Aykroyd’s “Blues Brothers” Named Catholic Classic

Published on: 2010/06/21 - in Entertainment Featured

This month, a Vatican official newspaper announced that Kingston resident Dan Aykroyd’s 1980 movie “The Blues Brothers” has been declared a Catholic Classic.

The proclamation means his film – which also starred the late, great John Belushi – will join a list of dozens of films recommended by Catholic authorities, which includes Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments,” “Jesus of Nazareth” from Franco Zeffirelli, Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of The Christ,” Victor Flemming’s “Joan of Arc,” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” from Frank Capra.

The newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, made the announcement in last week’s edition that featured five articles and several photos, including a front-page piece titled “On a Mission from God (and for cinema)” by its editor Gian Maria Vian, who said the film – which is celebrating its 30th anniversary – should be recommended viewing for Catholics everywhere.

Reached for comment by the New York Post, Dan Aykroyd said “As a former altar boy from age 6 . . . but a somewhat lapsed Catholic, I was delighted with the endorsement.  My local monsignor will immediately be receiving a check for parish needs.”

L’Osservatore editor Gian Maria Vian commended the movie for its plot, in which Jake Blues (Belushi) and his brother Elwood (Aykroyd) battle cops, neo-Nazis and crazed country fans in a bid to save the Catholic orphanage where they were raised.
In response to skeptics who wonder why the film qualifies for such distinction, Gian Maria Vian stated “For them (Aykroyd and Belushi’s characters), this Catholic institution is their only family,” Vian wrote. “And they decide to save it at any cost.”

And another Vatican official told a questioning FoxNews, “Of course it’s Catholic… It’s two guys saving a Catholic orphanage and being chased by a bunch of Nazis. What could be more Catholic than that? It’s just a different kind of Catholic than The Passion.”

L’Osservatore’s editorial praised the 1980 comic romp, in which Aykroyd and Belushi say that they’re “on a mission from God.” A writer also noted that in one scene a photo of Pope John Paul II can clearly be seen.

The film is based on a skit from “Saturday Night Live”, where the band made its debut as the musical guest on the April 22, 1978. The Blue Brothers then went on to release the album “Briefcase Full of Blues” in 1978, followed by the movie two years later.

In the movie the brothers are on “a mission from God” to save the Catholic orphanage in which they grew up by putting on a show – which featured performances by Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and James Brown – to raise money.