Dutch Treat 1987
Directed by
Boaz Davidson
Made by
The Cannon Group
Dutch Treat Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Dutch Treat (1987). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Jerry Morgan [David Landsberg] appears in court to answer for more than 250 parking violations that were actually committed by his friend Norm with Jerry’s car. On Norm’s advice, Jerry pleads guilty to receive a minor penalty, but now he has to go to jail for several weeks. Soon after his release, Jerry learns that, in the meantime Norm has sublet his apartment and that his girlfriend has dumped him.
As the two are short of money, Norm has the idea to hire a ship to Holland and to perform as knife throwers. Things go terribly wrong and they kill two of the ship’s servants. They are taken into police custody when arriving in Amsterdam, where they are ordered to return to America on a cargo ship three days later. They have some time to visit the city, where they meet a talented female band, the Dolly Dots. Norm poses as an employee of Jerry, introducing himself as Lou Winters [Ronnie Schell], the boss of Capitol Records. They offer the women that in case they ever visit Los Angeles, they will be welcome anytime. They attend another performance of the band in the evening, which results in a brawl, all ending up in police custody. The American attaché in charge wants to get rid of the two Americans immediately. He chauffeurs them personally to a small airport and puts them into a shaky, hardly airworthy plane. The crew, a drunken female pilot and her simple-minded copilot, take them to the United States.
Back in Los Angeles, Jerry and Norm are doing their normal, low-paid jobs. Jerry works in a hotel kitchen and Norm drives a cab around the city. The Dolly Dots actually come to Los Angeles to be managed by Lou Winters [Ronnie Schell]. They stay at the same hotel where Jerry works, because Lou Winters is staying there as well. Jerry and Norm manage to play their fake roles credibly in front of the band through various diversionary tactics. They arrange a small gig for the band and go with them to a hip party.
However, their cover is blown, as the lead singer of the band Dead Meat knows the real Lou Winters. The Dolly Dots are terribly disappointed by the two pretenders, hence, they want to leave Los Angeles for Holland again. Still, Jerry and Norm have a final plan, they want to make sure that the band gets their chance to play an important gig after all. In the evening Dead Meat performs in front of different music producers. Jerry and Norm disguise as roadies and are able to smuggle in the Dolly Dots. They lead helium through hoses to the microphones, so that the voice pitches of Dead Meat are changed. The band is booed off the stage, giving the Dolly Dots their chance to enter the stage and play. Lou Winters is really pleased and decides to sign the band.
Dutch Treat Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Dutch Treat (1987) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Court appearance and guilty plea
Jerry Morgan appears in court to answer for more than 250 parking violations actually committed by his friend Norm using Jerry's car. On Norm's advice, Jerry pleads guilty to receive a minor penalty, but this results in several weeks of jail time. The outcome kicks off a downward spiral that pushes them toward a risky scheme.
Post-release setbacks
Soon after his release, Jerry discovers that Norm has sublet his apartment and that his girlfriend has dumped him. The two are left with little money and no stable home, forcing them to consider bigger, riskier plans. Desperation becomes the fuel for their impending caper.
Knife-thrower scam idea
Norm proposes hiring a ship to Holland to perform as knife throwers, hoping to cash in on their notoriety. They decide to stage the act as a quick, money-making scheme despite the danger. This marks a shift from petty crimes to a larger international stunt.
Murder on the voyage
During the voyage, their reckless plan turns deadly as they kill two of the ship's servants. The murder triggers immediate legal trouble once the ship reaches port. The act of violence seals their fate on this ill-fated trip.
Arrest in Amsterdam and return order
Upon arriving in Amsterdam, they are taken into police custody. The authorities order them to return to America on a cargo ship three days later, forcing a hurried end to the illicit voyage. The clock is now ticking on their next moves.
Dolly Dots meet and alias Lou Winters
With a few days to spare before departure, they wander Amsterdam and meet the Dolly Dots, a talented female band. Norm adopts the alias Lou Winters, presenting himself as a Capitol Records executive to help the band’s prospects. They hatch a dubious plan to bring the Dolly Dots to LA.
Amsterdam brawl and detention
The Dolly Dots join a performance by Dead Meat in Amsterdam, and a brawl ensues. The scuffle ends with all involved in police custody, complicating the band's prospects. An American attaché oversees the case and decides what happens next.
Flight back to the United States
The American attaché arranges the two Americans' removal, driving them to a small airport and putting them aboard a shaky plane. The trip back to the United States marks a retreat from their latest scheme, but not from the consequences that follow.
Back in Los Angeles
Back in LA, Jerry and Norm resume their routine, low-paid jobs—Jerry in a hotel kitchen and Norm driving a cab. The return home reestablishes the status quo, yet their recent experiences linger as a catalyst for new plans.
Dolly Dots arrive in LA
The Dolly Dots come to Los Angeles to be managed by Lou Winters and stay at the same hotel as Jerry. The presence of the fake manager in their midst begins to blur the lines between their duplicitous past and a possible future in music.
Cover blown and disappointment
The Dolly Dots' hopes are dashed when Dead Meat's lead singer recognizes the real Lou Winters. The women feel betrayed by the pretenders and express a desire to return to Holland. The plan to keep the band moving forward takes a new shape in light of the exposure.
A final plan to break through
Despite the setback, Jerry and Norm devise a final plan to give the Dolly Dots a genuine chance, staging a pivotal moment that could launch their career. They resolve to manipulate circumstances to put the band in the spotlight.
Sabotage to secure the break
On the night of the big opportunity, Jerry and Norm disguise themselves as roadies and sneak the Dolly Dots into Dead Meat’s performance. They feed helium through hoses to the microphones, causing Dead Meat’s vocals to go off-pitch and destabilize the act. The planned disruption clears the way for the Dolly Dots.
The big break and signing
With Dead Meat discredited, the Dolly Dots finally take the stage and perform. Lou Winters signs the band, securing their major breakthrough and bringing the caper to a triumphant close. The ruse, for better or worse, achieves its intended outcome.
Dutch Treat Characters
Explore all characters from Dutch Treat (1987). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Jerry Morgan (David Landsberg)
A courthouse defendant who pleads guilty to numerous parking violations on a friend’s behalf, only to face weeks in jail and financial precarity after release. His cautious nature clashes with Norm’s audacious schemes, pulling him into a risky deception for the Dolly Dots. He serves as the practical counterweight to their elaborate con game.
Norm (Lorin Dreyfuss)
A quick-witted schemer who dreams big, schemes to go to Holland, and orchestrates the disguise as Lou Winters. He drags Jerry into the caper to chase a bigger payoff and a sense of control over their money woes. His improvisational energy drives the plot’s twists and risky maneuvers.
Lou Winters (Ronnie Schell)
The fictitious boss of Capitol Records that Norm and Jerry pretend to be, using the alias to secure a major gig for the Dolly Dots. He serves as the front for the duo’s deception, giving their plan a veneer of legitimacy and a target for the band’s moment in the spotlight.
Betsy Winters (Carol Potter)
Norm’s girlfriend who ultimately dumps him, illustrating the personal fallout that accompanies their reckless con. She represents the ordinary life that the duo seek to disrupt or escape through their schemes. Her breakup underscores the film’s mixing of romance and misadventure.
Ria (Ria Brieffies)
A member of the Dolly Dots, the talented Dutch pop group the duo target for a breakthrough. She embodies the band’s ambition and resilience as they navigate offers, performances, and the tension between art and business. She is part of the ensemble that the caper aims to elevate.
Patty (Patty Zomer)
Another Dolly Dots member bringing energy and charm to the group, balancing showmanship with the chaos of the plot. She shares the dream of recording a major release, even as deception swirls around them.
Esther (Esther Oosterbeek)
A Dolly Dots member whose presence reinforces the group’s chemistry and ambition. She reflects the dynamic of Dutch pop meeting international opportunity, staying resilient through the misadventures.
Angela (Angela Groothuizen)
One of the Dolly Dots performers who travels to LA and joins the plan for a big break. She adds energy to the group’s dynamics, illustrating how the band navigates fame and deception together.
Sjeel (Angéla Kramers)
A Dolly Dots member whose presence highlights the ensemble nature of the band’s pursuit of a major gig. She completes the core group featured in the final performance caper.
L.A. Judge (Fredd Wayne)
The judge who presides over the courtroom saga, anchoring the caper with a sense of legal formality. His authority provides the boundary between mischief and accountability in the film’s comic drama.
Dutch Treat Settings
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Location
Amsterdam, Los Angeles
Amsterdam serves as the European backdrop where the plot's misadventures unfold, including a risky voyage and a chance encounter with the Dolly Dots. Los Angeles provides the film’s American hub, where the impostors try to establish legitimacy in the music industry and stage a dramatic rise to fame. The contrast between the Dutch setting and the glitzy LA scene underscores the blend of crime comedy and showbusiness ambition.
Dutch Treat Themes
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Deception
Two friends adopt false identities to chase a breakthrough in show business, risking jail and personal fallout. Their impersonation of a music executive opens doors for the Dolly Dots while masking their real motives. The plot tenses around the risk of exposure and the humor of a caper built on lies.
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Music Industry
The Dolly Dots’ quest for a major break frames the story as a satire of showbiz opportunism. The fake authority of Lou Winters provides a shortcut to fame, while the band experiences the pressures of auditions, producers, and live performances. The climactic moment hinges on stagecraft and the illusion of success.
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Friendship and Consequences
Jerry and Norm’s partnership blends camaraderie with reckless improvisation. Their schemes reveal how friendship can push people toward risky decisions with real consequences. Despite the chaos, their plan ultimately yields a breakthrough, highlighting both the humor and danger of their bond.
Dutch Treat Spoiler-Free Summary
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In the bustling escapade of a transatlantic road‑trip, two restless Americans set out to trade their ordinary grind for a taste of European adventure. Jerry Morgan is a good‑natured dreamer whose life has stalled in a series of dead‑end jobs, while his companion Norm is a schemer with a knack for turning a misstep into a wild opportunity. Together they embody the classic mismatched duo, the kind whose banter and bravado keep the world at arm’s length even as they stumble into one mishap after another.
Their wanderings lead them to the vibrant streets of Amsterdam, a city that hums with music, cafés, and the promise of something unforgettable. There they encounter an electrifying all‑female Dutch rock band whose raw talent and charismatic stage presence ignite the pair’s imagination. Seizing the moment, the friends spin a whimsical ruse, posing as record‑company executives in the hopes of opening a door that could launch both the band and themselves into a brighter future.
Back on American soil the imagined deal becomes a fragile reality that the two must nurture without tripping over the elaborate pretense they have crafted. The stakes rise as they scramble to secure gigs, coax industry insiders, and keep the illusion intact—all while navigating the chaotic rhythm of Los Angeles and the pressure of expectations that swirl around their unlikely partnership. Their friendship is tested by the tension between sincerity and showmanship, each trying to balance the excitement of a grand plan with the grounded need for honesty.
The film radiates a breezy, off‑beat energy, blending slapstick moments with earnest ambition. It paints a portrait of youthful optimism colliding with the practicalities of the music world, inviting the audience to wonder whether a bold charade can ultimately become the stepping stone to real success—or simply another unforgettable detour on a journey defined by laughter, camaraderie, and the relentless pursuit of a dream.
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