Doctor Detroit
A mild-mannered Chicago professor becomes a flamboyant crime-fighting alter ego when he inherits four prostitutes and a mob problem.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- bawdy
- energetic
- retro comedy night
- dan aykroyd double feature
What critics said
Critics generally found the screenplay thin and the film disorganized, though Dan Aykroyd's inventive performance and several comic moments received praise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Clifford Skridlow adopts the Doctor Detroit persona while attempting to manage the pimp's abandoned business and protect the women.
Clifford draws on medieval literature and his teaching experience while navigating pimps, prostitutes, and the mob.
The plot combines prostitution, an absent pimp, and the mob boss Mom with broad comic performances and escalating complications.
The Chicago college environment is disrupted by criminal and sexual-business entanglements involving Smooth Walker and Mom.
Films like Doctor Detroit, and why
The Blues Brothers
shared 1980s physical comedy, flamboyant character performance, and escalating criminal farce
Trading Places
shared bawdy comedy, mistaken identity, and an ordinary protagonist pulled into chaotic underworld schemes
Ruthless People
shared broad humor, criminal entanglements, and a comic lead adopting an exaggerated persona
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Pressman
- Release Date
- 1983-05-06
- Runtime
- 89 min
- Rating
- 5.1 / 10 (79)
Cast
- Dan Aykroyd
- Howard Hesseman
- Donna Dixon
- Lydia Lei
- T.K. Carter
- Lynn Whitfield
- Fran Drescher
- Kate Murtagh
- Nan Martin
- George Furth
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Doctor Detroit about?
- A mild-mannered Chicago professor becomes a flamboyant crime-fighting alter ego when he inherits four prostitutes and a mob problem.
- What is Doctor Detroit like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Doctor Detroit as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Doctor Detroit violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Doctor Detroit as mild.
- What did critics think of Doctor Detroit?
- Critics generally found the screenplay thin and the film disorganized, though Dan Aykroyd's inventive performance and several comic moments received praise.
- Which films are like Doctor Detroit?
- Films with a similar feel include The Blues Brothers, Trading Places, and Ruthless People.
- How long is Doctor Detroit?
- Doctor Detroit runs 89 minutes.
- Where can I watch Doctor Detroit?
- In United States, Doctor Detroit is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
