Characters who left a mark on us all
'The Blues Brothers' was released on June 20, 1980. Starring John Belushi as "Joliet" Jake Blues and Dan Aykroyd as his brother Elwood, the movie follows the misfit siblings as they set out on "a mission from God" to save from foreclosure the Catholic orphanage in which they were raised.
The script, written by Aykroyd and Landis, sets out Jake's release from prison and the brothers' zany efforts to reunite their band and raise money to save the orphanage. Social issues surrounding neo-Nazism, the Catholic Church, tax, and education are all interwoven in the film, which is set in Chicago.
In November 1978, the Blues Brothers released their debut album, 'Briefcase Full of Blues.' Recorded live on September 9, 1978 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, 'Briefcase Full of Blues' is among the biggest-selling blues albums of all time. The liner notes, incidentally, fleshed out the fictional back story of Jake and Elwood and how they were both raised in an orphanage.
In 1980, disco was still the public's soundtrack of choice. Blues and soul had taken a backseat. But the appearance in the film of legendary music stars like Aretha Franklin (pictured) exposed R&B to a younger audience.
In the film, legendary jazz singer, dancer, bandleader, and actor Cab Calloway plays Curtis, an old friend of the brothers' who helps them advertise their upcoming show. Calloway subsequently warms up the concert by performing his 1931 hit 'Minnie the Moocher.'
The Blues Brothers in full throttle during the movie's gig at the Palace Hotel Ballroom, north of Chicago.
Portraying Ray, a blind music instruments dealer, is Ray Charles.
James Brown is memorable as Reverend Cleophus James, of the Triple Rock Baptist Church. His musical sermon 'The Old Landmark' is another musical highlight of the film: the reverend's performance inspires Jake’s religious epiphany. The segment also features Chaka Khan as the choir soloist.
Fresh from her role as Princess Leia in the first two 'Star Wars' films, Carrie Fisher plays the Mystery Woman in 'The Blues Brothers.' Jake's former fiancée, she tries to kill him for leaving her at the altar. In real life, Fisher began dating Aykroyd as they were filming, and they were soon engaged. She later revealed that Jake Blues (Belushi) was a better screen kisser than Harrison Ford's Han Solo!
A scene takes place in 'The Blues Brothers' where Jake and Elwood are dining in Chez Paul, a chic French restaurant located in a downtown Chicago mansion that was also featured in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' (1986). Despite its existence, a replica of the plush eatery was constructed on a Hollywood soundstage for both movies. Pictured with Belushi and Aykroyd is director John Landis.
While the Roman Catholic orphanage is fictional, the movie helped raise US$200,000 for Chicago orphanages. The funds were donated by John Belushi himself, with support from the city's mayor, Jane Byrne. Belushi was himself born and raised in Chicago.
English model, actress, and '60s icon Twiggy makes a cameo appearance in the movie as the Chic Lady, a woman who flirts with Elwood at the gas station. Other cameos in the film include those made by Landis himself and fellow directors Frank Oz and Steven Spielberg.
Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi seen out of their familiar dark blue suits promoting the movie in the summer of 1980 in Chicago.
Franklin plays Mrs. Murphy in the movie and performs her 1968 hit 'Think' during a musical sequence set in a soul food restaurant (pictured).
Ray Charles' musical highlight is performing 'Shake a Tail Feather' in his store, Ray's Music Exchange, during which Jake and Elwood stomp and boogie with unbridled enthusiasm.
John Landis had directed 'Animal House' and he was hired to helm a musical comedy film that would feature Jake and Elwood Blues. Belushi and Aykroyd are pictured with Landis and the Blues Brothers band.
Pictured is director John Landis with Ray Charles. The scene in the store ends up being played outside, where people dance in front of a colorful wall mural painted especially for the film in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. The mural survived for 40 years before the building it was painted on was set on fire by vandals, leading to its demolition.
The characters were developed from the recurring sketch 'The Blues Brothers' on the NBC variety series 'Saturday Night Live.' The skit featured comedians Aykroyd and Belushi fronting a blues and soul revivalist band, which had debuted as the musical guest in a 1978 episode of the show.
On the road, the band famously opened for the Grateful Dead on New Year's Eve 1978 at the Winterland Arena in San Francisco (pictured). This was the last concert ever staged at the historic venue before it closed.
The "Godfather of Soul" later acknowledged that he had difficulty getting his music heard until his appearance in the film exposed him to a younger audience.
On March 5, 1982, John Belushi was found dead in his bungalow at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles. The cause of death was combined drug intoxication. The photograph shows his body being taken from the premises in Hollywood to the coroner's office.
Later the same year, Belushi again teamed up with Aykroyd for the offbeat comedy 'Neighbors.' Released two and a half months before his death, the film marks John Belushi's last film performance.
John Belushi's next movie after 'The Blues Brothers' was 'Continental Divide' (1981), starring opposite Blair Brown.
In 1983, Landis was directing 'Twilight Zone: The Movie,' during which a stunt helicopter crashed (pictured), killing veteran actor Vic Morrow and two child actors. Their deaths led to a high-profile legal case, though ultimately no one was found to be criminally liable for the accident.
Sources: (Austin Sound) (Vanity Fair) (The Guardian) (Chicago Sun Times) (Ultimate Classic Rock) (Block Club Chicago) (History)
See also: 'Twilight Zone: The Movie' and other TV and film accidents
In 1983, Landis was directing 'Twilight Zone: The Movie,' during which a stunt helicopter crashed (pictured), killing veteran actor Vic Morrow and two child actors. Their deaths led to a high-profile legal case, though ultimately no one was found to be criminally liable for the accident.
Sources: (Austin Sound) (Vanity Fair) (The Guardian) (Chicago Sun Times) (Ultimate Classic Rock) (Block Club Chicago) (History)
See also: 'Twilight Zone: The Movie' and other TV and film accidents
Fun fact: 'The Blues Brothers' used 13 different versions of the 1974 Dodge Monaco sedan that features prominently in the film.
John Belushi's struggle with heavy substance abuse is well documented. During filming of 'The Blues Brothers,' Belushi's drug habit worsened and nearly derailed the entire project.
The success of the album, the band's slick professionalism on stage, and John Belushi's star turn in the frathouse romp 'Animal House' soon had Hollywood knocking on the door for a Blues Brothers movie.
Director John Landis followed 'The Blues Brothers' with 'An American Werewolf in London' (1981). A critical and commercial success, the horror comedy won the first ever Academy Award for Best Makeup. It has since become a cult classic. Two years later, Landis became embroiled in one of Hollywood's most notorious incidents.
'The Blues Brothers' was made a little over 40 years ago and remains a cinema cult classic. Starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, the madcap movie helped revive the careers of several legendary R&B artists, among them Aretha Franklin and James Brown. It also briefly consolidated Belushi's career as a maverick but troubled comedian. A critical and commercial success, 'The Blues Brothers' featured a cast of celebrated actors and performers, many of whom are no longer around.
Click through for an appreciation of one of the most influential musical comedies ever made, and find out what happened to some of the cast and crew.
How the 'Blues Brothers' revived R&B
The cult musical comedy's legacy
MOVIES Hollywood
'The Blues Brothers' was made a little over 40 years ago and remains a cinema cult classic. Starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, the madcap movie helped revive the careers of several legendary R&B artists, among them Aretha Franklin and James Brown. It also briefly consolidated Belushi's career as a maverick but troubled comedian. A critical and commercial success, 'The Blues Brothers' featured a cast of celebrated actors and performers, many of whom are no longer around.
Click through for an appreciation of one of the most influential musical comedies ever made, and find out what happened to some of the cast and crew.