This wonderful sprawling mess of a movie remains one of the best musical comedies of modern times. John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd play the criminally minded brothers on a mission from God, who resurrect their rhythm-and-blues band, which includes luminaries such as Steve Cropper and Donald Dunn, to raise money for their old orphanage. The skimpiest of plots provides the excuse for a string of rousing numbers and cameo appearances from music legends such as Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, John Lee Hooker, James Brown and Ray Charles. When the music runs out, director John Landis stages a ludicrously spectacular car chase involving the massed forces of law and order, a rabid country-and-western band and a bunch of neo-Nazis. The supporting cast includes Carrie Fisher as a miffed lover, Twiggy, John Candy and Steven Spielberg.

Jake Blues, just released from prison, puts his old band back together to save the Catholic home where he and his brother Elwood were raised.