Blu-ray Review: Doctor Detroit

When I was growing up, my brother and I spent many weekends at our grandparents’ house watching movies, one movie after the other. Our grandparents used to create their own double features, copying two rentals onto a single video cassette, and had probably a couple hundred of these tapes. As an adult, I’ve been trying to collect all of those films on DVD. One movie that I remember watching fairly often was Doctor Detroit (which I believe was paired with Trading Places, or possibly D.C. Cab). It’s a movie I’ve thought of often since then, particularly as the “Doctor, Doctor Detroit” chant is something that pops into my head on a regular basis (though I’ve been promised that my new medication will take care of that problem). Now I’ve finally had a chance to revisit the movie, as Shout! Factory is releasing it on Blu-ray as part of its Shout Select series, along with plenty of bonus material. And I am delighted to find that it holds up well.

Doctor Detroit stars Dan Aykroyd as Clifford Skridlow, a college professor (with a habit of talking to himself) who gets caught up in a prostitution ring and has to take on an alternate identity in order to protect the women from another criminal element. The women, by the way, include Fran Drescher and Donna Dixon (this is the film on which Dixon and Aykroyd, now married, met). The women’s pimp, Smooth Walker (played by the wonderful Howard Hesseman), owes $80,000 to Mom (Kate Murtagh), and has to come up with an excuse for why he can’t pay on the spot. His solution is to invent a new and dangerous partner, Doctor Detroit, who has moved in on his business. His choice for this patsy is, of course, Clifford Skridlow. He and the girls show him a fun night on the town – drinking, dancing, drugs – leading Clifford to declare, “I can feel my hair growing.” And then Smooth delivers his pitch, for Clifford to take over his business.

Meanwhile, the college at which Clifford teaches (which happens to be run by his father) is in financial trouble, and its very existence is now reliant on receiving a large endowment check from a man whom they feel a need to impress. Soon Clifford’s professional life at the college collides with the new life that was thrust upon him (but which he begins to take pleasure in), and the fun ensues for us in the audience.

The film opens with a comical image – Dan Aykroyd power-walking. A person power-walking is something that always looks silly, but of course when that person is Dan Aykroyd, it is particularly funny.  And this film has plenty of hilarious lines. When Clifford is taken to Smooth Walker’s apartment, he exclaims in a delighted, childlike way: “Wow, look at this place, it’s positively vulgar! You must be so incredibly rich.” And then: “Look, what utterly tasteless furnishings!” Another line that I love is, “You can’t insult me; you see, I’m a lawyer.” As funny as Dan Akyroyd, Howard Hessemen and George Furth (as Clifford’s father) are, my absolute favorite character is Clifford’s mother, played by Nan Martin. She is a complete delight and is hilarious, giving her character an excited and playful quality, as she delivers lines like “Did they molest you? Did you struggle? I want all the details.” On top of that, this movie includes music by Devo, an appearance by James Brown, a wonderful dance sequence, and a Star Trek joke at the end that I love.

Special Features

The Blu-ray disc contains several special features, including a new interview with director Michael Pressman, in which he talks about how the film differs from the original story, about the casting process and other elements of the film. Regarding framing, he says, “I believed, and still believe, that comedy plays in the wider angles.” He also talks about John Belushi’s death, which wasn’t long before production of this film began, and about having to cut Glenne Headly’s lines. This interview is approximately twenty-five minutes.

Radio Free Detroit: Inside The Audio Press Kit contains parts of a promotional package of interviews and radio spots that was sent to radio stations. This includes an interview with Dan Aykroyd, in which he talks about the film and about John Belushi’s death. There are also interviews with Howard Hesseman and Donna Dixon, as well as interviews with Steven Spielberg, John Landis and Steve Martin talking about Dan Aykroyd. There is even a bit of audio with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, plus an interview with the band Devo. This feature is approximately twenty-four minutes.

The special features also include a commentary track with director Michael Pressman, moderated by Russell Dyball. Pressman mentions that during the casting process, when they saw Donna Dixon, Dan Aykroyd said they should cast her. There are also two trailers for the film, two television spots, six radio spots and a photo gallery.

Doctor Detroit is scheduled to be released on Blu-ray on April 24, 2018 through Shout! Factory.