|
Author
|
Topic: The Blues Brothers 2x400 ft.
|
James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003
|
posted January 31, 2008 03:05 PM
The Blues Brothers
Universal 8
2 x 400 foot digest.
Reel #1 (17 minutes)
After the Universal 8 logo, we move into the credit scene where Jake (John Belushi) is being escorted down a hall to be released from prison. The prison gate slides open, where Elwood (Dan Akroid) awaits. After a somewhat choppy credit scene, Jake and Elwood visit the old orphanage, where a nun explains that the orphanage will close if they can't come up with $5,000 dollars. Jake begins to argue with the nun, and the boys start using profanity, at which time she begins beating them with a ruler, and then a large stick. They fall down the stairs. The nun states "Don't come back until you've redeamed yourselves". She then floats backwards and the door slams.
In the next scene, the boys are driving at night (the song "Sooth Me" can be heard on the radio, followed by "Hold on, I'm Comin'"- great music!) The boys run a red light and are pulled over by two policemen (who are in many scenes to come). This leads to a huge car chase through a shopping mall. This scene is completely uncut from the traffic stop, to the crash-exit from the mall.
In the next scene, the boys of the band are together at a sauna, talking to Maury (Steve Lawrence) about performing again.
Next is the scene where Jake and Elwood run the Nazi's off the bridge, led by Henry Gibson, who vows revenge no matter what it takes.
We then jump to concert night. The place is packed with fans and surrounded by cops. Cab Calloway introduces the boys and they make their grand entrance, followed by complete silence. They then perform "I Need You (you...you!)", followed by a standing ovation from the crowd.
End of reel #1.
Reel #2 (15 minutes)
Reel two continues at the concert as the boys perform "Sweet Home Chicago". A man offers them a contract and $10,000 dollars back stage and the boys escape through a trap door.
As light fades in, it is daybreak, and we are well into the BIG chase. John Candy is riding with the two main policemen, and they crash into the side of an 18-wheeler truck. John Candy tells the dispatcher "hello....car 55.....we're in a truck". The chase continues through downtown Chicago, and Henry Gibson & Nazi friends join the chase. The dispatcher announces "The use of unnecessary violence in the apprehension of the Blues Brothers has been approved". The Nazi's follow close and drive off a huge bridge and crash into the street below ("I've always loved you"). The boys drive up to front of the county clerk building, and the car completely fall apart. The boys journey up to the top floor, followed by National Guard, etc. As the turn over the money for the orphanage to the clerk (Steven Speilberg cameo), they turn around to see 100 guns pointed at them as the handcuffs click. Followed directly to the boys performing "Jailhouse Rock" at the prison, and a few credits.
Whew! alot of typing ![[Wink]](wink.gif) .
In my opinion, I think Universal 8 did a nice job with this 2-hour-plus movie, converting it to 32 minutes. Of course, there were many more scenes that I would have wanted to have, as well as Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles's performances. And don't look for Carrie "Princess Leah" Fisher either, as that sub-plot has been completely ommitted.
I'm sure this was quite a burdon on the editor, who chose to keep scenes almost intact, rather than having a large amount of super-short segments, which would have been harder to enjoy. I also commend the editor and U-8 for putting evident care into this release, even though commercial super 8 was already dying at this point in time.
U-8 released this with "Xanadu" 2x400 foot. I believe the same person edited both films, as the style of the editing is very much the same. But "The Blues Brothers" digest flows better, I think because of the movie itself.
Overall, a very good digest. If super 8 had thrived another year or so, this would have sold well. We probably would have even seen a 'musical extract' reel with Ray and Aretha (well, maybe )
My print has some turning colors, evident in certain scenes, though not as bad as some of the U-8's of that time. It is letterboxed to original ratio.
James.
[ January 19, 2013, 05:49 AM: Message edited by: James N. Savage 3 ]
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
|
posted February 01, 2008 10:15 AM
From what was described in the review, I would love this as, though the comedy bits mentioned are funny, (that resturant scene scene really is a hoot!), all the major song numbers are there in thier complete form, (right?)
I think the reason why, for instance, the church number is included, is because it is crucial to understanding why they are on thier crusade, though I would have preferred the resturant number, than the Nazi bridge sequence.
But then again, that makes sense as well, otherwise, you have no idea why the nazi's are chasing them.
I sounds as if the people who edited this did know what they were doing.
It also sounds as if it would be a much easier digest to do a stereo version of, especially with those complete scenes unedited.
--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003
|
posted February 01, 2008 02:56 PM
Thanks for your replies, and thanks for the photo Doug!
Alan, I do feel your pain. I really love all of the scenes you mentioned. On the other hand though, this movie, in full length, has soooo many great scenes AND musical numbers. There is absolutely no practical way that we could have gotten much more into 32 minutes. Scenes like Jake and Elwood at the fancy resturaunt, and Bob's Country Bunker, would have taken several minutes to set up for them to work. And the musical numbers are classic & I'd rather have them intact or not have them at all. Remember how songs were butchered in the GREASE digest. Editing musical numbers just doesn't work.
I completely agree about the FAME 2x400 digest from MGM. They did an absolutely fabulous editing job, and were able to include all of the hit songs, unedited. But FAME was a very different type of movie. There were no big action scenes to be considered, so more time was available for the music.
Osi- All of the scenes are almost fully complete. The BIG chase near the end of the movie starts at daybreak, but there is very little missing from that point, up to where the boy's car falls apart. This would definately be one of the easier digests to re-record.
In the end, I guess it comes down to tastes. While Blues Brothers is certainly not the most skillfully edited digest from U-8, its far from worst. I'm just glad U-8 saw the project through and didn't abort the job, like other titles during that period.
This digest was released only in MONO.
James.
[ February 08, 2008, 06:36 AM: Message edited by: James N. Savage 3 ]
| IP: Logged
|
|
John Hourigan
Master Film Handler
Posts: 301
From: Colorado U.S.A.
Registered: Sep 2003
|
posted February 03, 2008 09:20 AM
I found that the "Blues Brothers" digest concentrated a little too much on the chase sequences (which got a little monotonous, even in the feature)rather than the musical sequences. I remember being disappointed when I received the digest that more of the musical sequences weren't included -- but to each his own. I watched this a year or two ago and the color seemed to be holding up on my print.
Also, I thought the editing was a tad sloppy. Just look at the opening titles -- which were badly executed jump cuts resulting in embarrasingly choppy action behind the titles, as well as the painfully obvious jump cuts in the music under the opening titles. Of course, by this time in 1981, Universal 8 probably knew the writing was on the wall.
This digest must have been one of the last gasps of Universal 8 -- I remember ordering it and it taking forever to arrive. Almost immediately afterwards, there were "fire sales" of the Universal 8 titles, along with Ken, Columbia, etc.
[ February 03, 2008, 12:28 PM: Message edited by: John Hourigan ]
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003
|
posted February 05, 2008 08:24 AM
I agree about the choppy credits. This, unfortunately, was not uncommon for digests at that time, even for U-8, who otherwise usually did a good job.
I wonder if there were rights or royalty issues for any of the music? Could it have been that it was cheaper for U-8 to include more chase scenes. And the only music numbers in the digest were performed by Jake & Elwood, and the band.
Another possible reason may have been that the people at U-8 may have thought that some customers may have been "culturaly challenged", and wouldn't appreciate the different types of music, so they figured that the chase scenes were neutral enough for everybody. Who can figure. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Of course, given a choice, I would prefer the music numbers over the action, but only in complete form, not choppy.
James.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
|
posted March 22, 2013 01:48 PM
I'm very happy to say that I recieved my digest of this film and except for some unwanted scratching, (fortunately, no green ones), the color is as spot on as ou could ask for. The slightest bit of fade, I noticed, but my wife couldn't tell.
James, a question ...
I noticed that, while the rest of the digest has very good color, only from the beginning titles through the end of the scene with the "penguin" (fortunately, only about three or so minutes total) the color is more faded. Apparantly, it looks like the pre-print of this beginning part of the digest was lacklustre color to begin with.
Did you notice that on your print?
--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic
