The Blues Brothers [DVD] [1980]

Fight to survive against your brothers who have turned against you

Universal brings the off-the-wall comedy The Blues Brothers to DVD in a collector's edition with an expanded version of the film, a decent 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, Dolby Digital Surround Sound, and plenty of background material. Aside from the 15 minutes of extra footage, the highlight of the disc is The Stories Behind the Making of The Blues Brothers, an hour- long documentary featuring every participant from the film, conveniently accessible through a menu of 14 chapters. Star and co-writer Dan Aykroyd explains how a joke that he and best friend John Belushi shared with friends evolved from a Saturday Night Live skit to a best-selling album and then to a film. Director John Landis covers the difficult production, from the outrageous stunts to Belushi's disappearances from the set. Along with interviews with the bandmates and a stellar group of cameo musicians (Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway), there is old footage of Belushi discussing the film. A generous set of production photos and the theatrical trailer round out a satisfying package of features for this comedy favorite.