Doctor Detroit

Doctor Detroit
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Michael Pressman
Written by	Bruce Jay Friedman Carl Gottlieb Robert Boris
Produced by	Robert K. Weiss
Starring	Dan Aykroyd Howard Hesseman Fran Drescher Donna Dixon
Cinematography	King Baggot
Edited by	Christopher Greenbury
Music by	James Brown (song, "Get up Offa That Thing/Dr. Detroit") Lalo Schifrin
Production company	Brillstein Company
Distributed by	Universal Studios
Release date	May 6, 1983
Running time	89 minutes
Country	Template:Film US
Language	English
Budget	$8 million
Box office	$10,375,893

Doctor Detroit is a 1983 comedy film, written by Bruce Jay Friedman, Robert Boris and Carl Gottlieb. The film stars Dan Aykroyd, Howard Hesseman, Lynn Whitfield, Fran Drescher, and Donna Dixon, with a special appearance by James Brown. The film was directed by Michael Pressman.

James Brown performed the theme song Get Up Offa That Thing/Dr. Detroit". Devo performed the "Theme From Doctor Detroit" and had another track in the film, "Luv-Luv". There was an EP with the "Theme from Doctor Detroit", "Luv-Luv", and a remix of the theme released, as well as a music video incorporating footage from the film.

Plot

A shy, gentle man named Clifford Skridlow (Dan Aykroyd) is a professor of comparative literature at the financially strapped (fictional) Monroe College in Chicago. A chance encounter with four beautiful high class prostitutes at a restaurant changes his life forever. Smooth Walker (Howard Hesseman), their pimp, is in danger due to his enormous debt to the gruff "Mom" (Kate Murtagh), a Chicago mob boss. Smooth invents a fictitious business partner, the flamboyant "Doctor Detroit", in an attempt to save himself from Mom's wrath.

Through a series of comical misunderstandings, Cliff is conned into becoming Smooth Walker's patsy. He transforms himself into Doctor Detroit, embarking on a dangerous mission to protect the girls from Mom. He also must keep this secret from his straight-laced parents while simultaneously attempting to secure a large endowment for the struggling university. Cliff becomes a hero to the four women, but puts his life at grave risk.

Cast

• Dan Aykroyd — Clifford Skridlow/Doctor Detroit
• Howard Hesseman — Smooth Walker
• Fran Drescher — Karen Blittstein
• Donna Dixon — Monica McNeil
• Lydia Lei — Jasmine Wu
• T. K. Carter — Diavolo Washington
• Lynn Whitfield — Thelma Cleland
• Kate Murtagh — Mom
• George Furth — Arthur Skridlow
• Nan Martin — Margaret Skridlow
• Peter Aykroyd — Mr. Frankman
• Glenne Headly — Miss Debbylike
• Robert Cornthwaite — Professor Blount
• Parley Baer — Judge Robert E. Lee Davis-Jackson
• John Kapelos — Rush Street Dude
• James Brown — Bandleader (himself)
• Steven Williams — Junior Sweet
• Andrew Duggan — Harmon Rausehorn
• Blackie Dammett - Eddie Four Eyes

Soundtrack

Untitled

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link

A soundtrack album for the film was released on Backstreet Records. The track listing is as follows.

1. "Theme from Doctor Detroit" - Devo 3:10
2. "Hold Him" - Pattie Brooks, Dan Aykroyd 3:22
3. "King of Soul" - James Brown 2:40
4. "Yo Skridlow" - T. K. Carter, Dan Aykroyd 4:40
5. "Working Girls" - Pattie Brooks, Dan Aykroyd 4:48
6. "Get Up Offa That Thing/Doctor Detroit" - James Brown 3:23
7. "Luv-Luv" - Devo 3:36
8. "You Are the One" - Pattie Brooks 4:05
9. "Get It on and Have a Party" - Pattie Brooks 6:09

Reaction and sequel

In her autobiography, Enter Whining, Fran Drescher comments that this film was expected to be a major hit, but that it fell short of that expectation; by the time the film ended its run in theatres, it had only managed to make US$10.8 million, on a budget of US$8 million.

See also

• List of American films of 1983

External links

• Doctor Detroit at IMDb
• Doctor Detroit at AllMovie
• Doctor Detroit at Box Office Mojo
• Doctor Detroit at Rotten Tomatoes