Dirty Dancing Tickets With Amazing Grace
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.
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 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.
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”.
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.
Meanwhile, the Foxtrot and badminton go on, but other dramas are playing out. Lisa confides to Baby that she’s planning to “go all the way” with Robbie. Baby knows that Robbie is the father of Penny’s aborted child, but their father thinks Johnny is the culprit. When Johnny is accused of theft by one of his many female “conquests” – she’s seen him with Baby – he is assumed guilty by almost everyone. Baby knows, and this time Frances tells the truth. Frances, as Johnny tells her, is “a grown-up name”.
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!
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