Doc Hollywood (1991)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Michael Caton-Jones

Writers (WGA):

Neil B. Shulman (book)
Laurian Leggett (adaptation)

Release Date:

2 August 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

He's a big city plastic surgeon...in a small town that doen't take plastic.

Plot:

A young doctor causes a traffic accident in a small town and is sentenced to work for some days at the town hospital.

Plot Keywords:

Small Town | Hospital | Accident | Ambulance | Doc

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 24	9:00 PM	TVLAND
Sat. July 25	9:00 AM	TVLAND

Cast

Michael J. Fox	...	Dr. Benjamin Stone
Julie Warner	...	Vialula / 'Lou'
Barnard Hughes	...	Dr. Aurelius Hogue
Woody Harrelson	...	Hank Gordon
David Ogden Stiers	...	Mayor Nick Nicholson
Frances Sternhagen	...	Lillian, Welcoming Committee
George Hamilton	...	Doctor Halberstrom
Bridget Fonda	...	Nancy Lee Nicholson
Mel Winkler	...	Melvin the Mechanic
Helen Martin	...	Maddie, Welcoming Committee
Roberts Blossom	...	Judge Evans
Tom Lacy	...	Deputy Cotton
Macon McCalman	...	Aubrey Draper
Raye Birk	...	Simon Tidwell, First Patient
Eyde Byrde	...	Nurse Packer

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:PG | Finland:S | Germany:12 | Italy:T | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:12 (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) (1992) | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Alachua County, Florida, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

This movie was filmed in Micanopy, FL. A small town of 650 people just south of Gainesville.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of film, during titles, Stone is driving and stops in traffic. He is wearing a dark brown jacket, but as he stands up to view traffic the jacket has disappeared.

Quotes:

Vialula: I suspect that your version of romance is whatever will separate me from my panties.
Dr. Benjamin Stone: No, I am just talking about dinner. Wear make-up, put on a dress. Panties are optional.

Movie Connections:

References "Star Search" (1983)

Soundtrack:

CONCERTO FOR JEW'S HARP, MANDORA AND ORCHESTRA IN E MAJOR

Michael J. Fox Country Charmer!

When future film critics decide to analyze the career of Michael J. Fox, they will likely say his talents were best suited to television, with an acknowledgement that he did star in the BACK TO THE FUTURE series. This will be a shame, as Fox has been an ingratiating, very enjoyable actor to watch, in most of his films, and DOC HOLLYWOOD is one of his best roles.

As breezy, fast-talking Washington, D.C. surgeon Dr. Ben Stone, who dreams of making big money doing plastic surgery in Hollywood, but finds his true calling as a general practitioner in a small southern hamlet, Fox is so 'right' that you can't imagine any other actor in the role. After a minor traffic accident enroute to California forces him to do 'public service' in fictional Grady, South Carolina, taking on much of the workload of a crusty old local physician (the always enjoyable Barnard Hughes), Stone becomes the 'talk' of the town, and rustic but wise Mayor Nick Nicholson (David Ogden Stiers, in one of his most engaging performances), starts 'selling' the joys of country life to the cosmopolitan young doctor. A quilt with 'magical' powers provides a nude vision of the girl he's destined to love, 'Lou' (Julie Warner), who turns out to be working at his office; his hormone-fueled pursuit of her, and her pragmatic 'indifference' to his flirtations make their gradual romance edgy and fun to watch.

In a town full of colorful characters, two 'stars in the making' stand out; Woody Harrelson, as 'Lou's' suitor, Hank Gordon, a country variation of his bartending character from 'Cheers', talks dumb but has a knack for selling, only lacking a place to make big money at it; and Bridget Fonda, as Mayor Nicholson's oversexed but 'out of place' daughter, hopes Stone will take her away to the bright lights of Hollywood. Both stars are terrific in their supporting roles, and show the charisma that would lead them to stardom.

DOC HOLLYWOOD is full of charming vignettes, from Stone vicariously reading the mail for an illiterate farm couple, to being paid for services rendered with a rather large pig, who ultimately becomes his 'pet'. The film abounds in warm comic touches that are guaranteed to bring a smile!

With a very funny cameo by George Hamilton, as the Hollywood plastic surgeon Stone dreams of working with, DOC HOLLYWOOD hits all the right notes for a terrific entertainment. My only complaint about the film is that it was actually filmed in Florida; as a South Carolina resident, I can attest that MANY of our small towns could have doubled quite nicely for Grady...

DOC HOLLYWOOD is a film I'm proud to have in my collection!