Neighbors was released on December 18th, 1981.
Neighbors (1981)
The black comedy is based on the Thomas Berger novel of the same name. Directed by John G. Avildsen (Rocky and Karate Kid) and starring John Belushi in his final movie role. It also stars Dan Ackroyd, Cathy Moriarty and Kathryn Walker.
Walker, Belushi, Moriarty and Ackroyd
Near the end of pre-production, Belushi and Ackroyd decided to switch roles. Belushi played a mild mannered suburbanite and Ackroyd the garish swinger. The exact opposite of their typical characters.
Ackroyd and Belushi
Belushi had recently become a die hard fan of the punk band Fear and brought them in to do a song for the credits. He even sang back up vocals on the track. When execs shot the song down, Belushi made it up to the band by pulling some SNL strings to get them on the show as musical guest…
…. but that’s a whole different train wreck.
Fear Frightens Saturday Night Live
The song that never was
A dark and strange movie with a troubled production that wasn’t received all too well. Naturally I love it.
