My grandmother taught us all to sing Minnie the Moocher - it basically became our family song and we would belt it out at every family gathering including her funeral in 2001. I'll never forget my surprise and delight when I went to see this movie in the theater in 1980 and seeing the Cab Calloway big band reveal when that curtain came up. ❤❤❤
When I showed her the film, I had to explain to my girlfriend who Cab Calloway was. How sad it that the young don't automatically know the classics. ;-)
James Brown could not lip-sync to a playback of his own singing so they had to capture his performance live on set which is why that scene has a vey authentic and raw sound to it.
_"Who was Twiggy?"_ She was the definitive "It girl" in the '60s, coming from the Mod London/Carnaby Street scene. One of the most famous faces on the planet at the time. She tried her hand at a movie career in the '70s with Ken Russell's _The Boyfriend_ but it never quite took off. But she remained a celebrity name on TV/the occasional cameo in movies & among the Studio 54 stars.
I absolutely love this movie. I was 12 years old when it came out and I went to see it because of John Belushi from Saturday Night Live at the time. 2 1/2 hours later I learned about a whole genre of music I didn’t even know existed. This movie is awesome in every way.
Before I get to the fun facts I would like to ask did you watch the 148 minute or 132 minute cut? When the film was made John Landis wanted it be like a big roadshow like experience at 3 hours long and for the longest time the version thought to only exist was the truncated cut, but a theater owner had held onto a slightly longer version never threw out the material and gave it to Universal and they were able to restore it making the longer version. Now onto the fun facts: The warden who lists off the items is Frank Oz director and long time Muppeteer who is best known for operating and performing Yoda and he has cameoed in a couple other John Landis films. The nun is the actress who tried to sell Donkey at the beginning of Shrek. The mall they shot in was already dilapidated and they just fixed up inside so it could be destroyed more. It was because of this film it helped revive the music careers of many of the people featured in it like Ray, James, and Aretha. Many cameos include: Steven Spielberg as Cook County Assessor's clerk who is given the money at the end, Landis as a state trooper in the mall chase, Paul Reubens (before he became Pee-wee Herman) as a waiter in the restaurant Chez Paul, Joe Walsh in a cameo as the first prisoner to jump up on a table in the final scene, and Chaka Khan as the soloist in the Triple Rock choir. That’s just to name a few. This started as a SNL sketch featuring Ackroyd and Belushi. The Vatican has called this a film that Catholics must see. This film held the record for most car crashes for 18 years with 103. Not a single person dies in this film, but it shows how best to deal with the Brown Shirts.
The Penguin was Kathleen Freeman? I am only 86.5 right. She had been in movies in 50s. She was asked to do the role cause they all knew her from their childhood days. I have the 30th anvs. Set. Has great insights. The favorite of mine was James Browns scene of Reverand Cleaophous. They rented church for 4 days. He thought it would take 2 days. Plus a 2 day buffer. Then triple rock scene was 1 Not 2. 1 TAKE. James Brown was so great he even said. I will do it ten more tomes. But my first was. Best. He didnt ssy that but it was nailed on first take.
Apparently, that shopping mall that they trashed was the Dixie Square Mall in suburban Chicago. It had recently shut down after being built only 13 years earlier. The film makers dressed it up to look like it was still in operation, then trashed it for the movie....and left town. It sat in a state of having been trashed for decades until it was finally torn down in 2012.
yep, i played orchestral French Horn for 11 years. love the music The Flight Of The Valkyrie. Ludwig II (Ludwig Otto Friedrich Wilhelm; 25 August 1845 - 13 June 1886)[1] was King of Bavaria from 1864 until his death in 1886. He is sometimes called the Swan King or der Märchenkönig ('the Fairy Tale King'); outside Germany, however, he is more commonly called "the Mad King" or "Mad King Ludwig".[2] He also held the titles of Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, Duke of Franconia, and Duke in Swabia.[3] Ludwig ascended to the throne in 1864 at the age of 18. Two years later, Bavaria and Austria fought a war against Prussia lasting only a matter of weeks, which they lost. However, in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, Bavaria sided with Prussia in their successful war against France. Despite Ludwig's reluctance to support the Unification of Germany, Bavaria, and 21 other monarchies became part of the new German Empire in 1871 (Deutsches Reich), with Wilhelm I, the King of Prussia and Ludwig's cousin, as the German Emperor (Deutscher Kaiser). Bavaria retained a large degree of autonomy within the Empire under the new Imperial Constitution. Ludwig increasingly withdrew from day-to-day affairs of state in favour of extravagant artistic and architectural projects. He commissioned the construction of lavish palaces: Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof Palace, and Herrenchiemsee. He was also a devoted patron of the composer Richard Wagner. Ludwig spent all his own private royal revenues (although not state funds as is commonly thought) on these projects, borrowed extensively, and defied all attempts by his ministers to restrain him. This extravagance was used against him to declare him insane, an accusation that has since come under scrutiny.[4] Ludwig was taken into custody and effectively deposed on 12 June 1886, and he and his doctor were found dead on the following day. His death was ruled to be a suicide, but this too has been disputed.[5] Today, his architectural and artistic legacy includes many of Bavaria's most important tourist attractions.
When I was in the Army back in the late 80's, I was actually seated near James Brown in a red eye flight to Augusta, GA. He was in an aisle seat at the rear of business class, and I was sitting caddy-cornered from him in the aisle seat in the front of the coach section. The plane was almost empty. I had no idea who he was, but I'll never forget how he was dressed. He wore a purple cowboy hat, yellow industrial safety glasses and cowboy boots. He wasn't tall, he was short and very stout, almost fat. I thought he was a pimp. At the small Augusta airport, he was met by two black men in business suits and they took his briefcase and escorted him out to the curb where a beat up black van from the 70's was bracketed between two nice cars. He climbed into the van and all three vehicles left. I asked the security guard who that was and he said, that's James Brown, he lives here in Augusta. About 3 months later, he was arrested after a high speed police chase. I could have got his autograph!!
Hi Alexa. I once met the director of this film, John Landis. Also directed films that may interest you for your channel, "Trading Places" "An American Werewolf In London." He also directed the most successful music video in history, "Michael Jackson's Thriller." Mr. Landis is a very funny, cool guy. I told him; "You should do stand-up comedy." "Oh no...I couldn't do that" he said, or words to same effect. Really nice guy.
I love the “who ya gonna call Jack?” from Danny, as he was probably already working on the idea of Ghostbusters at the time. A little bit of fun my best friend and I do is when ever we drive across a bridge on of us will turn and say “.. I’ve always loved you!” 🤣
This is an essential comedy classic! So many great stars in it too incl. John Candy, a brief appearance by Stephen Spielberg and Charles Napier(who played the front man of the real Good 'Ol Boys). Even rocker Joe Walsh shows up at the end scene in the prison. I definitely recommend Body Bags! It's a made for TV horror anthology directed by John Carpenter. Very much a comedy laced film. No spoilers but Mark Hamill plays a really crazy guy in it.
In addition to being a huge fan of this movie since I saw it in the theater at age 14 (my Catholic high school had “We’re on a mission from God” as our homecoming theme that fall), I have so many connections to this film! I grew up in Joliet, my college drama professor was the shorter of the two guards escorting Jake across the Collins Street prison, and the father of one of my college roommates was a Mt. Prospect cop whose car was one of those used as the Bluesmobile.
Being a Star Trek fan you had to notice Charles Napier, the front man for The Good Ole Boys, Tucker McElroy. He not only played a space-hippie (Adam) in the Star Trek episode "The Way to Eden," he co-wrote two of the songs he sings in that episode, including "Headin' Out to Eden" and "Looking for a New Land." Yes, he was a singer too. Another singer that appeared in the film was Chaka Khan (Choir member). Three famous Directors appeared in the film - Frank Oz, Steven Spielberg, and John Landis (as Trooper La Fong - "they broke my watch!"). Well, Dan Ayroyd Directed a film too, but only one. I won't say which one because I don't think you've reacted to it yet. By-the-way, the Unrated version of "The Blues Brothers" is even better I think. Two of the songs are longer too!
There was a videogame based on the sequel film, Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), for the N64. Oh, and that mall they have a chase thru had been abandoned the year before they began shooting. The store fronts were all built by franchise holders (such as Toys 'R Us and Pier 1). The stores were all stocked with new merchandise. The producers, not wishing to take chances, hired guards as a hedge against stealing, yet items kept getting stolen. They hired a second company to supply guards. They caught the thieves in the act. The thieves were the guards from the original security company. As suppliers had provided all of the goods for free, the production company was on the hook for any damaged or stolen items. By-the-way, ALL of the parked cars in the mall parking lot during that part of the chase were brand new provided by local dealers. John Landis has mentioned that if they were damaged in any way the production would have to buy them, which made him a nervous wreck while that sequence was being filmed.
You worked in a prison, grew up with Catholic school, know your music, and didn't know what to expect from this movie? . . . I was smiling watching you watch this. Nice to see people these days with appreciation for the real arts. And yes, we do need more action-comedy-musical-satire. It's like old Warner Bros 'toons but feature-length. Dan Aykroyd, also the real heart of the Ghostbusters, in real-life loves both his supernatural studies and his Blues music. These movies come from his heart.
Alexia, did you know that The Blues Brothers band was a thing before the film? It began with them performing on Saturday Night Live in sketches starting in 1976. At first they dressed in Bee Costumes but quickly transitioned to the outfits they became known for. I was in High School at the time and saw that first performance. Aykroyd had always been into Blues. He used to jam at a Blues bar in Canada. Then he got John Belushi into it. Aykroyd opened a Blues venue in New York City where the SNL cast and crew would go after taping the show. They kept instruments and mics plugged in in case anyone wanted to jam. Their first album was recorded live - they were the opening act for Steve Martin. That album went Double Platinum. In 1978 they recorded their next live event at The Winterland Arena in San Francisco as the opening act for The Grateful Dead. Their 3rd album was the Soundtrack to the film released in 1980. Aykroyd co-owns the House of Blues restaurant chain. Here's their Winterland performance. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-e4OMWW25Fzc.html
When I lived in Chicago, I visited the mall that was destroyed by the Blues Brothers. It had been returned to it's normal condition, but it was still fun.
Actually the mall was already closed down. November 1978. It was the worlds first Dead Mall. They reopened it just to film the movie. Universal actually had to get release forms from the companies to use their store names in the movie. The mall Dixie Square Mall was basically left abandoned after filming. It was finally demolished in February 2012. Sitting dormant for thirty years, it became a very dangerous place to explore.
@@audiodude74 that's weird. My ex (a native of Chicagoland) claimed that a mall we went to once was the one the Blues Brothers trashed. I guess she was wrong. God knows she was wrong about a million other things, too ... 😁
@@SYLTales Dixie Square Mall only lasted twelve years. Due to high crime in the area. After the filming, there were plans to demolish and redeveloped the land. However, those plans never happened. I grew up about two miles from the mall. Definitely not an area you want to visit.
The “big venue” where they perform is actually the south shore golf course, a 9 hole on the shore of Lake Michigan. The drive where they sneak around with the glue is between the 8th and 9th hole. There’s a police horse barn by the 9th tee. You can smell the horse manure.
On another note, Chicago, my home for 37 years, was so beautiful! It is still the cleanest major city I have ever been to. Nowadays though, it has become a real mess. It's just so sad. The government in Chicago has completely failed the people of that great city!
Alexa, I have to say that this is probably my favorite of your videos, at least so far. Being from Chicago, this movie is a classic in my neck of the woods. I even know where most of the scenes were filmed, and seeing them again, as they way were in 1980, is a treat. You certainly seem to have a very diverse background. You're quite interesting, and I could probably sit here and watch these videos for hours and hours. Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of time. Duty calls. Take care.
At the time, the shopping mall chase scene was the most expensive scene ever filmed. They found a closed-down mall and refurbished it and stocked the stores, then destroyed it. The band members (Matt 'Guitar' Murphy, Donald 'Duck' Dunn, etc) were all well known and well respected session players of the time. They've played with everybody who was anybody in the music industry.
1.This was Dan Aykroyd's baby that started out as a SNL skit. He eventually got with Landis (thus Chicago) and it was built on that. There were already songs made for the Blues Brothers from SNL 2. When they did "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" the smile on your face was classic. 3. A MUCH better Musical (even better than Grease IMFHO). It's Hair 1979. John Savage, Treat Williams and Beverly D'Angelo. Milos Foreman Directed. (One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest) A much different tone.
"I think it has something to do with music." Oh Alexa, how that made me smile as I thought to myself "You are in for such a treat. Music plus great humor is on the way."
Ironically, Dan Aykroyd's line "Who're you gonna call, Jake?" is what got into Ray Parker Jr.'s title song in Aykroyd's next movie Ghostbusters. Also John Belushi was planned to play Ray but he passed away in a drug overdose in 1982. Slimer was inspired by Belushi when they wrote the script.
It's funny how movies bring back precise time and feeling associated with those times. I saw BB in the theater at age 15 with my older, adult brother and his wife. At the time the Blues Brother were the epitome of cool, and the movie was wonderful. I remember all of us laughing ALOT at this and adopting the catchphrase "we're on a mission from God" for a while. My brother got divorced shortly afterward and passed years later, sadly, but this is a memory that remains strong. I'm glad you liked this one; like so many older films, it's impossible to imagine ANYTHING like this ever being made again. And that does make me sad.
Re: Carrie Fisher. Dan Aykroyd and Carrie had a whirlwind romance as a result of this movie, and they almost got married. She spontaneously ran off and married Paul Simon instead. She was....flighty.
I love how you referenced ghostbusters when Dan said who ya gonna call I also heard Jim was meant to be in ghostbusters and because that didn't happen Slimmer is actually a tribute to him
So so glad you reacted to this and loved it. My dad introduced this movie to me when I was fairly young and I didn't get all the references or know who everyone was, but I still absolutely loved it. Partly for the music (again, my dad brought me up on the blues & 70's rock) and partly for the comedic chaos. Unfortunately I have not found a huge amount of people my age (35) appreciate it 😔
Just imagine watching this brand new at the age of 9 and talking about it with friends after school, all fascinated by the machine, fearing the ugly Morlocks, worried about the next war and with a crush on Weena.Speaking of time travel, I found your channel only now yet you looked familiar then it dawned on me : Mona Lisa! Oops the movie changed, I was writing about the T.M.?
You have been Blessed 🙏 😎 you have experienced the Blues Brothers.. Awesome 😎 movie and fantastic genuine reaction. You will rewatch this movie over and over again 👍
Alexa, Twiggy was English and the most famous teen niche model of the 60s and early 70s. All the girls were trying to lose weight to look like her and we were all using too much mascara to get our eyes to look as huge as hers. (You had to have cute thinnish legs to look really good in a miniskirt) 😏
the waiter at Chez Paul is played by Paul Reubens. an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and children's entertainer. He is known for his character Pee-wee Herman.
6:41 based partly on the Skokie Affair of 1977 The twiggy episode of the Muppet Show is worth watching, especially if you’re a fan of children’s poetry.
Hi Alexa! Great reaction! I don't know how much you know about The Beatles, but there was an amazing mockumentary around the same time The Blues Brothers came out called "The Rutles: All You Need is Cash". The Rutles were a parody version of The Beatles. It has a lot of cameos, too, including John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Mick Jagger and Beatle George Harrison. Catchy songs, too, that are each intended to be in the style of a particular Beatles song without being too close, for copyright reasons. It's a fun watch.
I loved loved loved this reaction, you actually made me love "The Blues Brothers" (I sort of have always taken it for granted). PS: Twiggy is really known for being pretty much the top model during the 60s Swingin' London era, not so much for singing, although she did some of that as well.
I LOVE THIS MOVIE! All the great blues artists they recruited. Cab Calloway is one of my favorites. You volunteered at a jail! Wow. You are a tough and wonderful person. "I hate Illinois Nazis!" My favorite lines.
Frank Oz not only voices Yoda (and puppeteered him) but he puppeteered a lot of the Muppets, like Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Sam the Eagle, Animal, Bert, Cookie Monster, Grover and many more.
He was the last living jazz great. He first recorded Minnie the Moocher in 1931 and was a regular performer at the Cotton Club. Check him out in the film with the Nickolous brother, where they do a ton of splits.
Good morning Alexa! This is a fun, entertaining musical comedy. I've seen most of this on several occasions but never all the way through in one sitting. If you haven't seen it yet, would love your reaction to the 1991 John Hughes comedy Curly Sue with Jim Belushi and Kelly Lynch. It's a very overlooked little gem that nobody on RU-vid has reacted to yet.😁
you didn't show it but when they drivve through the toy store, they say look out Muppets, because there were dolls of the Muppet show characters in stores at the time, i had Kermit the Frog and Animal and Scooter, i never saw the Rowlf the Dog doll but i saw him this year in a video by Junkman, who made a video about a horror movie set in a toy store in the 1980s and he showed stills featuring all the toys you could make out on the shelves, the Rowlf the Dog doll was the cutest
Only recently discovered your channel, and playing catch-up! Love that you like Blues Brothers, one of my faves (and that I saw opening weekend on Kings Highway in Brooklyn). This might interest you: the Catholic Church, at least in Brooklyn, *approved* of this movie. The Church reviewers (y'know, in the newsletters we always got) felt that it was a good story about a couple of wayward lads who do the right thing and accept their punishment for their misdemeanors at the end. The film was rated "R", and the church felt you had to abide by those secular rules, but otherwise, this one was approved! So crazy! But wonderful, too! Keep up the good work; greatly enjoying your reviews--may I recommend The Scarlet Empress (1934; starring Marlene Dietrich, directed by Joseph Von Sternberg, incredible sets and costumes)? I think you'll really like this one. I'll say no more.
3:42 "Toys R Us, that brings back memories!". (Huge smirk) I was an employee once. My crew were....naughty boys. Blues Brothers level naughty. Ah, the stories...
I'm gonna pay a visit to Bob's Country Bunker. I'll make sure that I've got "Boogie Chillen" by John Lee Hooker blaring over the car's sound system. "The Blues Brothers" was one insanely funny movie!
And after all that star power and insanity, to just toss Steven Spielberg in there at the end in a throwaway cameo…so awesome. Not to mention Joe Walsh as the anonymous dancing convict in the very last number. 🎸🔥 Genius. What a time to be alive.
the prison officer checking out Jake is played by Frank Oz. who voiced Kermit the Frog. and who directed: Little Shop Of Horrors (1986); The Dark Crystal (1982); and What About Bob (1991). among others... but these are my favorites of his... especially What About Bob (1991).
If you like this kind of absurd comedy that I would also suggest Mel Brooks' entire back catalogue and at least Airplane, Hot Shots and the first Two Naked gun films. As for a computer game based on this, Burnout: Blues Brothers Edition
Years ago I was at a flea market and there was a booth selling religious items. There was a t shirt with the Blues Brothers saying On a Mission from God. I wish I had bought it
@@smokeyverton7981 I'm sure it's on Etsy somewhere! Let me check. Wow there are a lot of options, this one was my favorite: www.etsy.com/listing/1113393527/were-on-a-mission-from-god-shirt-blues
@@alexachipman A few fun facts. At the time, this film set the record for the most cars destroyed in a film (200+). The gas station they blow up (Extended Version) at the end right before they head up to the gig and the little motel where Twiggy winds up waiting for the boys, were literally walking distance from my house. Check out the Beatles films "A Hard Day's Night" and "HELP". Highly recommended. Love your reviews and keep up the great work.
You said that there should be a Blues Brothers video game, well there is, at least one entirely inspired by the car chases, you might have heard of it, GRAND THEFT AUTO!!! The driving through the mall part began the inspiration and the game's all out police madness when you have a max wanted level is entirely based on the huge cop car smash up at the end 😆
The Blues Brothers/Sound of Music connection? I like the way you think you think Alexa! You might want to check out Dragnet with Ackroyd and Tom Hanks...very much in the same vein!
Actually Dan Aykroyd came up with the idea 💡 for Ghostbusters while making the Blues Brothers and he pictured John Belushi as Peter Venkman 😀. Unfortunately he died before it came to fruition.
We need more Action adventure comical Musicals... Well than you have to watch little Shop of Horrors ( and don't forget to check the original Ending ;) )
This movie is everything. It's the cast, the music, the cultural references, the political references, the racial harmony, the coming together. It is a masterpiece.
This was a brilliant and most hilarious movie! Glad you got to see it. My kids love it as well. I have to re-watch this again. I am with you and the Twiggy too. I think she was before my time and I am Gen X.
Thinking of doing Blues Brothers 2000? Movie parts aren't always quite as good as this one but the music's on the same level. And as someone pointed out, the point of the second movie was the same as the first movie, to be an excuse to play music. John Belushi and Cab Calloway had sadly passed away between the two so they wrote their character off, so instead we get Dan Ackroyd, John Goodman, Joe Morton, and J. Evan Bonifant.
