Movie quotes that make fun of Detroit

Cafe Society
1

Wathcing Yankees/Tigers with two friends, each grew up in their respective cities. After harrassing NYC for a while, the conversation drifted towards famous movie quotes that make fun of Detriot.* Sadly, we only came up with two - what are some others? (My two below):

Kentucky Fried Movie.
“The FBi thinks they can infiltrate Dr. Klan!”
“You don’t scare me, you [derogatory term]”
“Take him to Detriot!!”
“NOOOOOO!!!”

Airplane!
“It was the seediest dive on the wharf. Every reject and cutthroat from Bombay to Calcutta was there. It was worse than Detroit.”
*[sub]This Cardinal fan had no dog in the fight, so I encouraged both sides of the taunting, of course[/sub]

2

No no no, the correct response is “the north side of Chicago is even worse than Detroit.”

:smiley:

The Chicago Cubs: Leading the World in Futility since 1908.

And as for mocking Detroit through film, what can be said that wasn’t said much better by the cinematic masterpiece that was the Robocop trilogy?

3

THis was a terrible movie, and it’s been years since I saw it, so I may not have it exactly right.

But in “Iron Eagle,” Lou Gossett is talking to a Russian. He tells the Russian he should come to America some time.

The Russian says, “I don’t think so. In America, you shoot Communists in the street.”

Gossett’s answer was, “Hey, I’m from Detroit man, we shoot EVERYBODY in the street.”

4

Robocop was set in Detroit. And not in a flattering sort of way.

5

As were parts of Beverly Hills Cop – but I don’t recall any lines in it actually making fun of Detroit; more like the contrast between Detroit and BH was played up throughout the film.

6

Other lines making fun of other cities/states:

“I’m from New Jersey.”
“Oh really? What exit?”

“I’m from (insert city here).”
“I’m sorry?”
“I said (city name).”
“I know, I heard you the first time. I’m sorry.”

“Is this heaven?”
“No, it isn’t heaven.”
“Is it hell?”
“Nope, it isn’t hell either. Actually, there is no hell. Although I hear Los Angeles is getting pretty close.” -Defending Your Life

7

Actually, if you go to “IMDB.com” and do a quotes search with keyword: Detroit you’ll get a lot of good ones.

“Why are you in Detroit? Redwings need another goon?” -Gross Pointe Blank

8

I think it’s from Street Fighter:

“This makes Detroit look like Disneyland!”

(Said about an unsavory den of iniquity, natch.)

9

Kentucky Fried Movie did the ‘worse that Detroit’ thing, same as Airplane!, but also had a scene where an evil dictator was torturing some spy or some such, who resisted everything, but broke down screaming when the bad guy said “take him to Detroit!”

10

That scene is quoted in the OP. :wink:

11

Did you call? :wink:

There were a few in Doctor Detroit but I am at a loss to remember them.

Jim

12

And of course, The Kentucky Fried Movie and Airplane! were written by the same folks, Abraham, Zucker, and Zucker.

13

:smack:

14

I don’t think there were. All the action took place in Chicago. Skridlow’s choice of “Doctor Detroit” as an alias was chosen to suggest he already was an established gangster there – which proves nothing but that the existence of gangsters in Detroit (as in Chicago) was considered plausible. But otherwise, Detroit was hardly mentioned at all in the dialogue.

15

I thought at one point, Mom? was dismissing the need to worry about someone from Detroit and put it down. Maybe something like, “What’s he going to do, sing at us?” But I haven’t seen the movie in 20+ years so I could be very wrong.

Jim

16

Say, What Exit is this the origin of your username?

Anyhoo, from South Park a scene set in hell:
Satan: Saddam. But… I killed you.
Saddam Hussein: Well where was I supposed to go, Detroit?

17

It is from the old joke mentioned above and was suggested by **Crotalus ** in my help me pick a new username thread.

Jim

18

It doesn’t really insult the city in any way, and it’s not even from a movie, but the first thing I think of when I hear Detroit is this exchange from a Simpsons episode that proves that Homer is not MENSA material (as if there was any doubt):

(as transcribed by the good folks at SNPP.com)
Director: Your brother could be anywhere. Even … Detroit.
Homer: I know he could be anywhere, that’s why I want you to narrow it down! Please!
Director: You know, Mr. Simpson, if you ask me, the city of brotherly love isn’t Philadelphia, it’s … Detroit.
Homer: Well, if you asked me, changing the subject makes you the most worthless, heartless excuse for a human being I ever…
Director: Read between the lines, Mr. Simpson!
Homer: Oh, I get it! Okay. Here’s twenty bucks. Now will you tell me where my brother lives?
– visit to the orphanage, ``Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?’’

19

I’m doing this from memory so I might make a few mistakes. Anyway, earlier in the “Dr Klan” sketch in “The Kentucky Fried Movie”, an agent is being briefed by his boss as they are watching a film.

Boss: Dr Klan’s headquarters lie deep within the Hartz mountains … an area so desolate and inhospitable, no country even wants to claim it.
Agent: Is it worse than Detroit?
Boss: I’m afraid so.

Also in Naked Gun 2½, Agent Nordberg (OJ Simpson) while using a mechanic’s “creeper” accidentally slips under a bus which then takes off. We then see that the bus is headed for Detroit !!! :eek:

Yes, I am quite an admirer of the work of ZAZ (although 2½ was not all 3 of them).