Doctor Detroit (1983)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Michael Pressman

Writers:

Bruce Jay Friedman (story)
Carl Gottlieb (writer) ...

Release Date:

25 November 1983 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

He's making the world safe for insanity.

Plot:

A timid college professor, conned into posing as a flamboyant pimp, finds himself enjoying his new occupation on the streets.

Plot Keywords:

Pimp | College Professor | City Name In Title | Dual Identity | Box Office Flop

Cast

Dan Aykroyd	...	Clifford Skridlow / Doctor Detroit
Howard Hesseman	...	Smooth Walker
Donna Dixon	...	Monica McNeil
Lydia Lei	...	Jasmine Wu
T.K. Carter	...	Diavolo Washington
Lynn Whitfield	...	Thelma Cleland
Fran Drescher	...	Karen Blittstein
John A. Maloney	...	Commodore
Pershing P. Anderson	...	Stretch
William Munchow	...	Professor Artel
Ed Meekin	...	Professor Durant (as Edward Meekin)
Hank Salas	...	Johnny
Rudolph Kovar	...	Carson (as Rudolf Kovar)
Kate Murtagh	...	Mom
Peter Elbling	...	Guptor

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Black Rhino Productions

Trivia:

The Illinois license plate on Dan Aykroyd's car is BDR-529; this is the same plate that was on the Bluesmobile in The Blues Brothers (1980).

Quotes:

Clifford Skridlow: [waking from a nightmare where his mother becomes a prostitute] NO! I will NOT sell my mother!
Margaret Skridlow: [walking in on him] Of course, not dear. But it's a sweet thought.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Mitchell (#6.12)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Get It On And Have A Party

It can send a viewer out with a smile on their face!

In this amiable, outrageous 1980's vehicle, star Dan Aykroyd plays Clifford Skridlow, a meek and mild type college professor who is roped into the prostitution business by a cowardly pimp (Howard Hesseman) who has contrived a new partner that Skridlow is ultimately obliged to bring to life - the titular character, whom in full garb looks like a punk version of Elton John at his most flamboyant.

Hard to miss with this upbeat, infectiously goofy comedy, a true product of its decade which gets off to a true time-warp start with a catchy title-tune ditty by Devo. Aykroyd is well supported by a fabulous cast including his four gorgeous high-class prostitutes (Donna Dixon - the soon-to-be Mrs. Aykroyd, Fran Drescher, Lynn Whitfield, Lydia Lei), T.K. Carter ("The Thing", "Runaway Train") who is lots of fun as his sort-of sidekick, Kate Murtagh (the lady on the cover of the Supertramp album "Breakfast in America") in a humorously nasty crime kingpin role that would be ordinarily be played by a male, Nan Martin (Mrs. Louder from 'The Drew Carey Show') in a wonderful turn as a stereotypically dotty mother, and others.

The dance sequence, supplemented by a musical performance by James Brown, has got to be the major highlight of the film for me; it's just lots of fun to watch.

Besides this sequence, other silly / amusing comic highlights include Aykroyd's extended introduction to the night life, his nightmare sequence, and his impersonation of a loud, obnoxious rube lawyer. The movie on the whole is certainly a great showcase for its star.

You should definitely catch this if you haven't seen it yet. I wholeheartedly recommend it. It's unfortunate that this was a box office bomb back in its day...just too unfortunate. But hey, nothing can stop "The Doctor!"

7/10