Performing a Public Service: Cab Calloway in The Blues Brothers

01.04.12 | guest-blogs | FanFare GuestsPrint this Post

Guest blogger Greg Ferrara writes:

Whatever one may think of John Landis or Dan Aykroyd as either artists or people, they both deserve kudos for preserving a modern-day performance of  "Minnie the Moocher" by Cab Calloway on film in The Blues Brothers (1980).  Aykroyd wrote him into the script and Landis gave him full attention for a lavishly filmed performance on stage.  Watching the movie the other day and seeing John Belushi and Aykroyd perform with Calloway, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn, John Lee Hooker* and Ray Charles, I wondered to myself, "Did they appreciate the talent amassed for this film that would never be together again?"

Of course they did.  How could they not?  I've never been a cult-follower of The Blues Brothers like many others (though I do like it) but I'm glad it exists.  I'm glad it's out there and so many performers who weren't connected to film got a chance to be preserved on film forever after.  Besides, where else can you find Charles Napier, Carrie Fisher, Twiggy, John Candy, Paul Reubens, Steve Lawrence and Henry Gibson all playing bit player back-up in the same place at the same time?   If there were ever a film whose preservation of talent on celluloid surpasses the importance of the film itself, this might be the one.

*He doesn't actually perform with them but he's there just the same.

Greg Ferrara is an amateur film maker and writer working towards the unachievable goal of self sufficiency.  He blogs out of love for film and history and studied film in college but has his degree exclusively in theatre.  You can visit his website at http://cinemastyles.blogspot.com.

 
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  • Jerseyjoe

    Greg's right. All the people he mentioned would never had been in the same film. That's what makes this one so interesting.
    One person Greg didn't mention is the actress who played the nun. I wish I could remember her name, someone please help me out.

    • Diane

      Kathleen Freeman played the Penguin

  • Hank Zangara

    Hi Jersey Joe,

    Sister Mary Stigmata (a.k.a. The Penguin) was played by Kathleen Freeman.

    Also, "The Blues Brothers" was Carrie Fisher's first big screen appearance after the first two Star Wars films.

  • Kai Ferano

    Sadly, I never saw "The Blues Brothers" and never got to appreciate the talent of Landis and Aykroyd. But...Cab Calloway performing "Minnie the Moocher?" My parents used to venture up to Harlem during the 1930s and to see in person this brilliant performer. Recently, a film of his life and art was shown on some cable network. Yes, kudos to Landis and Aykroyd for "channeling" the great Cab Calloway.

    • PhilB

      The Blues Brothers movie is out on cable once or twice a month, or on Itunes and lots of other places, you really need to see this picture. My favorite of all time

  • Paul M. Boos

    There was a VERY interesting documentary on PBS last week showcasing Cab Calloway, who was a tremendous talent....and like so many other worthwhile documentaries about famous Americans, it was made outside the U.S., in this case France (a hotbed of American jazz since immediately after the First World War).

  • Stan

    Saw this in the theater when it first came out and many times after that. The most remarkable thing about the film was how well done the music was. Landis has a genius with how the timing works in all most of his movies and this one hit it just right.

  • VKMfanHuey

    ...wish they would put out a COMPLETE CD of ALL the music that was on this film...from the Sam & Dave that wailed from the 8-track during the traffic stop, to Hooker's FULL performance of 'BoomBoom', even throw in 'theBand's rendition of 'Stand By your Man'...hilarious!

    Maybe one day, a set, along with whatever 'uber-disk' format will be in place at the time, and lots of outtakes, etc.

    ...it's truly the ONLY movie taken from a SNL skit that WORKED.

  • Melkior

    Not only that Joe Walsh of Eagles and 'Rocky Mountain Way' fame was in there too! He can be seen during the Jailhouse Rock sequence at the end. He still had long hair and a long mustache at the time and is the first prisoner to jump up on a table and start dancing.

  • fred buschbaum

    Kudos, Greg! I saw it in theater, and never miss a chance to see it again. To see and hear all the classic musicians together blew me away.
    Even all the overkill stunts fit right in. VKMfanHuey is right, a set of all the music from the film would warm these old bones.

  • Chip Mackey

    I will NEVER forgive the Rock Island Illinois city council for turning down John Landis's offer to shoot part of this classic film because they thought it "would give Rock Island a bad name." The same Rock Island that embraced "Road to Perdition" based on a real-life Rock Island gangster, extortionist, and murderer(John Looney)on whom the Paul Newman character is based. Go figure.........
    Chip of Rock Island (and PROUD of it!!!!!)

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