A conversation with Daniel de Visé on how "The Blues Brothers" was made

American Writers Museum presents a discussion with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author Daniel de Visé about his new book "The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic." This book tells the story of the epic friendship between John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, the golden era of improv, and the making of a comedic film classic that helped shape our popular culture. De Visé is joined in conversation by pop culture writer Keith Phipps.
This conversation originally took place March 19, 2024 and was recorded live at the American Writers Museum. For a full list of upcoming programs and events with the American Writers Museum, click here: americanwriter...
More about "The Blues Brothers:"
"They’re not going to catch us," Dan Aykroyd as Elwood Blues tells his brother Jake, played by John Belushi. "We’re on a mission from God."
So opens the musical action comedy "The Blues Brothers," which hit theatres on June 20, 1980. Their scripted mission was to save a local Chicago orphanage; but Aykroyd, who conceived and wrote the film, had a greater mission: to honor 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.
Late and vastly over budget, beset by mercurial and oft drugged-out stars, "The Blues Brothers" opened to tepid reviews at best. 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 story behind any classic is rich; the saga behind "The Blues Brothers," as Daniel de Visé reveals, is epic, encompassing the colorful 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 SNL creator Lorne Michaels and Aykroyd himself, The Blues Brothers vividly portrays the creative geniuses behind modern comedy.
Order your copy of "The Blues Brothers" here: bookshop.org/a...
DANIEL DE VISÉ is the author of "King of the Blues: The Rise and Reign of B.B. King;" "The Comeback: Greg LeMond, The True King of American Cycling, and a Legendary Tour de France;" "Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show;" and coauthor of "I Forgot to Remember: A Memoir of Amnesia." He shared a 2001 Pulitzer Prize for his journalism and has worked at the Washington Post and Miami Herald, among other newspapers. He lives in Maryland.
KEITH PHIPPS is an experienced writer and editor specializing in pop culture, particularly film and television. Keith’s work experience includes time as an editor at The Dissolve, The A.V. Club and Uproxx. As a freelance writer, he’s contributed to Rolling Stone, Slate, The Daily Beast, GQ, The Verge, and other publications. Keith lives in Chicago with his family and can be found on Twitter at @kphipps3000.