Jennifer Grey learns how to call her lover boy By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine Since its release in 1987, Dirty Dancing has become a slow-burning Hollywood classic for those who like their romance danced out. As it opens on London's West End stage, with "record" advance ticket sales, what's its enduring appeal?
Jennifer Grey learns how to call her lover boy By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine Since its release in 1987, Dirty Dancing has become a slow-burning Hollywood classic for those who like their romance danced out. As it opens on London's West End stage, with "record" advance ticket sales, what's its enduring appeal?
"No one puts Baby in the corner."
"No one puts Baby in the corner."
If that line doesn't get the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end then you may as well give up on life - you're dead inside.
If that line doesn't get the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end then you may as well give up on life - you're dead inside.
A little harsh maybe, but the opinion of one die-hard Dirty Dancing fan and probably echoed by millions the world over.
A little harsh maybe, but the opinion of one die-hard Dirty Dancing fan and probably echoed by millions the world over.
For them, that infamous line is the climax of 97 minutes of pure celluloid gold and signals the start of what is widely considered the most goose bump-inducing dance scene in movie history.
For them, that infamous line is the climax of 97 minutes of pure celluloid gold and signals the start of what is widely considered the most goose bump-inducing dance scene in movie history.
That goose bump liftTo those who do not know the film, it is often known as "the Star Wars for girls". Just as a generation of men grew up quoting Jedi proverbs, their female equivalents were summoning the above "baby" line to their friends. That might help you get your head round how big a phenomenon it is.
That goose bump liftTo those who do not know the film, it is often known as "the Star Wars for girls". Just as a generation of men grew up quoting Jedi proverbs, their female equivalents were summoning the above "baby" line to their friends. That might help you get your head round how big a phenomenon it is.
Set in 1963, the film centres around the plain-but-intelligent Frances "Baby" Houseman. She goes to the upmarket Kellerman's holiday camp with her family and falls in love with dance instructor Johnny Castle, who is older, brooding, misunderstood and from the wrong side of the tracks.
Set in 1963, the film centres around the plain-but-intelligent Frances "Baby" Houseman. She goes to the upmarket Kellerman's holiday camp with her family and falls in love with dance instructor Johnny Castle, who is older, brooding, misunderstood and from the wrong side of the tracks.
He teaches her how to dance, and inducts her in the physical aspect of romance; she teaches him that it is always worth fighting for what you believe in. Fair swap then.
He teaches her how to dance, and inducts her in the physical aspect of romance; she teaches him that it is always worth fighting for what you believe in. Fair swap then.
The movie cost just over £2.5m to make but took over £90m worldwide. The cash registers didn't stop ringing there, it went on to become the first film ever to sell a million copies on video.
The movie cost just over £2.5m to make but took over £90m worldwide. The cash registers didn't stop ringing there, it went on to become the first film ever to sell a million copies on video.
Sex symbol
Sex symbol
It won critical acclaim, Golden Globes and the soundtrack topped the charts. Its Jennifer Warnes-Bill Medley theme tune, (I've Had) The Time Of My Life, won an Oscar for best original song and was even recently declared the third most popular song currently played at funerals in the UK.
It won critical acclaim, Golden Globes and the soundtrack topped the charts. Its Jennifer Warnes-Bill Medley theme tune, (I've Had) The Time Of My Life, won an Oscar for best original song and was even recently declared the third most popular song currently played at funerals in the UK.
The film made a star out of female lead Jennifer Grey and a A-list sex symbol of Patrick Swayze (currently treading the boards elsewhere in London's West End, in Guys and Dolls).
The film made a star out of female lead Jennifer Grey and a A-list sex symbol of Patrick Swayze (currently treading the boards elsewhere in London's West End, in Guys and Dolls).
Grey played a naive, though principled, 17-year-old"This film is the one that gets you hooked," says a spokeswoman for Swayze's international fan club. "The story of young love at its best. The music is great, the dancing is hot and Mr Swayze is amazing."
Grey played a naive, though principled, 17-year-old"This film is the one that gets you hooked," says a spokeswoman for Swayze's international fan club. "The story of young love at its best. The music is great, the dancing is hot and Mr Swayze is amazing."
So much so that someone has even done a PHD on him. Nicola Daine, postgraduate research assistant at the University of Gloucestershire, focused her studies on his sex symbol status amongst female fans.
So much so that someone has even done a PHD on him. Nicola Daine, postgraduate research assistant at the University of Gloucestershire, focused her studies on his sex symbol status amongst female fans.
The London stage production, which opens on Tuesday, is reportedly the most successful pre-sold show in the history of London theatre. Cynics will note remarkable ticket sale stories often accompany new shows but, nevertheless, it has generated £12m in ticket sales before even opening.
The London stage production, which opens on Tuesday, is reportedly the most successful pre-sold show in the history of London theatre. Cynics will note remarkable ticket sale stories often accompany new shows but, nevertheless, it has generated £11m in ticket sales before even opening.
So what is it about this low-budget chick flick that makes it so popular?
So what is it about this low-budget chick flick that makes it so popular?
Cheesy
Cheesy
"Heavens, where do I start?" says self-confessed Dirty Dancing fan Jane Sales. "It is a classic film about good winning the day. Baby gets accepted into the cool crowd, gets the popular guy, wins his respect and does it all by being herself.
"Heavens, where do I start?" says self-confessed Dirty Dancing fan Jane Sales. "It is a classic film about good winning the day. Baby gets accepted into the cool crowd, gets the popular guy, wins his respect and does it all by being herself.
"But ultimately it is about the transformative power of love. She is transformed from a girl into a woman by Johnny and she transforms him from a cynical, angry young man into someone who believes in justice.
"But ultimately it is about the transformative power of love. She is transformed from a girl into a woman by Johnny and she transforms him from a cynical, angry young man into someone who believes in justice.
"And if that closing dance scene doesn't get your pulse racing with excitement then you're dead inside."
"And if that closing dance scene doesn't get your pulse racing with excitement then you're dead inside."
DIRTY DANCING FACTS Released August 21, 1987Filmed in Virginia, North CarolinaSpawned TV-series spin-off Val Kilmer originally offered lead male role
DIRTY DANCING FACTS Released August 21, 1987Filmed in Virginia, North CarolinaSpawned TV-series spin-off Val Kilmer originally offered lead male role
But the film is far from a masterpiece, it's cheesy and littered with cliches. What makes it so enduring is a plot driven by timeless narratives, say film experts.
But the film is far from a masterpiece, it's cheesy and littered with cliches. What makes it so enduring is a plot driven by timeless narratives, say film experts.
"It has that Pygmalion aspect to it - a younger woman being taught how to do something properly by an older man," says Dr Rachel Moseley, senior lecturer in Film & Television Studies at the University of Warwick.
"It has that Pygmalion aspect to it - a younger woman being taught how to do something properly by an older man," says Dr Rachel Moseley, senior lecturer in Film & Television Studies at the University of Warwick.
"There is also the narrative of achievement, which is very popular with young women - especially achievement through dance. Just look at other 1980s classics, like Fame and Flashdance."
"There is also the narrative of achievement, which is very popular with young women - especially achievement through dance. Just look at other 1980s classics, like Fame and Flashdance."
Traitor
Traitor
It even has crossover appeal among "new men".
It even has crossover appeal among "new men".
"I'd love to dance like they do and watching two people dance like that is so sexy," says Andy, a proud male Dirty Dancing fan.
"I'd love to dance like they do and watching two people dance like that is so sexy," says Andy, a proud male Dirty Dancing fan.
"There are some great tracks in there that you would never normally be exposed to on the radio today. My favourite is 'Love is strange' and I have learned all the words."
"There are some great tracks in there that you would never normally be exposed to on the radio today. My favourite is 'Love is strange' and I have learned all the words."
And what the film offers men has the potential to be just as emancipating as the achievement narrative is for women.
And what the film offers men has the potential to be just as emancipating as the achievement narrative is for women.
Swayze: Now in Guys and Dolls (Grey: Last seen on US TV)"I think watching the film probably helps men understand women better and gives some tips into what romance is," says Andy.
Swayze: Now in Guys and Dolls (Grey: Last seen on US TV)"I think watching the film probably helps men understand women better and gives some tips into what romance is," says Andy.
"Women love talking about Dirty Dancing and like getting me to try and persuade their boyfriends to watch the movie with them. I think the men see me as a traitor to the sex."
"Women love talking about Dirty Dancing and like getting me to try and persuade their boyfriends to watch the movie with them. I think the men see me as a traitor to the sex."
The enduring narratives of the plot mean it will always resonate with people, which is why fans who first watched it in 1987 have shown it to their children and grandchildren.
The enduring narratives of the plot mean it will always resonate with people, which is why fans who first watched it in 1987 have shown it to their children and grandchildren.
"My young daughter loves it," says Ms Sales. "It was a special moment for me when we watched it together for the first time."
"My young daughter loves it," says Ms Sales. "It was a special moment for me when we watched it together for the first time."
But it is Swayze, now 54, who summed it up perfectly in a recent interview."This," he said, "is the movie that will not die."
But it is Swayze, now 54, who summed it up perfectly in a recent interview."This," he said, "is the movie that will not die."
I have to say as a girl, and I was 15 when it came out, the movie just didn't really appeal to me at all, although my older sister loved it. Now I'm so much older, and wiser clearly, I enjoy the guilty pleasure of watching it alone and crying sentimentally at all the cliches, the routine on the tree trunk, the gasping ending, the works. And boy, could that man wiggle his hips...Lisa, Sunderland
I have to say as a girl, and I was 15 when it came out, the movie just didn't really appeal to me at all, although my older sister loved it. Now I'm so much older, and wiser clearly, I enjoy the guilty pleasure of watching it alone and crying sentimentally at all the cliches, the routine on the tree trunk, the gasping ending, the works. And boy, could that man wiggle his hips...Lisa, Sunderland
Err, it was a load of rubbish then and when I saw it on tv a month or so ago it was still a load of rubbish.John, Cardiff, Wales
Err, it was a load of rubbish then and when I saw it on tv a month or so ago it was still a load of rubbish.John, Cardiff, Wales
A huge part of my early teenage years.. I remember saving my wages from my first ever part time job to buy it, second hand, from the local video rental store for £40 (this was before films came out on video to buy within months of their cinema release). I watched it more times than I could count before "out growing it" 15 years later, I recently bought the DVD and rewatched. I was thrilled to realise I could still remember all the lines, and could still cry at all the same parts.Now, I finally have a way to explain its appeal to my Star Wars geek of a husband! Thankyou BBC!N Tysoe, London, UK
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