The Blues Brothers facts for kids
The Blues Brothers are two fictional characters, Elwood Blues and Joliet "Jake" Blues. They became very famous from the TV show Saturday Night Live.
Dan Aykroyd first played Elwood Blues on his radio show, which was all about Blues music. John Belushi played Jake Blues.
In 1980, Aykroyd and Belushi starred in a movie called The Blues Brothers. They played the same characters from TV. Sadly, John Belushi passed away just two years later. A second movie, Blues Brothers 2000, came out in 1998. It starred John Goodman as a new partner for Dan Aykroyd, but it wasn't as popular as the first movie.
Both movies were made by Universal Studios.
Contents
The Blues Brothers Movie (1980)
This movie, based on the popular characters, was directed by John Landis.
Movie Story
Jake Blues is released from a place where he was held. His brother, Elwood, picks him up in a car that used to be a police vehicle. They visit the orphanage where they grew up. Jake had promised the head of the orphanage, nicknamed "The Penguin", that he would visit.
At the orphanage, they learn it needs money to pay taxes, or it will close. Jake and Elwood decide to earn the money in a proper way by getting their old band back together. From the start, the police are often watching them. Elwood doesn't seem to mind. They even cause a lot of excitement in a shopping mall during a car chase.
They arrive at Elwood's apartment, which is right next to a train track. After sleeping, the apartment is blown up by a mysterious woman. This happens just as the police arrive for a raid.
The brothers need to find their old band members. They find "Bones" Malone and others playing Latin music in a nightclub. They are called "Murph and the Magic Tones." Mr. Fabulous works at a fancy restaurant. The brothers convince him to join by ordering expensive drinks and acting a bit silly.
They find Matt 'Guitar' Murphy and Blue Lou working in a diner. Matt's wife runs the place and doesn't want them to join the band. Aretha Franklin, playing Matt's wife, sings "Think!" to make her point. But the brothers still get them to come along. Their next stop is Ray's Music Exchange, run by Ray Charles. Ray almost shoots a boy trying to steal a guitar, which is surprising since Ray is blind! They promise to pay later for the musical equipment.
The Chase Continues
While looking for other band members, they accidentally disrupt a march by a group called the American Socialist White People Party. The marching members are forced to jump off a bridge into a pond to escape. When the brothers try to call their booking agent, the payphone is set on fire by the mysterious woman. Luckily, they survive and find some change. The group they upset earlier finds Elwood's address, which is actually a famous baseball stadium!
The Blues Brothers end up at a Country & Western club called Bob's Country Bunker. They take over the performance from another band. When Elwood asks about the music, the answer is: "Why we have both kinds-Country and Western!" The audience throws bottles, so the brothers play behind a wire screen. They perform "Rawhide" and "Stand By Your Man," and the crowd loves it. They owe the owner money for drinks and quickly leave, with the original band and the police chasing them.
The Big Concert
They persuade their agent, Maury, to book a large concert hall with 5,000 seats. Kids from the neighborhood help sell tickets. Elwood and Jake get stuck at a gas station with no gas, so the concert starts without them. Cab Calloway sings the first song, "Minnie the Moocher." Both the police and the other band find out where the concert is.
When the brothers finally arrive, they stop the other band's car. They perform two songs, Sweet Home, Chicago and Come On. They are offered a record deal and get $10,000 in advance.
They escape through a tunnel, with the mysterious woman shooting at them. She turns out to be Jake's former girlfriend, whom he didn't marry. Jake asks her to spare them and even takes off his sunglasses! They seem to feel close again, but Jake leaves her behind.
In a wild car chase, the other band's vehicle ends up in a lake. Many police cars are damaged, and the group they upset earlier can't stop on an unfinished bridge. The brothers manage to reach the tax office, with police, special units, helicopters, and the army chasing them. They are taken into custody right after paying the taxes. Back in the place where they are held, the band plays their final song, Jailhouse Rock.
Blues Brothers 2000 Movie
Even though it's called "2000," this sequel (a second story that follows the first) was released in 1998.
