Doctor Detroit
| Doctor Detroit | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Michael Pressman |
| Produced by | Robert K. Weiss |
| Written by | Bruce Jay Friedman Carl Gottlieb Robert Boris |
| Starring | Dan Aykroyd Howard Hesseman Fran Drescher Donna Dixon |
| Music by | James Brown (song, "Get up Offa That Thing/Dr. Detroit") Lalo Schifrin |
| Cinematography | King Baggot |
| Editing by | Christopher Greenbury |
| Studio | Brillstein Company |
| Distributed by | Universal Studios |
| Release date(s) | May 6, 1983 |
| Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $8 million[citation needed] |
| Box office | $10,375,893[1] |
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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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
[edit] Soundtrack
| Doctor Detroit | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by various artists | |||
| Released | 1983 | ||
| Genre | New Wave R & B Synth Pop |
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| Label | Backstreet/MCA | ||
| Professional reviews | |||
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A soundtrack album for the film was released on Backstreet Records. The track listing is as follows.
- "Theme from Doctor Detroit" - Devo 3:10
- "Hold Him" - Pattie Brooks, Dan Aykroyd 3:22
- "King of Soul" - James Brown 2:40
- "Yo Skridlow" - T. K. Carter, Dan Aykroyd 4:40
- "Working Girls" - Pattie Brooks, Dan Aykroyd 4:48
- "Get Up Offa That Thing/Doctor Detroit" - James Brown 3:23
- "Luv-Luv" - Devo 3:36
- "You Are the One" - Pattie Brooks 4:05
- "Get It on and Have a Party" - Pattie Brooks 6:09
[edit] 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.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Doctor Detroit at the Internet Movie Database
- Doctor Detroit at AllRovi
- Doctor Detroit at Box Office Mojo
- Doctor Detroit at Rotten Tomatoes
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