Take a slightly deceptive title and a couple of unknown actors, add an unknown choreographer, and you have the "sleeper" of Hollywood's dreams! Dirty Dancing, with its unassuming budget and very little hoopla, has now done over $300 million at the box office. It has enthralled moviegoers in Europe and Australia as well as the U.S.A. Home video sales of over a million set a record for that industry. The soundtrack has spawned two multi-platinum albums and an astonishing number of singles sales.
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.
Johnny Castle is very much a ladies' man, but until he meets Baby, he has only been using and being used by women. When his dance partner gets a botched abortion, unknowingly financed by Dr. Houseman at Baby's insistence, and she has to call her father to save the dancer's life, the doctor assumes that Johnny is the guilty party and forbids his daughter to have anything further to do with "those people".
Baby has done what she believes is the right thing, but it causes a painful rift between her Dad and her growing understanding of herself. She finds herself offering to stand in for Penny, mostly so Johnny won't lose his "gig". With some really intense lessons from the pro, they develop a pretty stunning routine of their own. Yes, Baby falls in love.
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.
As it becomes clear that the movie's title involves a few different but cohesive elements, the experience becomes even more enjoyable. The plot is simple, but the action is believable and in the case of the dance scenes, beautifully choreographed by (also then unknown) Kenny Ortega. "Dirty" is the farthest thing from the feeling you will get from this sensual but never sleazy display of youthful energy and abandon.
If you missed this performance in the movie theatres, there may still be a chance to see the Broadway production, which translates very well. It has played to great applause in Germany, England, Canada and Australia, and as of this date is still playing in London. The touring production will be in Boston until March 15th, 2009. Go see it if you can, and if you can't, get the video. This wonderfully Dirty Dancing is too much fun to miss! - 16492
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.
Johnny Castle is very much a ladies' man, but until he meets Baby, he has only been using and being used by women. When his dance partner gets a botched abortion, unknowingly financed by Dr. Houseman at Baby's insistence, and she has to call her father to save the dancer's life, the doctor assumes that Johnny is the guilty party and forbids his daughter to have anything further to do with "those people".
Baby has done what she believes is the right thing, but it causes a painful rift between her Dad and her growing understanding of herself. She finds herself offering to stand in for Penny, mostly so Johnny won't lose his "gig". With some really intense lessons from the pro, they develop a pretty stunning routine of their own. Yes, Baby falls in love.
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.
As it becomes clear that the movie's title involves a few different but cohesive elements, the experience becomes even more enjoyable. The plot is simple, but the action is believable and in the case of the dance scenes, beautifully choreographed by (also then unknown) Kenny Ortega. "Dirty" is the farthest thing from the feeling you will get from this sensual but never sleazy display of youthful energy and abandon.
If you missed this performance in the movie theatres, there may still be a chance to see the Broadway production, which translates very well. It has played to great applause in Germany, England, Canada and Australia, and as of this date is still playing in London. The touring production will be in Boston until March 15th, 2009. Go see it if you can, and if you can't, get the video. This wonderfully Dirty Dancing is too much fun to miss! - 16492
About the Author:
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 your area.
