Dirty Dancing

Rating: 8/10 (25 June 2007)

There are many movies that define the 1980s, and chick flicks that everyone recommends, this is one of the best examples, and from the year I was born, directed by Emile Ardolino (Three Men and a Little Lady, Sister Act). Basically set in the 1960s, seventeen-year-old Frances "Baby" Houseman (Golden Globe nominated Jennifer Grey) is vacationing with her family at Kellerman's resort in the Catskill Mountains, her doctor father Jake (Jerry Orbach) is the personal physician for resort proprietor Max Kellerman (Jack Weston). Baby befriends Max's grandson Neil (Lonny Price), and develops a crush on the resort's dance instructor Johnny Castle (Golden Globe nominated Patrick Swayze), she is fascinated by his "dirty dancing". Baby discovers Johnny's dance partner Penny Johnson (Cynthia Rhodes) is pregnant, womanising waiter Robbie Gould (Max Cantor) is the father, he is also dating and cheating on Baby's older sister Lisa (Jane Brucker). Baby borrows money from her father, she does not tell him it is for an illegal abortion for Penny, she accepts the money, but she and Johnny are due to perform a weekly dance at the nearby resort Sheldrake, she will miss the performance if she goes ahead with the abortion, and they will forfeit their season salary, Billy suggests Johnny to teach Baby to dance and take her place. Johnny begins to teach Baby, the two have many awkward practise sessions together, but she gradually begins to improve, and a romantic attraction develops between them, their performance at the Sheldrake Hotel is mostly successful, although Baby was too nervous to do the final lift. Johnny and Baby return to find Penny in agony, it turns out the doctor who performed the abortion was a back alley hack, Jake treats her, despite her anger with Baby using money to pay for the procedure, he forbids her to associate with Johnny or his friends. But Baby returns to Johnny to apologise for her father's behaviour, they dance together, and afterwards have sex, Jake tells his family they will be leaving early, but Lisa protests, wanting to sing at the end-of-season talent show, Jake gives in, and despite her father's warning, Baby continues to see Johnny. With his feelings for Baby, Johnny refuses payment to have sex with Vivian Pressman (Miranda Garrison), Vivian instead pays Robbie for sex, they are caught by Lisa, the following morning Vivian sees Baby leaving Johnny's cabin. Later, Max and Neil (Lonny Price) reveal to the Housemans that the wallet of Moe Pressman (Garry Goodrow) was stolen, Vivian accuses Johnny of the theft, in jealousy over his rejection, Johnny cannot give a verifiable alibi, but Baby saves him, confessing that she was him all night, so is not responsible. Johnny is cleared of the theft, it is revealed two elderly guests, Mr. and Mrs. Schumacher, are the culprits, but Max fires Johnny anyway for having a fraternising affair with Baby, Johnny and Baby embrace and bid farewell to each other, saying they have no regrets, despite the objections of her father. The end-of-season talent show is in progress, Jake takes back a recommendation letter for medical school for Robbie when he reveals he got Penny pregnant and insults and Baby, and Johnny walks in as staff and guests, including Lisa, are together on stage singing the closing song. Johnny leads Baby onstage to interrupt the show, he has returned to do the last dance of the season, he makes a brief speech about how "Frances" has made him a better man. Baby and Johnny perform a more provocative version of their Mambo duet, other "dirty dancers" join, Baby runs to Johnny and executes the lift they'd practised, all guests join the celebration, Jake apologises to Johnny and reconciles with Baby, the couple embrace and everyone dances joyously. Also starring Kelly Bishop as Marjorie Houseman, Charles 'Honi' Coles as Tito Suarez, 'Cousin Brucie' Morrow as Magician and Wayne Knight as Stan. Then unknown Swayze became a huge star following his great charismatic performance, Grey is equally great as the feisty middle-class teenager, they are a very convincing on screen couple. The story is nice and simple, the love story formed over dancing is sweet, the soundtrack is fantastic, with recognisable 60s songs, and original songs, including "Hungry Eyes" by Eric Carmen and "She's Like the Wind" by Patrick Swayze, and the very erotic and raunchy dance sequences are superbly choreographed, it is a most enjoyable romantic drama. It was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical. It was number 93 on 100 Years, 100 Passions, it was number 37 on The 100 Greatest Sexy Moments, it was number 98 on 100 Years, 100 Quotes ("Nobody puts Baby in the corner."), and it was number 86 on 100 Years, 100 Songs for the Oscar and Golden Globe winning "(I've Had) The Time of My Life". Very good!