Beyond the Blues Brothers

Beyond the Blues Brothers celebrates the 1980 Chicago classic The Blues Brothers, by taking a deep—and entertaining—dive into its wild mix of movie genres. 

This interactive talk focuses primarily on how The Blues Brothers mashes together multiple Hollywood traditions—from the musical and the comedy to the action film and beyond—and why that genre chaos is perhaps central to the movie’s enduring appeal (and controversy). 

Along the way, we’ll explore the film’s origins in the Blues Brothers’ "Saturday Night Live" act, share behind-the-scenes production stories, and consider the movie’s lasting impact on Chicago-based filmmaking, including a special nod to Mayor Jane Byrne’s role in bringing the production to the city.

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