The film The Blues Brothers is a musical comedy directed by John Landis. The film was released in 1980 and stars John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as the “Blues Brothers.” The film begins with Jake Blues (John Belushi) getting released from prison after a three-year sentence. Jake is picked up by his brother Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd). Shortly after the two are reunited they head to The Roman Catholic Orphanage where they grew up. There they talk with Sister Mary Stigmata and Curtis and learn that the orphanage will be shut down if $5,000 in property taxes is not collected. The brothers than head to church to hear the sermon lead by Reverend Cleophus James (James Brown). A large musical number is performed by the Reverend and the people of the church. During this large performance Jake is touched by “the light” and realizes what they have to do to save the orphanage. Jake wants to bring the band back together and make money for the orphanage. During the ride home, Jake and Elwood discuss the band and the “mission from god”. While driving the two are pulled over. Elwood has a suspended license and the brothers get in a high-speed chase through the mall causing a great amount of destruction.
The two brothers then begin their search for the old members of the band. They start at the Holiday Inn and find five of their band members performing, all of them agree to rejoin the band. They find the sixth member of the band working at a fancy restaurant, and after causing a scene in the restaurant they get him to rejoin as well. With two band members left to find, Jake and Elwood have a run in with the “Illinois Nazis.” The interaction ends with Elwood forcing the group into the East Lagoon. The group take the brothers’ license plate. The last two members of the band are found working at a restaurant along with the wife of the restaurant owner (Aretha Franklin). Aretha sings Think to her husband and convinces him and his friend to rejoin the band After the whole band is back together, the brothers Head to Ray’s Music Exchange where they visit Ray (Ray Charles) to buy new instruments and equipment for the band. While showing the brothers an electric piano Ray breaks out into a song. Jake, Elwood, and the rest of the newly reunited band go to Bob’s Country Bunker and get a gig. At first the crowd in the bar are unimpressed by the band and their music, but the brothers switch up their music and are able to win the crowd over. After the band leaves the band that was supposed to perform appears and are outraged at the Blues Brothers.
The brothers book the Palace Hotel Ballroom with their old agent, in hopes to put on a concert to raise the tax money. They spread the word of the concert through posters and a large speaker that they attach to the roof of their car. They drive all through Chicago and try and convince people to attend. During this time all the people the brothers have wronged hear about the concert including the police, the Nazis and the band from Bob’s Country Bunker. The brothers pull off a full house for the concert and perform two songs. They are greeted by a producer who offers them $10,000 for a recording track. The two sneak out through the back with the money to escape the police that had arrived at the concert. After a long car chase through Chicago, Jake and Elwood make it to the City Hall Building followed by state and local police and even the SWAT team. Just in time the two find the office and pay the orphanage tax bill. The two are finally arrested and taken to jail. The film concludes with the Jake and Elwood in jail performing “Jailhouse Rock” to all of the prisoners.
