Talk:The Blues Brothers (film)

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To-do list for The Blues Brothers (film):	edit · history · watch · refresh
Here are some tasks you can do: Cleanup: Critical reaction, Production (needs references) Expand: Cast needs own section, Reception (need a quote or two from other critics during the film's release)

Contents 1 Inside Joke 2 Critical Reaction 3 Full cast 4 A microphone? 5 Casting 6 Images 7 Soundtrack split? 8 Question about collector's edition/director's cut 9 It's a plot

[edit] Inside Joke

There is a bit of an inside joke regarding the Blues Brother's. They are dressed as Hasidic Jews from the diamond district of New York, but they are Catholic orphans from Chicago who sing rythm and blues. The suitcase chained to Jake's wrist would carry diamonds if he were a diamond merchant, but in the movie (and often on stage), it carries Elwood's harmonica.

Usually, one must have lived in or near New York and known the diamond district well to get this joke.Elwood64151 15:06, 22 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Critical Reaction

Needs a whole lot of citations. D43M0N 21:42, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

One wonderful quote to dig up is one from Playboy (1981?) that canned the film, in particular, attacking the long car chase! Will try to find it...

Previous comment by 62.23.212.108. I would say that all this is trivia of the section. The section should change title to include public reception. Hoverfish 17:41, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

Also, re-reading the article, the first sentence is very much what I consider true, but not very encyclopedic. Anyone want to attempt a rewrite? D43M0N 21:44, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

The reception section has been cleaned up and referenced. It's positive reception is reflected by the box-office figures and a 90% Rotten Tomatoes rating. However, it still lacks any of the negative critical reception that it probably received. Roger Ebert is cited because he's the only actual critic from when the film was released who I could find on Rotten Tomatoes. The Playboy review mentioned here would be a good find. Also, there was a lot of negativity about the Blues Brothers in the music critics' community. I can probably track down a choice negative phrase from Peter Guralnick, but other sources would be helpful as well.-Wisekwai 20:40, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Full cast

Should there be a full cast section? Or selected cast? A list in two columns would save some scrolling. The intro is loaded with names that could move here, with their roles. Hoverfish 17:27, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] A microphone?

"Okay, I can see that." Until I checked on the prices for vintage microphones, like the one Elwood is carrying in his briefcase, it always blew me away that he'd trade a Cadillac for a microphone. It'd be nice to know what kind of microphone it was that Elwood was using to blow his harp through.-Wisekwai 21:36, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

It was a '59 Eldo, wasn't it? Harley Earl 19:54, 10 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Casting

More can be said about the cast, which not only includes some soul legends, but also some bonafide R&B pioneers in the band itself. Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn were half of Booker T and MGs and were among the architects of the Stax records sound. Paul Shaffer was supposed to be in the film, but could not get released from his contractual obligations to Saturday Night Live. It says that in Paul's article, but a reference needs to be found.-Wisekwai 16:00, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

It says it on the documentary included on the 25th Anniversary Edition DVD of the movie. SchuminWeb (Talk) 17:46, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

Cool. I don't have that edition. I'll add it in, though, under production. -Wisekwai 18:03, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

Actually, I do have that documentary, on the 1998 Collector's Edition DVD. A lot of information to take in.-Wisekwai 17:00, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Images

Are there any other images that should be added to the article? I can get any screenshot from the film if any of you find it worthy to add to the article. Also, should there be a DVD release section? If so, I can add an image of the 25th anniversary DVD cover. --Nehrams2020 19:08, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

There are probably already too many screenshots on the article. The 25th Anniversary DVD cover is there already. An image of the original movie poster would be a great addition, and would be preferred in the infobox. The DVD cover could be moved lower if the poster is added.-Wisekwai 20:34, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

I think if the images are kept where they are, and the mall chase is replaced with a screenshot from the dance in the soul food restaurant, or even better, from the dance in the evangelical church would give quite a fuller illustration of the text. I know it's easy to stay out and post opinions, but I think this would definitely raise the article's quality. Hoverfish 21:18, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

That would be a good mix. The screenshots now concentrate on the car chases. A different screenshot to show the music and dance side of the film would be a great addition.-Wisekwai 21:36, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

I didn't even realize that the 25th Anniversary DVD cover was on the page. Anyway, I'll probably add the church dance scene with as many of the people in the screenshot as possible.--Nehrams2020 22:02, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

I've added the movie poster image to the infobox. It's a much better illustration of the film, I think. The DVD box has been moved lower. The church dance scene would be a great addition or replacement for one of the car-chase shots.-Wisekwai 17:01, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

I added the screenshot of the dancing scene in the church. If nobody objects, I am going to tag the car chase picture for deletion, since it has no other links to any other articles and really doesn't show too much about the movie.--Nehrams2020 20:10, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

Beautiful. I might try to get a better screenshot from the mall - the same shot, just clearer is all, and reupload. The image now was actually snatched from YouTube of all places.-Wisekwai 20:26, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

And I've reuploaded the mall screenshot. It's slightly better. But the main thing is on the image is that there's a fair-use rationale added for both its uses. And it was refreshing to see FURs already on the other screenshots on the page. Good job.-Wisekwai 06:12, 17 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Soundtrack split?

I probably went overboard on expanding the soundtrack section. Though I like seeing it all here - it really gives a sense of the Blues Brothers' wide-ranging roots - it could easily be split off into its own article, with a smaller section to summarize.-Wisekwai 20:29, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

You can never go overboard on the Blues Brothers. I think it should be left in, the music is a significant part of the movie so should remain on the page. Good job fixing it up beyond what I added. --Nehrams2020 08:06, 17 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Question about collector's edition/director's cut

Is the extended cut of the movie on the 1998 Collector's Edition DVD and what's referred to in some places as "the director's cut" included with the 25th Anniversary Special Edition DVD the same? – WiseKwai | Talk | Contribs 16:44, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] It's a plot

It seems to me the "plot" section is way long. It's a complete recap, not just a summary, like, "Brothers aid nun raising money for bankrupt orphanage by reforming old R&B band." (Yeah, that'd solve the "article too long" tags...) This is so complete, I hardly have to see the film. The way it is here, the "plot" of Moby Dick would describe every incident in the book. Rogér Ebért 20:02, 10 December 2006 (UTC)

Well, a lot of movies on Wikipedia are written just this way. See Spaceballs and National Lampoon's Animal House to see what I mean. SchuminWeb (Talk) 05:08, 11 December 2006 (UTC)