The movie The Blues Brothers, which cost around $30 million to make, was released in 1980 and while initially it didn't do well at the Box Office, it has developed a world-wide cult following and is still regularly screened in cinemas around the world. It has developed into a cult classic, so popular that an official tribute show has toured and The Blues Brothers performed the half time entertainment for the 1997 Superbowl. Various other tribute shows are performing around the world.......
Some random facts:
- Continuation error when they go over the draw-bridge. The bridge is almost completely upright just before Elwood drives over it, but it is much lower when they actually become airborne.
- They used five or six Pinto's for the Nazi car that flew off the bridge. There was a lot of trouble getting a permit to do this; they had to prove that they could accurately predict where the car was going to land. They dropped one as test run (it landed in a cornfield). They sawed two in half, to get the camera inside them. They used one for the low-drop (into ditch in the road), and two for the high-drop (off the bridge).
- Elwood never takes off his sunglasses, and Jake never takes off his hat.
- Every time we see the window in Elwood's apartment a train goes past.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Why do you think The Blues Brothers became such a success years after it was released? Is it the music? The all-star cast? Choose a part of the film that substantiates your point.
DUE: WEDNESDAY, 2/11
I think The Blues Brothers became so popular becuase of its originality and uniqueness. It had it's own cool style, somthing people strive for everyday, somthing they can follow. What made me enjoy it alot was the humor that didn't really come and hit me towards the middle of the movie, but most of all the music. The music really made the whole movie and the cameos and the guessing of who you are gonna see next thats in the movie and how you are going to see them. Also the movie had a a great way of progressing itself to the climax of all the people that wanted them dead all coming at them at once, and them keeping there cool. My favorite scenes that stick out are all the musical scenes which in my opnion makes the movie what it is and why it was so popular (Diner, Chapel, The Bar, the music store, the last gig)
ReplyDeletePersonally, I feel that the reason why the movie became so popular was because how genuinely cool each character was. When I say that I don't just mean Jake and Elwood, but the entire cast, including the cameos. Each character had a huge role in the entire movie. But I digress, Jake and Elwood really make the movie within the first 15 minutes of the movie where Jake and Elwood meet once again after Jake spent 3 years in jail. The image of seeing both characters' knuckles with each of their names on them, left me with a feeling of, "Wow, I've seen cool before but this is so far beyond that." The killer shades, hats, and sideburns sure do help too. If you look at every year after that, you'll always find two people dressed up like the two brothers.
ReplyDeleteThey've become less of a fictional characters and more of momumental legends. I say this because when I went to Universal Studios a few weeks ago, I saw "The Blues Brothers" performing on the side of one of the "streets" in the park, and when they were finished they drove away in their old black-and-white police car with a huge speaker on top. My brother and smiled at each other and as we turned away we saw people crying with joy. Crying over impersonators! If you can make a character that would make people CRY at the very sight of something relatively close to the real thing, then I would think you would have a legend right there.
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ReplyDeleteFrom my point of view, I think the Blues Brothers became such a success was the catchy music and storyline. The story is original but it also adds in its own flavor. By flavor Im relating to the cast and each charcter's distinct personality. The Blues Brothers was such a well crafted movie because of the many different scenes people can relate too. For example, the time era included cameos from the Nazis, Stevie Wonder, Twiggy, and many more. Many people can relate to all of these people today. Especially the scene when the Brothers go to the music store (Stevie Wonder works there)and they all come together to sing a mix of R&B and Soul music. This particular scene allows us to relate to the music and famous characters in the movie. Overall, I believe the reason why the Blues Brothers became such a big hit was because of the originality that many people can relate to in their own experiences.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the Blues Brothers was a classic ahead of its time. Yes, it was shot in the late 80's and based on some of the most memorable SNL moments, but its storyline and appreciation of characters were meant for audiences of a later decade. For example, the revival of a lost music, impressing car chases (and wrecks) along with famous characters resulted in a timeless cinema experience, maybe meant to inspire an uninitiated audience. It can alo be argued that the powerful, and deceased actors like Ray Charles, and the legendary Jon Belushi enforced the importance of understanding a past generation of comedy and entertainment, along with the appreciation of lives successfully devoted to the happiness of the audience.
ReplyDeleteThe reason that the Blues Brothers was so successful is a combination of the cast and the casting. Although an all star cast can make a movie incredibly popular it may not always be good. The Blues Brothers took the all star cast and casted them into ideal roles that they were able to play flawlessly. The way the characters were played is what made the movie such a smash hit. Jake and Elwood were both casted perfectly as main characters and everyone else who played less major but still comical and important characters all did a fantastic job and ultimatly "made" the movie as good as it is.
ReplyDeleteFrom my veiw point, I feel that this movie became famous beacuse of the music. This movie without the music, I feel would not have been such a hit. The storyline was not strong enough, and not original enough, I feel. Even the music in the background in some scenes made the scence complete. In particular, the best parts were where the Blues Brotehers were getting attacked and almost killed, they just simply got up and went on with their lives. One, i thought it was funny each time, but two the music gives the veiwer a sense of tone to make the parts more humerous. The famous people within the movie also make the movie more of a hit now, because they are just so much more well known now. Twiggy, i know from modeling and America's Next Top Model on MTV. Ray Charels, i know as a blind man who is an insane pianist. Watching this as a young veiwer, its something thats new to me because I was not living in that time period. So learning and seeing history from years before on the big screen is interesting. the end. !
ReplyDeleteJust like how art may not be recognized until years later, movies can go unnoticed until just one person sees its true beauty and quality. This is proven by The Blues Brothers.
ReplyDeleteDuring its opening, people of the time were used to that type of movie, and not until years later did someone realize how awesome the movie was.
The all-star cast was probably one of the most influential reasons for its success, because they had everyone from the famous blind pianist, Ray Charles, to Twiggy, the supermodel.
The Blues Brothers also has intense action (A few car chases come to mind...) and great music (Rockin’ out as Jake and Elwood escape the police).
There are so many reasons for this movie to become a classic, but it also took many years to be noticed. People just don't seem to see what is going to be great until it already is.