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Dirty Dancing

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Aug 21, 1987 1h 40m Drama Music Romance

Expecting the usual tedium that accompanies a summer in the Catskills with her family, 17-year-old Frances 'Baby' Houseman is surprised to find herself stepping into the shoes of a professional hoofer—and unexpectedly falling in love.

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Directed by Emile Ardolino

Cast

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Crew

Director
  • Emile Ardolino
Writer
  • Eleanor Bergstein
Producer
  • Linda Gottlieb

Reviews

talisencrw
7/10

This was schmaltzy but decent and could have been a lot worse. Normally I run from this sort of film like the plague but Patrick Swayze's recent death and me greatly enjoying 'Point Break' recently made me want to check out another one of his finest roles ('Ghost' and 'Road House' will have to wait, methinks.). When I got my first DJ-ing job, working the night shift at the now-defunct K-102 FM in Woodstock as a teenager, I often received calls asking for any of the three hit songs from its stellar and nostalgia-wringing soundtrack: Eric Carmen's 'Hungry Eyes', Swayze's own 'She's Like the Wind' or the Oscar-winning 'The Time of My Life' by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. It was interesting now, almost three decades later, finally seeing the music I had played on the airwaves eon before now shown in some sort of cinematic context.

It was OK to see as a tribute to Swayze's craft (he was trained in classic ballet as well as in acting) but I'm left with no interest whatsoever in either the sequel or remake, unless as a special gift for my lady, Tammy.

Aug 14, 2016

Wuchak
6/10

Entertaining hit with lush Appalachian locations, but the writing doesn't respect the intelligence of the viewer

RELEASED IN 1987 and directed by Emile Ardolino, "Dirty Dancing" stars Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle, a working-class dance instructor at a mountain resort in the Catskills in 1963. Jennifer Grey costars as "Baby," the 17-year-old daughter of an affluent Jewish doctor vacationing at the resort. She takes the place of Johnny's dance partner after his partner gets pregnant, albeit not by Johnny. Baby naturally develops a crush.

This was the hit romantic drama of 1987, but it actually didn’t make as much at the domestic box office compared to the other two dance flicks of the 80s: “Flashdance” (1983) made $95 million and “Footloose” (1984) $80 million while “Dirty Dancing” brought it $64 million. The two main cast members are a highlight. Swayze was in his prime and Jennifer Grey cute & nimble, like a fawn. In reality Grey was 26 years-old during filming, although she passes for late teens pretty well. Swayze, however, was 34 and looked it, albeit trim and fit.

The lush Appalachian locations are outstanding and the story keeps your attention but you'll roll your eyes at the idiotic misunderstanding where Baby's father assumes Johnny's the one who got his partner pregnant and, for some strange reason, no one sets him straight. Not to mention, the characters always say the wrong thing at the wrong time, which perpetuates the misunderstanding. Also, the sexual union of Johnny & Baby is both premature and unbelievable in light of the time period, Baby's age (17 years-old) and her upbringing. Frankie Avalon was once asked about his early 60’s "Beach" movies if the male-female relationships were as "squeaky clean" as portrayed and he answered (paraphrasing): "As a teen back then 'going all the way' wasn't even considered an option." The obvious exception would be disreputable kids from the "other side of the tracks."

Moreover, the fact that Johnny is having sex with the doctor's daughter, a minor at that, can't win any points in his favor. Hence, even without the misunderstanding there's little reason for the father to warm up to Johnny. So why does the doctor show respect for Johnny at the end, a dude who's fornicating with his under-aged daughter and is clearly much older than her as well, although it could be argued that he’s naïve and doesn’t necessarily know they’re having sex already. Flaws like these smack of lazy writing and are offensive to anyone with an ounce of intelligence.

If you can look past these problems, however, the film is entertaining. The dance sequences shown in the staff area are akin to vertical sex with clothes on. I guess that's why it's called "Dirty Dancing," huh? Yet this is another flaw of the movie: these scenes are so amped-up and choreographed they shout to the viewer via megaphone: "This is A MOVIE; it's NOT REAL." Nonetheless, Grey's a cutie, Swayze's The Man and the beautiful Appalachian locations are a highlight, filmed at Mountain Lake Resort, Pembroke, Virginia, and Lake Lure, NC.

THE FILM RUNS 1 hour, 45 minutes. WRITER: Eleanor Bergstein.

GRADE: B-/C+

Jul 28, 2018

testr
7/10

A pretty simplistic film with a plot that's more of an excuse to show dance scenes and an extremely surface level handling of the issues of gender and class that it raises, but it's pretty cute and also I'm bisexual so I like it anyway.

Jul 12, 2022

Andre Gonzales
6/10

An ok movie. A lot of cheesy parts that I didn't like. I did like the dancing and the love story. I guess it was better at that time.

Jun 25, 2023

r96sk
9/10

Pretty iconic.

Not sure how I hadn't logged this until now, given it's a film I watched quite a bit growing up due to it being my mum's favourite movie. Better late than never! <em>'Dirty Dancing'</em> is entertaining - cheesy, but entertaining. What helps is the ace soundtrack, which culminates with the classic <em>'(I've Had) The Time of My Life'</em> scene.

The film flies through its 100-minute run time and features super chemistry between leads Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, two who give strong performances. Jerry Orbach (Just me confusing him with Jonathan Hyde? Probably.) is good too. As you'd expect, the dance numbers are all on point as well.

I've never checked out the 2004 prequel, <em>'Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights'</em>. It's next up, though high hopes I do not hold - but we'll see.

Jan 28, 2024

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Thematic Analysis

As a dramatic work, Dirty Dancing examines complex human relationships and emotional struggles against the backdrop of a period setting that reflects societal issues of its time. The character development particularly stands out, offering viewers a chance to reflect on their own life journeys.

Director Emile Ardolino brings their distinctive visual style to this film, continuing their exploration of themes seen in their previous works while adding new elements. Their approach to character development and emotional depth creates a viewing experience that rewards close attention.

Released in 1987, the film exists within a cultural context that now offers viewers historical perspective on the social issues of that era. Its critical acclaim reflects its artistic achievements and its place in cinema history.

Did You Know?

  • The production of Dirty Dancing took approximately 27 months from pre-production to final cut.
  • With a budget of $6.0 million, the film proved to be a financial success, earning back its investment and more.
  • The final cut of the film runs for 100 minutes, though the director's initial assembly was reportedly 152 minutes long.
  • The screenplay went through 13 major revisions before the final shooting script was approved.
  • Some visual effects sequences took up to 4 months to complete.
  • The musical score contains over 35 unique compositions.

Historical Context

  • In 1987, when this film was released:
  • MTV launched, changing how music was marketed and consumed.
  • Personal computers were beginning to transform homes and workplaces.
  • Independent cinema was growing in influence, challenging the dominance of major studios.

How This Film Stands Out

While Dirty Dancing shares thematic elements with other films in its genre, it distinguishes itself through its unique approach to storytelling, visual style, and character development.

Unlike Torrey Pines, which takes a more conventional approach to its subject matter, Dirty Dancing subverts genre expectations by exploring its themes with greater nuance.

While films like My Life Without Me and 9 Songs explore similar territory, Dirty Dancing stands apart through its distinctive directorial vision and pacing.

This film's unique contribution to cinema lies in its bold artistic choices and willingness to challenge viewer expectations, making it a valuable addition to its genre.

Details

  • Release Date: August 21, 1987
  • Runtime: 1h 40m
  • Budget: $6,000,000
  • Revenue: $214,577,242

Where to Watch

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