The panorama
- Audible’s original docuseries explores the lasting impact of
The Blues Brothers
and includes new insights from co-director Dan Aykroyd. - Narrated by Aykroyd, The Arc of Gratitude delves into the film’s journey, the nights with Belushi, and the collaborations with music legends.
- Audible’s editors did a fabulous job of condensing more than 40 years into a two-hour audio documentary where Aykroyd shares moving stories and recordings of John Belushi.
it’s hard to believe The Blues Brothers The first to enter theaters in their signature black suits, fedoras and sunglasses as they drove around Chicago to the sound of the best music more than 40 years ago. Juan Landis-buddy comedy directed by and starring Dan Aykroyd and Juan Belushi As the unforgettable “Joliet” Jake and Elwood Blues on a “Mission from God” has become a timeless classic that critiques societal norms while celebrating the blues, soul, and brotherhood. As the film pays tribute to its decades-long anniversary, Aykroyd returns with a new Audible original docuseries that sheds light on the film’s culturally and aesthetically significant impact on Blues Brothers: The Arc of GratitudeIn an exclusive interview with Collider about the film’s lasting legacy and its poignant influence on pop culture, Aykroyd shares that the Audible Original is unlike anything fans of the classic have ever heard as it delves into retrospective interviews, including previously unreleased clips from Belushi himself.
The two-hour documentary, narrated by living legend Aykroyd, reunites the band (so to speak) and takes listeners on a road trip through the film’s long and beloved journey. The behind-the-scenes look includes early days with Belushi at Dan’s speakeasy in Toronto, time working with blues legends Aretha Franklin, James Brownand Ray Charles in The Blues Brothers film, as well as how they founded the House of Blues, launched a sequel in 2000, and much more. It’s an experience Aykroyd tells Collider highlights his “gratitude throughout” and that of everyone involved with the film.
What does the original Audible title ‘The Blues Brothers: Arc of Gratitude’ mean?
COLLIDER: I’m really, really excited to be able to talk to you today! Thank you so much for your time. I’m a huge fan and have been since I was 4 years old. I always wanted to be Ray Stantzin fact.
DAN AYKROYD: Excellent! Okay, report all ghosts.
I’m a huge fan of the paranormal. But before we get a chance to talk about that, I listened to the entire Audible Original and I have to say, I loved it. I think you’re an amazing storyteller and a beautiful storyteller; I appreciate the story. I thought it was really nice to have these different pearls of such an iconic journey. Since the podcast is titled The Arc of Gratitude, what does gratitude mean to you in the context of The Blues Brothers‘Journey and legacy?
AYKROYD: There are many things to be thankful for. First of all, African-American culture, the revered songwriters and artists that I grew up with and loved as a kid. Starting there. Then, the friendship with John [Belushi]Lorne Michaels, SNLthe recruitment of the band and Judy [Belushi Pisano]John’s wife, who was on the tripod and the whole structure and was our fellow Blues Sister. I’m so grateful for all of that. I don’t think there’s anything I’m not grateful for in the whole process, from the recording and the making of the film to the worldwide reception. I am grateful to be able to go play music again and take on the character of Elwood on August 18th, in the courtyard of the old Joliet prison in Chicago.either. Here I am, over 40 years later, and I can still play. So there is gratitude in the whole project.
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I love how immersive this Audible Original is and how it engages listeners, especially with those recordings of John. There is so much to know and understand about the legacy of the Blues Brothers with those stories. What was the most challenging aspect of condensing this entire 40+ year journey into just a 2-hour audio documentary?
AYKROYD: Well, guess what: the Audible team. First of all, look at the compilations they’ve done! What a spectacular job Amazon Audible has done with the compilations and the execution of the speeches and the music and all that. I actually didn’t have to do any condensation. I gave them a crib to the current manuscript, starting where I grew up in Hull, Quebec, and up to where we still play today. There was a huge part of my life there that they didn’t use, but they took it. Maybe they can use it someday. They went in there and they judiciously cut out the most relevant part, the part that could be included in the allotted time, the part of the Blues Brothers story. So, praise be to the editors at Audible, they did a great job. I didn’t have to do much summarizing. I just gave them a book and said, “Take what you think we can make work.”
‘The Blues Brothers: Arc of Gratitude’ includes previously unreleased recordings by John Belushi
I’m sure you had a journal and notes over the years, as you packed so much of this stuff into two hours. Sure, we’ve heard snippets and interviews back and forth, but having it all condensed, I think, was something that was beautifully done, especially John’s recordings. They gave me goosebumps listening to them. I’m a huge John Belushi fan; I love him. Animal houseBut from what we’ve been told, he was someone with incredible depth. I know you share some funny anecdotes in the Audible Original, but what’s a memorable moment with him that you can tell the audience about?
AYKROYD: Sure! First of all, there was no diary or notes. My diary is where I was on a given day for tax purposes. That’s all. I don’t have a diary. I didn’t actually take any notes. It was mostly from memory. I know that [Paul] Shaffer,[Steve] Cultivatorand [Tom] Malone You probably had to correct me on some things. As far as John is concerned and as an anecdote, you said that you saw Animal houseWell, one time we were in Boston and we were driving around doing a radio promotion. SNLI think we were promoting the album. This was after… Animal houseWe stopped at a traffic light and there was a four-story elementary school. John got out of the car, went to the first floor of the school, knocked on the windows and walked around the entire first floor. Everyone, of course, had seen Animal houseSo the windows opened up. They were calling out to him, yelling at him, screaming: second-floor windows, third-floor windows, fourth-floor windows. So we had the whole wall of windows in this four-story building screaming at him. That kind of fame, it’s almost demigod-like in its own way, and I got to witness a lot of that with him and Hunt [Chase].
Music is an integral part of not only the Blues Brothers’ journey, but also their relationship with John, as heard in the Audible Original. If you could sum up your experience from the humble beginnings of the film to the greatness of this documentary in one song, which song would you choose?
AYKROYD: The Aretha [Franklin] The number is quite strong. I would say the number of the gospel because that is where it all began: African American culture, the gospel church. Our focus has always been cultural preservation. The Library of Congress added the film to its permanent collection two years ago, and last week or last week, the House of Blues Radio Hour became part of the permanent collection archives at the Library of Congress. We’re always concerned with cultural preservation, and we wanted to show where R&B and blues music came from, and that it came out of the church. So I would say that the gospel song “The Old Landmark” sums it up.
Will there be another ‘Blues Brothers’ movie?
You mention in the Original Audible that when the Blues Brothers 2000 A movie was about to be released and you thought about Queen LatifahAnd I caught you saying that you’re still thinking about it. Does that mean there might be a chance of doing another movie in the future? The movie is very popular on streaming.
AYKROYD: Let me tell you that I wrote a script called Soulmatesabout two college kids – I should say they’re now college professors – who were passionate about the blues and wanted to go on a pilgrimage to Mississippi, and they got involved in what’s going on there. And of course I’d love to work with them. Dana [Owens] Any time. It’s great. But as far as Elwood going back on the road, we’ve seen two versions. The first one was excellent, in my opinion, and very well done. Because we had a cinematographer named John Landis directing it, and he really made the movie what it was.. And then the second one, Blues Brothers 2000It has an amazing soundtrack and great acting, and it’s a nice companion to the first one. So for an afternoon or evening treat with the family, get them both and watch them back to back! Everyone will get up and dancing!
What will happen with the sequel to ‘Trading Places’?
Before I let you go, I have to ask you one more question. I’m a huge fan of Trading Places. It was a movie that my parents always played and I always watched it, and I loved it. I know that they’re developing a sequel, at least I know that you’ve talked about it. Is there any progress on that?
AYKROYD: I wrote a treatment that takes place in the Caribbean with Eddie [Murphy] like a billionaire hedge fund banker who comes to help old Louis with a problem. I sent it to the former head of Paramount, and they weren’t ready for it at the time. You know what? I should send it again now that Paramount is under new management. That’s a good idea. It’s a good one, too. It’s an exciting treatment. If we did it, it would be very, very fun.
I would love to. I’m a huge fan of yours and knowing that Eddie has been going back to work on other movies, I think it would be really fun to play together again. But Mr. Aykroyd, I feel very, very, very honored and I’m almost in tears because I love you so much.
AYKROYD: You obviously have exquisite taste in entertainment. Your parents have taught you the best of the best, so thank you.
The Blues Brothers: Gratitude Arch is available to listen to on Audible starting July 25.