Questions
Who created the Blues Brothers?
Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi founded the act in 1978 as an outgrowth of their work on Saturday Night Live. It debuted as a musical guest on the April 22, 1978 episode hosted by Steve Martin.
What are the two brothers’ names?
John Belushi played lead singer "Joliet" Jake Blues, and Dan Aykroyd played harmonica-playing Elwood J. Blues. According to the album liner notes, they grew up in a Roman Catholic orphanage in Rock Island, Illinois.
What’s with the black suits, hats, and sunglasses?
Their signature look was matching black suits, black pencil ties, black trilby hats, and sunglasses. Elwood famously carried his harmonica in a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist.
Was the band made up of real musicians?
Yes, the lineup featured seasoned pros including guitarist Steve "The Colonel" Cropper, bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, guitarist Matt "Guitar" Murphy, and keyboardist and arranger Paul Shaffer.
Did they actually top the charts?
Their 1978 debut album Briefcase Full of Blues reached number one on the Billboard 200 and went double platinum. Their cover of "Soul Man" hit number 14.
What is the 1980 movie about?
Jake and Elwood reunite their R&B band on "a mission from God" to raise $5,000 and save the Catholic orphanage where they grew up. It was directed by John Landis and released June 20, 1980.
Is it true the movie set a record for wrecking cars?
Yes. The production bought 60 police cars at $400 each and destroyed most of them, holding the world record at the time for the most cars destroyed in a single film.
Did they really drop a car from a helicopter?
Yes, a Ford Pinto was dropped from roughly 1,200 feet, a stunt that required a Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA.
Which real music legends appear in the film?
Aretha Franklin performs "Think," James Brown plays a preacher, Ray Charles runs a music store, Cab Calloway plays janitor Curtis and sings "Minnie the Moocher," and John Lee Hooker plays Street Slim.
Are there any surprise cameos?
Yes. Carrie Fisher plays Jake’s vengeful ex-fiancee, Steven Spielberg appears as a county clerk, model Twiggy is a woman at a gas station, and Paul Reubens (later Pee-wee Herman) plays a waiter.
How long was Dan Aykroyd’s script?
Reportedly 324 pages, about three times a normal screenplay and written more like free verse. He humorously bound it with a Los Angeles Yellow Pages cover and credited it to "Scriptatron GL-9000."
Did Belushi get hurt during filming?
Reportedly, before shooting the finale Belushi fell off a borrowed skateboard and seriously injured his knee. A surgeon anesthetized the knee so he could still sing, dance, and do cartwheels for the scene.
How did the movie do at the box office?
Made on a budget that ballooned to $27.5 million, it earned $115.2 million worldwide. Gene Siskel gave it a rare four-star review and called it the best movie ever made in Chicago.
Did the Blues Brothers keep going after John Belushi died?
John Belushi died on March 5, 1982, but the act continued, reuniting in 1988 and again for the 1998 sequel Blues Brothers 2000. Jim Belushi performed as "Zee Blues" and John Goodman appeared as "Mighty Mack" McTeer.
Has the film been officially recognized as a classic?
Yes. In 2020 the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
