annieb123's Review of The Blues Brothers

by Daniel de Vise

The Blues Brothers hit theatres on June 20, 1980. Their scripted mission was to save a local Chicago orphanage; but Aykroyd, who conceived and wrote much of the film, had a greater mission: to honour the then-seemingly forgotten tradition of rhythm and blues, some of whose greatest artists - Aretha Franklin, James Brown, John Lee Hooker, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles - made the film as unforgettable as its wild car chases. Much delayed and vastly over budget, beset by mercurial and oft drugged-out stars, The Blues Brothers opened to outraged reviews. However, in the 44 years since it has been acknowledged a classic: inducted into the National Film Registry for its cultural significance, even declared a 'Catholic classic' by the Church itself, and re-aired thousands of times on television to huge worldwide audiences. It is, undeniably, one of the most significant films of the 20th century.

The saga behind The Blues Brothers, as Daniel de Visé reveals, is epic, encompassing the colourful childhoods of Belushi and Aykroyd; the comedic revolution sparked by Harvard's Lampoon and Chicago's Second City; the birth and anecdote-rich, drug-filled early years of Saturday Night Live, where the Blues Brothers were born as an act amidst turmoil and rivalry; and, of course, the indelible behind-the-scenes narrative of how the film was made, scene by memorable scene. Based on original research and dozens of interviews probing the memories of principals from director John Landis and producer Bob Weiss to Aykroyd himself, The Blues Brothers illuminates an American masterpiece while vividly portraying the creative geniuses behind modern comedy.

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Blues Brothers is a well balanced bio-retrospective and history of the iconic film and associated culture by Daniel de Visé. Due out 19th March 2024 from Grove Atlantic, it's 400 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

The book is absolutely packed full of reminiscence, history, and background; from the original Not Ready for Primetime troupe (Ackroyd, Belushi, Radner, Murray and the others) to the culture of improv comedy, the whole zeitgeist of the early 80s, and the chaos and drug use, and the filming of the Blues Brothers.

It's not just about the film, and for all folks who have come to adore it in the nearly 45 years since it hit the theaters, there are also lots of takeaways for fans of 80s culture, rhythm & blues, and the actors and musicians and their wider circle of influence.

Four and a half stars. Definitely one for public library acquisition, nonfiction readers, culture and film fans, and potentially as support curriculum for culture/film classes. It's very well annotated and the bibliography will provide many hours of further reading. It's a melancholy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Reading updates

17 March, 2024: Started reading

17 March, 2024: Finished reading

17 March, 2024: Reviewed