Doctor Detroit

Doctor Detroit
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Michael Pressman
Produced by	Robert K. Weiss
Written by	Bruce Jay Friedman Carl Gottlieb Robert Boris
Starring	Dan Aykroyd Howard Hesseman George Furth James Brown T. K. Carter Donna Dixon Fran Drescher Lydia Lei Lynn Whitfield
Music by	James Brown (song, "Get Up Offa That Thing/Dr. Detroit") Lalo Schifrin
Cinematography	King Baggot
Edited by	Christopher Greenbury
Production company	Brillstein Company
Distributed by	Universal Studios
Release dates	May 6, 1983 (1983-05-06)
Running time	89 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$8 million
Box office	$10,375,893

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

James Brown performed the theme song "Get Up Offa That Thing/Dr. Detroit." Devo performed "Theme from Doctor Detroit" and "Luv-Luv" and released an EP, including "Theme from Doctor Detroit," "Luv-Luv," and a remix of the theme song. Devo also produced a music video from the theme song incorporating footage from the film.

Plot

A introverted geek, Clifford Skridlow (Dan Aykroyd), is a professor of comparative literature at the financially strapped (fictional) Monroe College in Chicago.

Smooth Walker (Howard Hesseman), a pimp, owes $80,000 to "Mom" (Kate Murtagh), a gruff Chicago mob boss. Attempting to weasel out of his debt, Smooth invents a fictitious mobster, the flamboyant "Doctor Detroit," who purportedly is overrunning his turf. Aykroyd meets Smooth and his girls (Donna Dixon, Lydia Lei, Fran Drescher, and Lynn Whitfield) and has the best night of his life partying with them. After finding out about their troubles with Mom, Skridlow agrees to assume the role of Doctor Detroit in an effort to help them.

Meanwhile, Monroe College awaits its anticipated corporate endowment, a check to be delivered by one of the executives, Harmon Rousehorn (Andrew Duggan). The film alternates between Skridlow's straight life and his life as the Doctor: Skridlow teaches literature and helps his nervous father (George Furth) secure money for the destitute college, while Dr. Detroit battles Mom, boogies with James Brown, and helps out four prostitutes previously subject to Smooth.

The film was shot on location in Chicago during the summer of 1982.

Cast

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

Soundtrack

Doctor Detroit
File:DoctorDetroitSoundtrack.jpg
Soundtrack album by Various artists
Released	1983
Genre	New wave synthpop R&B funk
Length	35:53
Label	Backstreet MCA WEA
Producer	Ira Newborn Robert K. Weiss Devo Lalo Schifrin

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	link

A soundtrack album for the film was released on the labels Backstreet, MCA, and WEA.

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Performer(s)	Length
1.	"Theme from Doctor Detroit"	Mark Mothersbaugh Gerald Casale	Devo	3:10
2.	"Hold Him"	Ira Newborn Pattie Brooks	Pattie Brooks Dan Aykroyd	3:22
3.	"King of Soul"	Newborn	James Brown	2:40
4.	"Yo Skridlow"	T. K. Carter Anthony Patler	T. K. Carter Dan Aykroyd	4:40
5.	"Working Girls"	Newborn Brooks	Pattie Brooks Dan Aykroyd	4:48

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Performer(s)	Length
6.	"Get Up Offa That Thing/Doctor Detroit"	James Brown	James Brown	3:23
7.	"Luv-Luv"	Mothersbaugh Casale	Devo	3:36
8.	"You Are the One"	Lalo Schifrin Glen Ballard	Pattie Brooks	4:05
9.	"Get It on and Have a Party"	Newborn Brooks	Pattie Brooks	6:09
Total length:				35:53

Reaction and sequel

In her autobiography, Enter Whining, Fran Drescher commented that this film was expected to be a major hit for the summer of 1983, but that it fell short of that expectation; by the time the film ended its run in theaters, it had only managed to make US$10.8 million, on a budget of US$8 million.

The end titles promised the release of Doctor Detroit II: The Wrath of Mom, meant as a gag based on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, released eleven months previously. Aykroyd was said to have been writing the script; however, the project went unfulfilled due to poor box office results.

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