John Belushi and Dan Akroyd are photographed on the set during the making of “The Blues Brothers” in Chicago.

‘The Blues Brothers’ 40th anniversary — read all Sun-Times coverage of ‘the best movie ever made in Chicago’

By Miriam Di Nunzio | June 22, 2020 at 3:29 PM

Saturday marked the 40th anniversary of the release of “The Blues Brothers,” a watershed film for Chicago that spread the city’s soul around the world.

Over the next week, we’ll be republishing stories from our archives about filming, the stars and more fun facts about the “best movie ever made in Chicago.” Check back here for the latest.

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June 20, 2020 09:00 AM

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June 22, 2020 05:30 AM

How ‘The Blues Brothers’ helped fuel a blues boom in Chicago and beyond

By Dave Newbart

The movie soundtrack, which featured Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Cab Calloway, sold more than a million copies.
June 22, 2020 05:30 AM

Maxwell Street shines on the big screen — but it’s now ‘Anytown U.S.A.,’ critics say

By Dave Newbart

The once-vibrant scene, home of Nate’s Deli and impromptu blues jams, has had a makeover since the filming of “The Blues Brothers.’
June 21, 2020 09:00 AM

Teen’s career in film industry launched by ‘Blues Brothers’ connection

By Dave Newbart

“The Blues Brothers changed my course of life,” said Will Gatlin, known as the “Snack Man to the Stars.”
June 21, 2020 09:00 AM

Here’s the Southeast Side church where the Blues Brothers see the light — thanks to James Brown

By Dave Newbart

Sundays at Pilgrim Baptist Church jump and ring with praise and hallelujahs.
June 21, 2020 09:00 AM

Flophouse hotel — blown up in ‘The Blues Brothers’ — was part of the ‘dark side of downtown’

By Dave Newbart

In the movie, Elwood and Jake spent Jake’s first night out of jail at the Plymouth at 22 W. Van Buren. Filmmakers shot inside the hotel, including its long narrow flight of stairs up, its dingy second-floor lobby and even inside Elwood’s cramped room.
June 20, 2020 09:00 AM

‘Blues Brothers’ 40th anniversary: Looking back at the ‘best movie ever made in Chicago’ and its legacy

By Dave Newbart

In 2005, the Sun-Times published a five-part series looking at the worldwide impact of the iconic movie — and what happened to the Chicago people and places featured in the film.
June 20, 2020 09:00 AM

Blues Brothers orphanage, screen home to Cab Calloway and ‘The Penguin,’ was actually an old brewery

By Dave Newbart

Although the brothers’ mission was to save the St. Helen of the Blessed Shroud, it didn’t exist in real life.