time is choice. Beyond that, really. It’s up there with Gene Kelly stomping through a monsoon, Elvis Presley rockin’ the jailhouse, and John Cameron Mitchell explaining The Origin of Love.

09/18/2025

Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi "Im Auftrag des Herren" sind Elwood (Dan Aykroyd,l) und Joliet Jake (John Belushi)

09/18/2025

Dan Aykroyd plays Elwood Blues, Jake’s quiet and deadpan brother. While Jake is the more extroverted and reckless of the two, Elwood provides a calm balance. Aykroyd’s performance is marked by his understated humor and smooth harmonica playing. Elwood’s character, like Jake, is deeply rooted in blues culture, and his loyalty to his brother and their "mission from God" drives the plot forward.