Blues Brothers
DVD
No Other Musical Comedy Quite Matches the
Blues Brothers Starring Dan Aykroyd and John
Belushi
I love the Blues Brothers .. Such a
tragedy when John Belushi died but his legacy lives on
through this timeless music and comedy scene from "Sweet
Home Chicago". The Blues Brothers is a cult movie, a
musical comedy that blends classic soul music, car chases
and charismatic characters. There are many imitators but
there's nothing to beat the real thing. Fans can collect
Blues Brothers DVD versions and there are plenty to
choose from.
The film was released in 1980 and
directed by John Landis. The two main characters were played
by Dan Aykroyd as Elwood Blues and the late John Belushi as
his brother Jake. The plot begins with the release of Jake
from prison and his attempts to reform his old band to raise
money to save the Catholic home for orphans, where he and
Elwood were raised.
Who are The Blues Brothers?
The brother's characters were expanded
from Saturday Night Live sketches. A Blues Brothers DVD
gives an opportunity to relive the comic moments and music
from the supporting cast, including James Brown, Cab
Calloway, Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin.
The band, fronted by Aykroyd on mouth
organ and vocals and Belushi as lead vocalist, brought out
an album titled Briefcase Full of Blues after their
appearance on Saturday Night Live and before the movie
release.
The original band line up featured
some well known musicians, such as Steve Cropper on guitar,
a former member of Booker T and the MGs. The drummer was
Willie Hall, who had played drums for Isaac Hayes band, the
Bar-Kays.
The Blues Brothers DVD - 25th Ann
Ed
In 2005, the 25th Anniversary Edition
DVD was released. The two discs show the original release
and the extended one that included previously cut scenes.
The director had been ordered to cut his film and he was
pleased to have it restored.
Dan Aykroyd introduces the film and
there is a documentary about the making of the movie. There
is also concert footage of the band from the House of Blues
in San Diego. Other extras include footage from
impersonators singing songs from the movie. Another earlier
Blues Brothers DVD was released in 1998, called the
Collector's Edition. This too showed the director's
cut.
The Best of the Blues Brothers DVD has
footage of the band performing live and appearances on
Saturday Night Live by Belushi and Aykroyd. There is also a
documentary made in 1992 and an interview with Aykroyd as
himself and in character as Elwood.
The Blues Brothers DVD 2000 shows the
film in wide screen format and has bonus material on the
making of the movie. It also contains a theatrical trailer,
promotional posters, photographs from the set and cast and
filmmakers notes. Now, sit back, pop in your video, listen
to the blues music and have a ton of laughs!
|
