ESPAÑOL
¿Qué es una película de culto?
En mi humilde opinión, es el tipo de películas que se te quedan en la mente, por algún motivo justificado o no. Puede ser una cinta alabada por la crítica pero muy poco vista por el público, puede ser un éxito taquillero en su momento pero discutible por su calidad artística, puede ser tan mala que no gusto ni a critica ni a cierta cantidad de público pero presenta un ¿no se qué?, que de tan mala otra cantidad de público piensa que es buena, no tuvo aceptación en su lanzamiento pero con el tiempo tanto crítica como público empiezan a darle reconocimiento, o puede que su visionado te recuerde algún momento específico de tu vida.
Mi lista es larga, pero hoy quiero enfocarme en “The Blues Brothers”, o como aquí en Latinoamérica la llamamos “Los Hermanos Caradura”.
Recuerdo que era el año 1981, (aquí en Venezuela las películas se estrenaban con un lapso de tiempo posterior a seis meses y un año de su estreno), tenía 13 años en ese entonces y leía mucho la prensa de mi país cuando vi un anuncio en el cuál anunciaban a los Hermanos Caradura, llamándome la atención ver a dos tipos raros con sombrero, lentes obscuros Rayban y traje negro con corbata.
Decidí escaparme del Colegio San Agustín en La Urbanización El Marques en Caracas e ir a Chacaíto, (zona en donde empezaba el Distrito Federal en Venezuela), al cine Broadway a eso de las 9 A.M , no por que este fuese cómodo y bonito, sino porque era un horario continuado y allí me dejaban pasar a ver películas censuradas para mayores de 14 años. Veo en la marquesina un gran anuncio con los nombres de los protagonistas sobre sus cabezas: Dan Aykroyd y John Belushi, (¿quiénes eran esos?).
###### "File:Dan Aykroyd wearing an Alekas Attic T-Shirt in the Movie 'Sneakers'.jpg" by Skyphoenix6 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
###### "John Belushi (1)" by oneredsf1 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Con el miedo habitual a que no me dejasen pasar hago mi cola y para la ocasión me puse una chaqueta azul que me hacía ver más gordo y tres plantillas en los zapatos para aparentar más altura, rezando para que no me pidieran la cédula. Pago mi entrada en el balcón que en aquella oportunidad era a mitad de precio por ser día lunes, y voy hacia la entrada del cine, allí el portero me pide la cédula de Identidad y se ríe: pasa chico, me dice, total esa película es mala. No entendí lo que decía aquel portero, si yo fui por el gran cartel en donde me vendían una película de acción, pero ni modo.
Me compre en el lobby mis cotufas y gomitas, no se permitía pasar con refrescos porque la gente ensuciaba las butacas y mojaba al público del patio.
Procedí a sentarme y observé un cine prácticamente sólo, cosa rara en un lunes popular, con impaciencia vi la una cantidad de propagandas que duraron más o menos 15 minutos y luego el noticiero de Bolívar Films como de 6 minutos más aproximadamente.
"cinema" by instragram.com/amirkuckovic is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Comienza la película como una comedia al uso en donde uno de los hermanos, (Jake Blues - John Belushi) sale de la cárcel, ya libre lo recoge su otro hermano, (Elwood Blues – Dan Aykroyd) en su Bluesmóbil, un viejo carro policial maltratado. Luego de una espectacular acrobacia con el vehículo al saltar un puente levadizo abierto, visitan un orfanato católico, en el cual fueron criados, y se enteran por parte de la Hermana Mary Stigmata que será cerrado a menos que sean pagado 5,000 dólares en impuestos.
"BB 01" by GabboT is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Imagen: imgur (La Hermana Stigmata alias El Pingüino)
Tras una revelación a Jake, (en la Iglesia Bautista de James Brown!!!), los hermanos deciden juntar su antigua banda, la cual se disolvió cuando Jake estaba en prisión y ganar el dinero necesario para salvar el orfanato.
"BB 37" by GabboT is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Bajo esta premisa, comienza una cinta que se mofa de la Iglesia Católica, de la Policía, de los Nazis y del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos. Aunado a esto nos encontramos con vehículos chocados, (103), y destrozos por todos lados.
Siendo, en aquel entonces, mis escenas favoritas todas las partes musicales la destrucción del Centro Comercial, la persecución de Carrie Fisher,(la Princesa Leia!), hacia John Belushi y la parodía que hace Ray Charles sobre su ceguera, el escape de los Nazis, (un momento, es casi toda la película!!!) .
Imagen: imgur
Mención aparte merece su reparto músical, (Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, James Brown, Chaka Khan y John Lee Hooker), acompañados de la excelente Blues Brothers Band (Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Mirphy Dunne, Willie Hall, Tom Malone, Lou Marini, Matt Murphy y Alan Rubin). Cada uno de ellos un virtuoso musical.
"Aretha Franklin Portrait" by Dan Lacey is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
"Cab Calloway" by jwinfred is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
"Steve Cropper (The Blues brothers band)" by Alberto Cabello Mayero is licensed under CC BY 2.0
"Donald 'Duck' Dunn" by kenficara is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
En el reparto no musical destacan Kathleen Freeman, (como el pingüino), John Candy (Comediante), Carrie Fisher (la eterna Princesa Leia de Star Wars), Charles Napier (famoso por trabaja con el Director satírico Russ Meyer), Henry Gibson (notable actor de Cine y Televisiòn), así como de breves apariciones de Frank Oz (Director de Cine y Marionetista de Los Muppets),Steven Spielberg (Director de Cine), John Landis (el Director de la película), Mr. T, (si el de Los Magnificos) y Paul Reubens, (posteriormente famoso por su personaje de Pee Wee Herman) y de la supermodelo de los años 60 Twiggy .
!
"Carrie Fisher during the 31st Annual Golden Apple Awards at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, November 16, 1977. Photo by Ron Galella" by gameraboy is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
"Twiggy" by oneredsf1 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
"Cookie Monster and Frank Oz" by gameraboy is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
"File:Steven Spielberg portrait.jpg" by GianAngelo Pistoia is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
A los trece años no es que supiese todo este tecnicismo, eso lo fui aprendiendo con los años, ah se me olvidaba, me informe mejor de quienes eran Dan Aykroyd y John Belushi.
La película de Los Hermanos Caradura es para mí una película de culto por varios motivos, ya que me ubica en un momento muy específico de mi vida, con un reparto musical espectacular que despertó mi curiosidad por el rhythm and blues o R&B, (muy despectivamente catalogada música de negros), es antirracista, es antinazi, es entretenida y muy divertida, (véanla por favor). Para el portero del cine, era una mala película, para mí era muy buena, (lo que es bueno para unos, puede ser malo para otros, así dice el dicho).
Foto de mi autoría, corresponde a la Edición de Colección del año 2001 (Columbia Tristar Home Entertaiment).
Dos anécdotas, (entre otras tantas que pienso comentar en una próxima publicación), me han hecho pensar que definitivamente la Misión Divina de estos Hermanos estaba predestinada a ser un éxito: 1.- En el año 1980, el Papa Juan Pablo II, estaba de visita oficial en la ciudad de Chicago y se acercó al set para bendecir a los protagonistas. 2.- En el año 2020, el periódico del Vaticano L'Osservatore Romano declaró que película era un clásico católico.
"Juan Pablo II" by Juanedc is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Foto reciente del Autor de la publicación
Esperando que este post haya despertado curiosidad, y sea de utilidad a la Comunidad, me despido, agradeciendo la oportunidad de expresarnos que nos está ofreciendo nuestra red social Hive. Crezcamos Juntos!!!.
ENGLISH
What is a cult movie?
In my humble opinion, it's the kind of movie that sticks in your mind, for some reason or another. It can be a film praised by the critics but very little seen by the public, it can be a box-office success at the time but questionable for its artistic quality, it can be so bad that neither critics nor a certain amount of public liked it but it presents a "I don't know what", that because it is so bad another amount of public thinks it is good, it was not accepted at its release but with time both critics and public begin to recognize it, or maybe its viewing reminds you of a specific moment in your life.
My list is long, but today I want to focus on "The Blues Brothers", or as here in Latin America we call it "Los Hermanos Caradura".
I remember it was 1981, (here in Venezuela movies were released six months and a year after their premiere), I was 13 years old at the time and I was reading a lot of the press in my country when I saw an ad in which they announced the Caradura Brothers, calling my attention to see two strange guys with hats, dark Rayban glasses and black suit with tie.
I decided to escape from the Colegio San Agustín in the urbanization El Marques in Caracas and go to Chacaíto, (the area where the Federal District began in Venezuela), to the Broadway cinema at about 9 A.M., not because it was comfortable and beautiful, but because it was a continuous schedule and there they let me go to see censored movies for those over 14 years old. I see on the marquee a big ad with the names of the protagonists above their heads . Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, (who were those?).
###### "File:Dan Aykroyd wearing an Alekas Attic T-Shirt in the Movie 'Sneakers'.jpg" by Skyphoenix6 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
###### "John Belushi (1)" by oneredsf1 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0With the usual fear of not being allowed to pass I make my queue and for the occasion I put on a blue jacket that made me look fatter and three insoles in my shoes to appear taller, praying that they wouldn't ask for my ID. I paid for my ticket at the balcony, which at that time was half price because it was Monday, and I went to the entrance of the movie theater, there the doorman asked me for my ID card and laughed: "Come on in, kid," he said, "that movie is bad. I did not understand what the doorman was saying, if I went for the big poster where they were selling me an action movie, but no way.
I bought my popcorn and gummies in the lobby, they were not allowed to go in with soft drinks because people would dirty the seats and wet the audience in the courtyard. I proceeded to sit down and watched a movie theater practically alone, something rare in a popular Monday, with impatience I saw a number of commercials that lasted about 15 minutes and then the Bolivar Films newscast about 6 minutes more approximately.
###### "cinema" by instragram.com/amirkuckovic is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 The film begins as a comedy where one of the brothers, (Jake Blues - John Belushi) is released from prison, and is picked up by his other brother, (Elwood Blues - Dan Aykroyd) in his Bluesmobile, a battered old police car. After a spectacular stunt with the vehicle by jumping over an open drawbridge, they visit a Catholic orphanage, where they were raised, and learn from Sister Mary Stigmata that it will be closed unless they are paid $5,000 in taxes.
"BB 01" by GabboT is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Image: imgur (Sister Stigmata alias The Pengüin)
After a revelation to Jake, (at James Brown Baptist Church!!!), the brothers decide to reunite their old band, which disbanded while Jake was in prison and earn the money needed to save the orphanage.
"BB 37" by GabboT is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Under this premise, begins a film that mocks the Catholic Church, the Police, the Nazis and the U.S. Government. In addition to this we find crashed vehicles (103), and destruction everywhere.
Being, at that time, my favorite scenes all the musical parts the destruction of the Mall, the chase of Carrie Fisher,(Princess Leia!), towards John Belushi and the parody that Ray Charles makes about his blindness, the escape from the Nazis, (wait a minute, it's almost the whole movie!!!!) .
Image: imgur
Special mention should be made of its musical cast, (Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, James Brown, Chaka Khan and John Lee Hooker), accompanied by the excellent Blues Brothers Band (Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Mirphy Dunne, Willie Hall, Tom Malone, Lou Marini, Matt Murphy and Alan Rubin. Eeach of them a virtuoso musician.
###### "Aretha Franklin Portrait" by Dan Lacey is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
###### "Cab Calloway" by jwinfred is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
###### "Steve Cropper (The Blues brothers band)" by Alberto Cabello Mayero is licensed under CC BY 2.0
###### "Donald 'Duck' Dunn" by kenficara is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 The non-musical cast includes Kathleen Freeman, (as the penguin), well-known actors John Candy (comedian), Carrie Fisher (the eternal Princess Leia from Star Wars), Charles Napier (famous for working with satirical director Russ Meyer), Henry Gibson (noted film and television actor), as well as brief appearances by Frank Oz (film director and puppeteer of The Muppets), Steven Spielberg (film director), John Landis (the film's director), Mr. T, (yes, the one from The A-Team) and Paul Reubens, (later famous for his Pee Wee Herman character) and 60's supermodel Twiggy.
"Carrie Fisher during the 31st Annual Golden Apple Awards at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, November 16, 1977. Photo by Ron Galella" by gameraboy is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
"Twiggy" by oneredsf1 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
"Cookie Monster and Frank Oz" by gameraboy is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
"File:Steven Spielberg portrait.jpg" by GianAngelo Pistoia is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
When I was thirteen years old I didn't know all this technicality, I learned that over the years, oh I forgot, I learned more about who Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi were.
The Blues Brothers movie is for me a cult movie for several reasons, since it places me in a very specific moment of my life, with a spectacular musical cast that awakened my curiosity for rhythm and blues or R&B, (very derogatorily catalogued as black music), it is anti-racist, it is anti-Nazi, it is entertaining and very funny, (please see it). For the cinema doorman, it was a bad movie, for me it was very good, (what is good for some, can be bad for others, so the saying goes).
Photo of my authorship, corresponds to the Collection Edition of the year 2001(Columbia Tristar Home Entertaiment).
Two anecdotes, (among many others that I will comment on in a future publication), have made me think that the Divine Mission of these Brothers was definitely predestined to be a success: 1.- In the year 1980, Pope John Paul II was on an official visit to the city of Chicago and came to the set to bless the protagonists. In 2020, the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano declared the film to be a Catholic classic.
"Juan Pablo II" by Juanedc is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Recent photo by the Author of the post
Hoping that this post has aroused curiosity, and is useful to the Community, I say goodbye, thanking you for the opportunity to express ourselves that our social network Hive is offering us. Let's grow together!!!.
-via IMDB.com