A "Blues Brothers" memory . . .

By Rick Farris

In 1979-80, while we filmed the Blues Brothers, the film industry was blazing, and so were many involved with the production.
If there is any proof that heavy drug and alcohol use can destroy a crew, the Blues Brothers would serve as an example.

These were wild days in Hollywood, and many things were out of control.
A typical example of life on the Blues Brothers set.
We are shooting outside a prison one morning. We have filmed all night, and are waiting for a "sunrise shot" before wrapping for the days work.

At the time, Dan Akroyd is dating Carrie Fisher, so they write in a little part for her.
After we wrap, and return to the hotel early sunday morning (our one day off during the week) I see Penny Marshall in the hotel lobby.
She had come to visit a few friends on the production.
Carrie isn't scheduled to be on camera for a few days.
She and Penny Marshall and John Belushi's wife (I think her name was Judy?) decide to drop acid together.
The three women all disappear and cannot be found.
It turns out they all have retreated to a private suite for their party, and haven't informed anybody.
It created quite a scene as the production feared foul play, however, a few hours later Marshall and Fisher are found wandering in the hotel.

When asked where they had been, Carrie answers, "We were having a 60's weekend".

When you are on a disorganized shoot tempers flare. We on the crew just sit back and watch the show, specificly, watching the crap run downhill as everybody who gets blamed for losing track of the actress.
It's really funny watching the producers trying to take the blame off of themselves and point to others. A real cowardly bunch on this shoot.

Sometimes it's great not to be in charge, especially so on a production where nobody seems to know what they are doing.
We had a lot of confusion in the 70's, much of it the product of drugs in the film industry.

Eventually, that would stop. It ended when John Belushi died. Suddenly, we had issues of liability, and the toilets of Hollywood and Beverly Hills could be heard flushing as the smart ones dumped all of their poisen down the toilet.

Today, in the film world, if you have a "problem" you better get rid of it before it gets rid of you. There is a O tolerence today.
Sadly, during all of the confusion, many of the old vets retired.
Today many of those jaded by drug use during their early days weren't listening when the "tricks of the trade" were passed down.
In many ways, film making has not improved. We have many great tools today, and many who just don't know how to use them.