When this low budget film, with a cast of unknown actors and actresses, came out in 1987, it took a whole lot of critics and moviegoers by surprise and by storm. The amazing part is that it manages to surprise and delight audiences to this day. This film has brought in more than three hundred million dollars from all over the world, and set a record in home video sales as the first to sell more than a million copies. The soundtrack produced two multi-platinum albums and a huge number of singles.
For those of us who watched Dirty Dancing on the big screen when it was first released, watching it today is almost heartbreakingly nostalgic. The story takes place, after all, in 1963, "before Kennedy was assassinated", and when it seemed the world retained its innocence. Jennifer Grey plays Frances Houseman, known to everyone as "Baby", and not minding it at all. Patrick Swayze is Johnny Castle, the street punk who has the moves as the dance instructor at the resort.
The dancing and all its side effects take place at a resort in the Catskills, where the Houseman family is taking a summer vacation. Baby's father is Dr. Houseman, physician to the rather sycophantic owner of Kellerman's Resort. His wife and Baby's older sister, Lisa, are relatively minor characters but each contributes to the subplot of the film. Baby's fascination with the dance instructor, Johnny Castle, and his partner Penny gets her and her family involved with "those people", and the fun begins.
Baby's naivet? is matched not only by her growing attraction to Johnny, but also by her desire to "change the world". When Penny has an illegal abortion, Baby gets her father to save the dancer's life. Dr. Houseman is horrified that his "Baby" is mixed up in this. To make it worse, he assumes that Johnny is responsible, and forbids her to have anything further to do with him.
But Baby also has the moves, as she and Johnny find out together when she offers to fill in for his partner so he won't lose his job. Both of them have doubts, but Johnny is a peerless teacher, and Baby quickly learns to trust him - and falls in love, of course.
While all this is happening, Baby's older sister is getting ready to "go all the way" with Robbie, son of the resort owner, though we have learned that Robbie is the guilty cause of the dancer's abortion, but feels no guilt. When another woman who has carnal designs on Johnny spies him embracing Baby, spite leads her to accuse Johnny of the theft of a patron's wallet. Johnny is assumed to be the culprit until Baby tells her father and the irate resort owner that Johnny couldn't have done it because he was in his room all night - with her!
Everybody grows up in this film, in one way or another. It's a triumph of love, with Johnny coming back to the resort for his traditional "last dance" of the season, even though he has been fired. When he pulls Baby out onto the stage - from her family's table, and in front of the whole Kellerman assembly, the "dirty dancing" they perform is truly a dazzling sight to behold, and indeed the entire audience is on its feet and dancing in the aisles.
The movie's title can apply to all the different scenarios that unfold as the story progresses. The actual dance scenes, including the "instruction" of Baby by Johnny in the correct steps and attitudes, are beautifully choreographed and entirely believable. Dirty Dancing is far from dirty. It is sensuous and sexual but somehow innocent - and very, very attractive! Patrick Swayze is irresistible, and Jennifer Grey is the epitome of the na?ve but innately sensual girl becoming a woman.
The movie translates well into the Broadway stage production also. The stage musical adaptation of Dirty Dancing has played to enthusiastic theatre goers in Germany, England, Canada and even Australia, and is still showing in London. If you move fast you can still see the touring production of the musical in Boston, but it is scheduled to close March 15th of this year. If you haven't caught this show in a theatre or on stage, you ought to get the video - it's too good to miss!
For those of us who watched Dirty Dancing on the big screen when it was first released, watching it today is almost heartbreakingly nostalgic. The story takes place, after all, in 1963, "before Kennedy was assassinated", and when it seemed the world retained its innocence. Jennifer Grey plays Frances Houseman, known to everyone as "Baby", and not minding it at all. Patrick Swayze is Johnny Castle, the street punk who has the moves as the dance instructor at the resort.
The dancing and all its side effects take place at a resort in the Catskills, where the Houseman family is taking a summer vacation. Baby's father is Dr. Houseman, physician to the rather sycophantic owner of Kellerman's Resort. His wife and Baby's older sister, Lisa, are relatively minor characters but each contributes to the subplot of the film. Baby's fascination with the dance instructor, Johnny Castle, and his partner Penny gets her and her family involved with "those people", and the fun begins.
Baby's naivet? is matched not only by her growing attraction to Johnny, but also by her desire to "change the world". When Penny has an illegal abortion, Baby gets her father to save the dancer's life. Dr. Houseman is horrified that his "Baby" is mixed up in this. To make it worse, he assumes that Johnny is responsible, and forbids her to have anything further to do with him.
But Baby also has the moves, as she and Johnny find out together when she offers to fill in for his partner so he won't lose his job. Both of them have doubts, but Johnny is a peerless teacher, and Baby quickly learns to trust him - and falls in love, of course.
While all this is happening, Baby's older sister is getting ready to "go all the way" with Robbie, son of the resort owner, though we have learned that Robbie is the guilty cause of the dancer's abortion, but feels no guilt. When another woman who has carnal designs on Johnny spies him embracing Baby, spite leads her to accuse Johnny of the theft of a patron's wallet. Johnny is assumed to be the culprit until Baby tells her father and the irate resort owner that Johnny couldn't have done it because he was in his room all night - with her!
Everybody grows up in this film, in one way or another. It's a triumph of love, with Johnny coming back to the resort for his traditional "last dance" of the season, even though he has been fired. When he pulls Baby out onto the stage - from her family's table, and in front of the whole Kellerman assembly, the "dirty dancing" they perform is truly a dazzling sight to behold, and indeed the entire audience is on its feet and dancing in the aisles.
The movie's title can apply to all the different scenarios that unfold as the story progresses. The actual dance scenes, including the "instruction" of Baby by Johnny in the correct steps and attitudes, are beautifully choreographed and entirely believable. Dirty Dancing is far from dirty. It is sensuous and sexual but somehow innocent - and very, very attractive! Patrick Swayze is irresistible, and Jennifer Grey is the epitome of the na?ve but innately sensual girl becoming a woman.
The movie translates well into the Broadway stage production also. The stage musical adaptation of Dirty Dancing has played to enthusiastic theatre goers in Germany, England, Canada and even Australia, and is still showing in London. If you move fast you can still see the touring production of the musical in Boston, but it is scheduled to close March 15th of this year. If you haven't caught this show in a theatre or on stage, you ought to get the video - it's too good to miss!
About the Author:
Written by Matt Ryan, article sponsored by StubPass.com. StubPass sells Dirty Dancing Tickets, sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets, Musical Tickets and many more tickets to your favorite events around your area.
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