The film Dirty Dancing came out in 1987, and its story takes place even earlier, but this deceptively titled little masterpiece took the moviegoers of the world by surprise. With a cast of characters played by relatively unknown actors, and not much of a budget, it has proven to be a continuing delight. The fact that it has grossed over $300 million and set a record of more than a million sales of home videos might tell you something. The fact that it engendered two multi-platinum albums and untold singles tells you even more.
The secret seems to be a combination of qualities. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey are a scintillating couple when they get going, and they certainly do! The scene is set in 1963, when the world (at least the United States) still held on to something like innocence. Jennifer Grey is well cast as Frances Houseman, a not-quite-typical Jewish Princess who is known as "Baby" and doesn't see a thing wrong with it. Patrick Swayze dazzles with his portrayal of the sexy but determinedly sullen Johnny Castle.
The Housemans are V.I.P. guests at Kellerman's Resort in the Catskills, on a three-week family vacation. Dr. Houseman, the personal physician of the resort's owner, his wife (not quite as staid as she first appears), 17 year old Baby and Lisa, her older and trying- to-be-superior sister all have some living and learning to do. Baby sets the stage by accidentally getting involved with the "No Guests Please" resort staff.
Watching Johnny and his partner, Penny, do their riveting (and deliciously dirty) Mambo number at a staff party, Baby is entranced. But when Penny falls prey to the owner's son, and has an illegal and life-threatening abortion, Baby gets her father involved, and it appears to be curtains for her growing attraction to the irresistible Johnny.
However, the 17-year-old girl has fallen in love as she is learning how to do the intricate and flamboyantly sensual "dirty dancing" that Johnny is so good at teaching. Johnny, in turn, is discovering that among all the women who pursue him, he has never met one like Baby. As they develop mutual trust, they also learn to dance together. And oh, how they dance! With the Foxtrot and Potato Sack Races in the background, these two reach the heights!
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.
This simple boy-meets-girl and goodness-wins-out Hollywood production has proved to be much more than it ever aspired to be. The Broadway musical adaptation of Dirty Dancing has done well in Europe, Australia and Canada, and is still showing in London. You can also catch the touring production in Boston until March 15th. If you miss the show, you need to get the movie. It's a winner! - 15336
The secret seems to be a combination of qualities. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey are a scintillating couple when they get going, and they certainly do! The scene is set in 1963, when the world (at least the United States) still held on to something like innocence. Jennifer Grey is well cast as Frances Houseman, a not-quite-typical Jewish Princess who is known as "Baby" and doesn't see a thing wrong with it. Patrick Swayze dazzles with his portrayal of the sexy but determinedly sullen Johnny Castle.
The Housemans are V.I.P. guests at Kellerman's Resort in the Catskills, on a three-week family vacation. Dr. Houseman, the personal physician of the resort's owner, his wife (not quite as staid as she first appears), 17 year old Baby and Lisa, her older and trying- to-be-superior sister all have some living and learning to do. Baby sets the stage by accidentally getting involved with the "No Guests Please" resort staff.
Watching Johnny and his partner, Penny, do their riveting (and deliciously dirty) Mambo number at a staff party, Baby is entranced. But when Penny falls prey to the owner's son, and has an illegal and life-threatening abortion, Baby gets her father involved, and it appears to be curtains for her growing attraction to the irresistible Johnny.
However, the 17-year-old girl has fallen in love as she is learning how to do the intricate and flamboyantly sensual "dirty dancing" that Johnny is so good at teaching. Johnny, in turn, is discovering that among all the women who pursue him, he has never met one like Baby. As they develop mutual trust, they also learn to dance together. And oh, how they dance! With the Foxtrot and Potato Sack Races in the background, these two reach the heights!
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.
This simple boy-meets-girl and goodness-wins-out Hollywood production has proved to be much more than it ever aspired to be. The Broadway musical adaptation of Dirty Dancing has done well in Europe, Australia and Canada, and is still showing in London. You can also catch the touring production in Boston until March 15th. If you miss the show, you need to get the movie. It's a winner! - 15336
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 more to just about any event in the world.
