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The Blues Brothers (1980)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
20 June 1980 (USA)
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Tagline:
They'll never get caught. They're on a mission from God. more
Plot:
Jake Blues, just out from prison, puts together his old band to save the Catholic home where he and brother Elwood were raised. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 win
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NewsDesk:
(52 articles)
Dreamgirls National Tour Opens at Apollo Theater Tonight; Runs Through 12/12
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 22 November 2009, 4:45 AM, PST)
Dreamgirls National Tour Kicks Off at Apollo Theater, 11/7 - 12/6
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 4 November 2009, 1:09 PM, PST)
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 22 November 2009, 4:45 AM, PST)
Dreamgirls National Tour Kicks Off at Apollo Theater, 11/7 - 12/6
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 4 November 2009, 1:09 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Nitro and Glycerin
more (264 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | John Belushi | ... | 'Joliet' Jake Blues (as Jake) |
 | Dan Aykroyd | ... | Elwood Blues (as Elwood) |
 | James Brown | ... | Reverend Cleophus James |
| Cab Calloway | ... | Curtis |
 | Ray Charles | ... | Ray |
| Aretha Franklin | ... | Mrs. Murphy |
| Steve Cropper | ... | Steve 'The Colonel' Cropper |
| Donald Dunn | ... | Donald 'Duck' Dunn |
| Murphy Dunne | ... | Murphy 'Murph' Dunne |
| Willie Hall | ... | Willie 'Too Big' Hall |
| Tom Malone | ... | Tom 'Bones' Malone |
| Lou Marini | ... | 'Blue Lou' Marini |
| Matt Murphy | ... | Matt 'Guitar' Murphy |
| Alan Rubin | ... | Alan 'Mr. Fabulous' Rubin |
 | Carrie Fisher | ... | Mystery Woman |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
133 min | USA:148 min (extended version)
Country:
Language:
Colour:
Colour (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo (magnetic prints) |
Mono (optical prints)
Certification:
Finland:K-11 (DVD rating) |
UK:AA (original rating) |
South Korea:12 |
Brazil:12 |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Canada:14A |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-12 |
France:U |
Ireland:15 |
Netherlands:AL |
New Zealand:M |
Norway:11 |
Singapore:PG |
Spain:T |
Sweden:15 |
UK:15 |
USA:R |
West Germany:12 |
Iceland:L
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Graffiti on the bridge the Blues Brothers hide their car under during the show reads, "John *heart* Deborah." This is a reference to director John Landis and his wife, costume designer Deborah Nadoolman.
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Goofs:
Continuity: When James Brown is singing, he clearly has the microphone in his hand as he sings to the right-hand side of the congregation, yet in the next shot, he is seen taking the mike out of the mike stand in the pulpit.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Prison Guard #1: Yeah, the Assistant Warden wants this one out of the block early. Wants to get it over with fast.
Prison Guard #2: Okay, let's do it.
[rattling the bars with his baton]
Prison Guard #1: Hey come on, it's time to wake up.
Prison Guard #2: Wake up. Let's go, it's time.
[striking the sleeping Jake with his baton]
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Prison Guard #1: Yeah, the Assistant Warden wants this one out of the block early. Wants to get it over with fast.
Prison Guard #2: Okay, let's do it.
[rattling the bars with his baton]
Prison Guard #1: Hey come on, it's time to wake up.
Prison Guard #2: Wake up. Let's go, it's time.
[striking the sleeping Jake with his baton]
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006)
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Soundtrack:
EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY TO LOVE
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FAQ
During the chase back to Chicago after the concert why does Elwood say he has to pull over?What is the music playing in this scene?
Was a prequel planned?
more
more (264 total)
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| News articles | IMDb Action section | IMDb USA section |
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A musical comedy action fantasy should not work, especially when one considers that it is the first SNL skit-to-screen adventure (which, history has shown us, is a decidedly mixed bag). But this one does. Two of the best car chases in cinematic history bookend the film, and in between there are show-stopping musical numbers, raw humor, Illinois Nazis, and a seriously disgruntled ex-fiancee. And it all makes perfect sense in the context of the universe created by Aykroyd (who co-wrote), Landis (who directed), and Belushi (his barely contained zeal provides the battery pack for this film).
Jake (Belushi) and Elwood (Aykroyd) are the former front men of a broken down blues band (actually a stunning collection of blues talent) which disbanded after Jake was arrested several years before. Upon his release, he discovers that his boyhood orphanage home is about to be foreclosed upon for non-payment of property taxes. Beaten up by a nun, sung to by James Brown, and touched by God, Jake sees the light and seeks to put the band together for one last show -- a charity benefit to save the orphanage.
Their journey takes them from James Brown to Aretha Franklin to Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker to Cab Calloway. The movie showcases the overwhelming talent of singers, musicians, and genres long out of vogue with popular musical tastes. Indeed, this movie is a vehicle for giving these performers a chance to shine -- to bring their music back to the masses and ultimately into pop-culture immortality (to go along with their more prestigious musical immortality).
This film is guaranteed to make you tap your feet, laugh out loud, gasp as both a mall and and entire fleet of Chicago police cars are destroyed, and believe in the magical powers of an old cop car. Like I said, it's a musical comedy action fantasy.
And it works.