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 dancing in this movie is certainly "dirty" by most popular standards of 1963, when it takes place. Foxtrot it is not. Mambo to the max is more like it. If you were old enough to see the movie when it first appeared, watching it now is a "trip", and a really good one! The main characters are Frances Houseman, known to family and friends as "Baby", and Johnny Castle, a hunk of a dance instructor. Jennifer Grey is the perfect actress for the role of "Baby", and Patrick Swayze emerges into stardom with his portrayal of 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.
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!
The "dirty dancing" that these two wonderfully believable young people supply is so entrancing because it is both sensual and sophisticated, yet still has a purity that defies any element of sleaze. It is just a joy to watch them together. The grand finale has the entire clientele of Kellerman's on their feet and getting into the spirit in a big way. It's a triumph of courage over self-doubt, and love over any darn thing that stands in its way!
Dirty Dancing is basically a simple, romantic love story, with just enough supporting characters and interwoven plot lines to keep it interesting. When the forces of stodginess and intolerance show up, they are ultimately and emphatically overwhelmed by the forces of love and fair play. The realistically choreographed dance scenes are a powerful force in themselves, but everything comes together for a rousing happy ending.
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! - 16738
The dancing in this movie is certainly "dirty" by most popular standards of 1963, when it takes place. Foxtrot it is not. Mambo to the max is more like it. If you were old enough to see the movie when it first appeared, watching it now is a "trip", and a really good one! The main characters are Frances Houseman, known to family and friends as "Baby", and Johnny Castle, a hunk of a dance instructor. Jennifer Grey is the perfect actress for the role of "Baby", and Patrick Swayze emerges into stardom with his portrayal of 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.
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!
The "dirty dancing" that these two wonderfully believable young people supply is so entrancing because it is both sensual and sophisticated, yet still has a purity that defies any element of sleaze. It is just a joy to watch them together. The grand finale has the entire clientele of Kellerman's on their feet and getting into the spirit in a big way. It's a triumph of courage over self-doubt, and love over any darn thing that stands in its way!
Dirty Dancing is basically a simple, romantic love story, with just enough supporting characters and interwoven plot lines to keep it interesting. When the forces of stodginess and intolerance show up, they are ultimately and emphatically overwhelmed by the forces of love and fair play. The realistically choreographed dance scenes are a powerful force in themselves, but everything comes together for a rousing happy ending.
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! - 16738
About the Author:
Written by Matt Ryan, 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.
