Summary

• The Blues Brothers Con in 2002 reunited Aykroyd & Jim Belushi for a concert with original band members.
• The film was a massive success despite running over budget, attracting fans still hooked on the classic.
• Vatican declared The Blues Brothers a 'Catholic classic,' praising its themes of redemption and mission.

In 1980, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi starred in The Blues Brothers, which spawned tons of behind-the-scenes anecdotes, including the famous John Belushi backflip story. 22 years later, in 2002, Aykroyd teamed up with John's brother Jim and returned to the sight of one of their biggest moments. The inaugural Blues Brothers Con in August 2022 saw Belushi and Aykroyd perform a concert with three of the original members of the Blues Brothers band (Tom “Bones” Malone and Steve “The Colonel” Cropper reunited with Aykroyd) and performed at the Old Joliet Prison.

It was proof that even over four decades after The Blues Brothers started as an SNL skit, the classic comedy still has a legion of fans willing to throw on a black tie and sunglasses and enjoy The Blues Brothers. The film was by no means a safe bet for Universal Studios, especially after production ran way over budget, but The Blues Brothers still turned into a massive success. Despite the film being nearly 40 years old, there are still some things fans might not know about the making of the film.

15 The Blues Brothers Touring Band Played Themselves

Real Blues Brothers, Real Instruments

When Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi decided to transition their Blues Brothers act from a comedic sketch to a serious musical endeavor, they didn't just bring their characters to life on the stage; they brought together a supergroup of musicians to back them. The band, featuring legendary figures like guitarist Steve Cropper and saxophonist "Blue Lou" Marini, wasn't just a backing band; they became an integral part of the Blues Brothers' identity.

This group of musicians, who were among the best in their genre, not only toured with Aykroyd and Belushi but also played fictionalized versions of themselves in the film.

This group of musicians, who were among the best in their genre, not only toured with Aykroyd and Belushi but also played fictionalized versions of themselves in the film. With the notable exception of Paul Shaffer, who was unable to participate due to prior commitments, every member of the original touring band made their way onto the silver screen, bringing an unparalleled authenticity to the film's musical performances.

14 Aretha Franklin Struggled To Lip-Synch For Her Blues Brothers Scene

Queen of Soul Couldn't Fake It?

The inclusion of music legends in The Blues Brothers film added a layer of authenticity and excitement, bringing their iconic sounds to a new audience. Among these legends was Aretha Franklin, whose performance of "Think" is one of the film's highlights. However, Franklin faced a challenge unfamiliar to most professional singers: lip-synching to her own recording.

According to John Landis in a tribute written for The Hollywood Reporter, this was a struggle not unique to Franklin; many of the film's professional singers found it difficult to lip-synch because they were accustomed to performing songs differently each time. This led to a more authentic approach for some scenes, like John Lee Hooker's live performance and James Brown's church scene, where live vocals were blended with pre-recorded tracks to maintain the energy and authenticity that live singing brings.

13 Ray Charles’ Blues Brothers Scene Featured Non-Professional Dancers

Street Cast For Ray Charles?

Ray Charles’ unforgettable appearance in The Blues Brothers as a music shop owner is not just memorable for his musical prowess but also for the spontaneous dance it incites. What makes this scene truly special, as John Landis revealed (via Yahoo), is that the dancers were not professionals but rather everyday people found on the streets of Chicago.

This decision was partly due to the fact that the film's stars, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, were not particularly skilled dancers themselves. By surrounding them with non-professional dancers, Landis managed to create a scene that felt more authentic and relatable, perfectly capturing the spirit of joy and community that music can inspire.

12 The Blues Brothers Has The Vatican's Stamp Of Approval

Blues Brothers: Surprisingly Holy?

The Blues Brothers received an unexpected endorsement from the Vatican in 2010.

Despite its R-rated content and behind-the-scenes controversies, The Blues Brothers received an unexpected endorsement from the Vatican in 2010, being declared a "Catholic classic" alongside films like The Ten Commandments and It's a Wonderful Life. This recognition, bestowed by the Vatican's official newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, in celebration of the film's 30th anniversary, underscores the movie's underlying message of redemption and mission.

The film, which tells the story of two brothers on a "mission from God" to save the orphanage in which they were raised, transcends its comedic and musical elements to touch on themes of faith and redemption, earning a place in the hearts of audiences worldwide, regardless of their religious affiliations.

11 Cab Calloway Wanted Minnie The Moocher, But The Disco Version

Calloway's Disco Moocher? Not This Time!

Cab Calloway's performance in The Blues Brothers is a standout moment, perfectly capturing the film's celebration of classic music. Calloway, a jazz icon, delivers a rendition of "Minnie the Moocher" that harks back to its original 1931 release. However, this nearly wasn't the case. John Landis recalls in The Blues Brothers DVD commentary that Calloway had initially wanted to perform a disco-style version of the song, a recent re-recording that veered away from its jazz roots.

Landis's decision to stick with the classic version was not without controversy; Calloway was reportedly unhappy with the decision. Nonetheless, this choice ensured that the film remained a tribute to the timeless quality of the music it celebrated, resonating with audiences who appreciated the nostalgia and authenticity of the original tunes.

10 Chicago Police Officers Loved John Belushi

Cops Dig Jake Blues?

The Chicago Police Department loved John Belushi. By the time The Blues Brothers was released, Belushi was a massively popular comedian due to his time on Saturday Night Live and the success of National Lampoon’s Animal House. In short, Belushi was so famous that he could essentially do whatever he wanted. Producer and writer Mitch Glazer even recalled times when police officers would recognize Belushi on the street and give them a ride home. Aykroyd even went as far as calling Belushi the “unofficial mayor of Chicago” (via Vanity Fair).

9 The Film Once Held A World Record

Blues Brothers: Record Breakers?

There were plenty of explosions, special effects, and car chases in The Blues Brothers. After Jake and Elwood escape from The Palace Hotel Ballroom, they rush to Chicago City Hall to pay the Roman Catholic Orphanage’s tax bill. This led to a police chase, with the two characters in the run. Dozens of police cars chased them through the streets of Chicago, and a total of 103 cars were destroyed during filming. They held the world record (via Jalopnik) for most cars destroyed in a film for two years until The Junkman destroyed 150 cars and a plane (via Guinness World Records).

8 John Belushi Got Paid Twice As Much As Dan Aykroyd

Belushi's Bigger Payday?

John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd were two of the original cast members on Saturday Night Live, but Belushi hit fame before Aykroyd did. Aykroyd would, of course, go on to star in films like Ghostbusters and Coneheads, but Animal House really kickstarted Belushi's career. Because of Belushi’s previous acting experience, his paycheck reflected it. Aykroyd got paid $250,000 for The Blues Brothers while Belushi got double that at $500,000 (via Vanity Fair). Belushi could have continued his acting career and possibly become an even bigger star than Aykroyd if it weren’t for his untimely death in 1982.

7 That Chase Scene Took Place In A Real Shopping Mall

Real Mall, Real Mayhem!

While many films build giant sets to destroy for filming purposes, The Blues Brothers destroyed an actual mall. The iconic scene was filmed in Dixie Square Mall in Harvey, Illinois, which had recently been closed due to crime and gang activity in the area. According to a documentary on the 25th Anniversary Edition of The Blues Brothers, the then-empty mall was filled with actual merchandise from stores, with the promise that any merchandise undamaged would be returned.

The parking lot of the mall was also filled with brand-new cars since that was the only way they would have been able to fill the abandoned lot. After the film crew destroyed the mall, it was never renovated and was eventually torn down in 2012 (via Daily Mail). "I remember old-timers thoroughly amazed at what the city was allowing," said Mark Hogan, an electrician for the production of the film (via Chicago Tribune).

6 Dan Aykroyd Proposed To Carrie Fisher During Filming

Love on the Set: Blues Brothers Style

The Blues Brothers came out three years after the massive success of Star Wars and snagged one of the film’s stars: Carrie Fisher. Fisher played the mystery woman who was Jake's ex-fiancée. In real life, though, she was engaged to Dan Aykroyd. Belushi set them up on set after Aykroyd gave her the Heimlich maneuver when she choked on a Brussels sprout (via People). They fell in love and eventually got engaged.

Aykroyd even revealed they thought about having children together, which didn’t end up happening. The couple decided to break off their engagement after Fisher reconciled her relationship with Paul Simon. "Contemplating marriage, I gave Carrie a sapphire ring," Aykroyd wrote in a tribute to Fisher after her death (via ET Online). He continued:

Subsequently in the romance she gave me a Donald Roller Wilson oil painting of a monkey in a blue dress next to a tiny floating pencil, which I kept for years until it began to frighten my children.

5 Part Of The Film’s Budget Was For Drugs

Blues Brothers Budget: Behind the Scenes

Most people know that John Belushi tragically died in 1982 due to a mixture of heroin and cocaine. Belushi shot into the spotlight after the success of Animal House, which helped fuel his drug addiction. One of the many reasons why The Blues Brothers fell behind in production was because Belushi constantly disappeared or didn’t show up to set.

Aykroyd even admitted to Vanity Fair that part of the film’s budget was for cocaine for night shoots. In a documentary for the 25th Anniversary Edition of The Blues Brothers, John Landis recalled a time when he had an altercation with Belushi after he flushed his cocaine. Luckily, they reconciled rather quickly.

4 Dan Aykroyd Originally Wrote A 324-Page Script

Epic Blues Brothers Script Cut Down to Size

The idea for The Blues Brothers started at Aykroyd’s speakeasy, the 505 Club in Toronto when he met Belushi for the first time. Aykroyd introduced Belushi to the blues and, soon after, they decided to create their own band that was based on two characters with a love of two things: Chicago and the blues.

After appearing on SNL, the idea came for a movie, in which Aykroyd wrote the screenplay called The Return of The Blues Brothers. The script was originally 324 pages, which Landis had to trim down after he got ahold of it. The story goes that when Aykroyd was finished with the screenplay, he called producer Bob Weiss and simply said, “Be on your property tonight." When Weiss got home, he found the thick script wrapped in the cover of a phone book.

3 Belushi Was Seriously Injured For The Big Concert

Belushi's Painful Performance

Before Jake and Elwood get money to pay the tax bill for the Penguin’s orphanage, they have to put on a big show at the Palace Hotel (which was actually filmed inside the Hollywood Palladium). The concert is a highlight of the film, helping its status as one of the best rock and roll musicals. Cab Calloway performed Minnie the Moocher and Jake and Elwood performed electrifying renditions of “Sweet Home Chicago” and “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love.”

That being said, Belushi hurt himself after riding a kid’s skateboard before the big scene (via Vanity Fair). The actor was helped by an orthopedist and then pushed himself through the scene. You wouldn’t be able to tell, but Belushi does appear to be limping in the tunnel after they escape the ballroom.

2 Certain Movie Theaters Wouldn’t Book The Film

Blues Brothers Almost Didn't Make It to Theaters?

While The Blues Brothers is now a cult classic, certain movie theaters refused to play the movie when it was first released. In his interview with Vanity Fair, Landis explained that certain theaters wouldn’t play the movie because they considered it “a Black movie.” Landis recalled a conversation he had with Ted Mann of Mann Theaters, who refused to book the movie in any of his theaters except for one in Compton.

When Landis asked why he wouldn’t book showtimes in Westwood, Mann replied by saying, “Because I don’t want any Blacks in Westwood.” Despite this setback, the film still made a lot of money and is loved today by people of all different skin tones.

1 Belushi Wandered Into A Random Person’s House During Filming

Belushi's Off-Set Mishap: Wrong House Blues

Anybody who lived in Chicago when Belushi was acting knew how loved the actor truly was. Belushi loved Chicago and the city loved him back. According to a story Aykroyd told to Vanity Fair, Belushi once wandered off set and was welcomed into the home of a complete stranger.

Belushi apparently walked into a random neighborhood, knocked on somebody’s door, ate some of their food, and then fell asleep on their couch. Aykroyd eventually found him and woke him up, saying they had to get back to set. Aykroyd elaborated, calling The Blues Brothers actor “America’s Guest.”

Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Yahoo, Vanity Fair, Jalopnik, Guinness World Records, People, ET Online, Daily Mail, Chicago Tribune, Vanity Fair