Movie road trip: A cinematic site per state for all 50 states

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Illinois: The Blues Brothers

They were on a mission from God. The comedy, musical, action movie starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi was based on the Saturday Night Live skit. Jake and Elwood Blues try to save a Catholic orphanage by raising money from a  Blues Brothers Band concert.

Over the years, The Blue Brothers has become an iconic Chicago movie. Since the film was shot in 1979, some of the locations do look slightly different today. Still, Chicago, which is considered a movie character by some, is at the heart of this movie.

For many fans, the chase scenes from The Blues Brothers are epic. The bridge jump is an actual bridge in Chicago, the 95th Street Bridge. Lower Wacker Drive is a part of the chase scenes. For Chicago residents, or even visitors, a high speed chase on Lower Wacker seems highly unlikely. But, the scene is great for a movie.

One good stop for a photo opportunity is the Richard J. Daley Center. The big chase scene ends when the Bluesmobile crashes into this building. The Daley Center Plaza is known for the large Picasso sculpture. The building’s architect approached Picasso to create a piece of art that would complement the building. The untitled sculpture was a gift from the artist. Although first controversial, the “Chicago Picasso” sculpture is now a Chicago landmark.

Today, the original The Blue Brothers scenes could probably never be filmed in these actual locations. Watching the movie is like taking a tour of old Chicago. From Wrigley Field to the old highways, the movie continues to be entertaining. Sweet Home Chicago still has its charms.