Dirty Dancing was a cult classic that swept us off our feet and samba-ed its way into our hearts. Now, 30 years after its cinematic debut, it’s still one of the greatest romantic hits to ever grace the big screen and holds a special place in movie history. Still, as we were spellbound by Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey’s iconic lift, the plot could have easily turned out so differently…
A Movie All About Heart
In a candid interview about the real meaning behind Dirty Dancing, Swazye explained how “It’s not about the sensuality; it’s really about people trying to find themselves—this young dance instructor feeling like he’s nothing but a product, and this young girl trying to find out who she is in a society of restrictions when she has such an amazing take on things. On a certain level, it’s really about the fabulous, funky little Jewish girl getting the guy because what she’s got in her heart.”
A Movie All About Heart
Cast Rivalries
Surprisingly, Swayze actually had to persuade Jennifer Grey to accept the role at Baby. It seems Jennifer was less than impressed with Swazye after working with him on the movie Red Dawn (1984).
Cast Rivalries
It’s Cold In Here
That classic lift scene became one of the most iconic movie moments of all time. However, Jennifer and Swayze had to jump through uncomfortable hoops to get that picture-perfect scene. That’s because the lift on the lake was shot in North Carolina, whilst the other scenes were shot in Virginia. It was also filmed in October while the lake was uncomfortably cold. In reality, the scene had to be shot from further away to hide the fact that their lips had turned blue from the freezing weather!
It’s Cold In Here
Time To Prove Yourself
Although Swayze originally wanted Jennifer Grey to take on the part of Baby, before she was given the role she still had to prove herself. That’s because Jennifer was ten years older than the character she was playing, so she was given a five minute audition to show she could pull it off. Well, it actually took only took five minutes to do the trick and Jennifer then landed one of the most symbolic roles of her acting career.
Time To Prove Yourself
Val Kilmer As Johnny
The movie could have turned out so differently if Val Kilmer had accepted the role as Johnny. However, luckily for Swazye, Val Kilmer declined the part. Since Val had just taken a leading role in the classic movie Top Gun, he had become hot property in Hollywood and the directors wanted him for the role. Although the film had all the ingredients for an instant hit, Kilmer later said he declined the offer as he didn’t want to be type-cast as a Hollywood hunk. Incidentally, he later played a hunk in the movie Willow (1998), and it was actually a flop!
Val Kilmer As Johnny
Bringing In The Money
When the producers of Dirty Dancing decided to premiere the movie in theaters, it was definitely the right choice. Although the production costs amounted to $5 million, the movie actually racked up a staggering $214 million around the world. Whilst the film was a blockbuster in the box offices, it also became a worldwide phenomenon that etched its way into movie history and is still remembered thirty years on.
Bringing In The Money
Not So New York
In the script, the movie is supposed to be set in Upstate New York. Nevertheless, it was actually shot in North Carolina and Virginia. The movie was also supposed to be set in the summertime, but was shot in the fall. So, the production team had to spray paint the leaves on the set a brighter shade of green to give the illusion that it was a different season.
Not So New York
Runs In The Family
In our minds, Jennifer Grey carved a name for herself as Baby in the movie and will always be Baby forever. However, fans may not realize that Jennifer had also descended from a dancing dynasty as her father Joel is a legendary Cabaret performer. Perhaps that’s where she got some of her iconic moves from. It’s probably safe to say this family was born to perform.
Runs In The Family
All About The Image
The legendary TV therapist, Dr. Ruth Westheimer was initially asked to take on the role at Mrs. Schumacher in the hit movie. Nevertheless, after carefully considering the offer, she declined the part as she didn’t want it to taint her professional image. That’s probably down to the fact that Mrs. Schumacher was a thief in this role, so Dr Ruth didn’t want this to affect her career. Eventually Paula Trueman accepted the role.
All About The Image
From On Screen To Stage
The legendary movie was adapted to a musical in 2004 by Eleanor Bergstein, aptly titled, ‘Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage’. Owing to the huge success of the film, the musical was a staggering success in Toronto, Chicago, and Europe. While fans are still waiting for the musical to hit Broadway, they still got a chance to be swept off their feet by the hit musical throughout the world.
From On Screen To Stage
Dirty Dancing Made Into A TV Show
Dirty Dancing was also adapted into a spin-off TV show, which debuted in 1998. Just like the hit movie, the TV adaptation received instant acclaim and was a huge success. It spanned 11 episodes and featured the like of Paul Feig and Melora Hardin. In fact after starring in the TV series as Baby, Melora Hardin went on to star as the character Jan that we all know and love from The Office.
Dirty Dancing Made Into A TV Show
The Time Of His Life
Though he was a little skeptical initially, Bill Medley decided to record the iconic song for Dirty Dancing, and it was life-changing. As a testament its success, Medley decided to record another song with Swayze three years later for another romantic classic, Ghost. Medley featured on the track for the hit movie, which starred Swayze and Demi Moore. In the unforgettable pottery scene, the Righteous Brothers “Unchained Melody” plays in the background. It seems Dirty Dancing had a big impact on Medley’s life, and was probably the main inspiration for his autobiography in 2014, aptly titled, ‘The Time Of My Life’.
The Time Of His Life
A Fan Of Ryan Gosling
Whilst most fans would be starstruck by Jennifer Grey, it seems she was was later starstruck herself for a different reason. When Grey sat down to watch Ryan Gosling in Crazy, Stupid, Love, she was amazed to see the famous lift scene was recreated by Gosling while he tried to woo Emma Stone. Jennifer later gushed “I’m such a fan of Ryan Gosling and all of a sudden he’s saying my name [in the movie]. I’m just in the theater with my husband, and I look at him like, ‘Oh my God, Ryan Gosling just said my name.’”
A Fan Of Ryan Gosling
Dirty Dancing Themed Weekends
The movie was filmed in Pembroke, Virgina, and was such a phenomenal hit that they still organize three Dirty Dancing-inspired weekends each year. What guests can expect is is a screening of the movie classic, Dirty-dancing themed dinners, a watermelon toss, a sock hot, dance lessons, and an epic scavenger hunt. Guests can also attempt to recreate the legendary lift, though this is done at their own risk!
Dirty Dancing Themed Weekends
He Can Sing Too
Whilst Swayze starred as Johnny, he also spread his talents to other areas. It seems his talents has no bounds, so he was actually a triple threat to Dirty Dancing. Not content with just acting, he also co-wrote the musical classic “She’s Like The Wind,” with Stacy Widelitz, and belted his heart out too it too!
He Can Sing Too
It Was A No From Patrick
Since Dirty Dancing was such a phenomenal hit around the world, there were rumors of a sequel in the making. Nevertheless, Swayze really hated the idea of sequels, and turned down the offer. It wasn’t just any old offer either. Swayze actually turned down a $6 million offer to be cast as Johnny again. Now that’s some determination!
It Was A No From Patrick
The Crawl Was Not Intentional
In the legendary scene where Baby and Johnny crawl towards each other, fans may be surprised to the know that this was not included in the script. Interestingly, the actors were just completing a warm up and the directors were so mesmerized, that they decided to film it. When they made the decision to include it in the final production cut, they definitely made the right decision, as it became one of the most memorable and well-loved scenes in cinematic history.
The Crawl Was Not Intentional
Sarah Jessica Parker
Before Jennifer Grey was cast as Baby, it seems many other hopefuls auditioned for the part. One of these hopefuls was in fact Sarah Jessica Parker. While we will always love her for being Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and The City, the movie would have been so different if she had got the part. It seems no one could top the on-screen chemistry between Jennifer and Patrick!
Sarah Jessica Parker
Borscht Belts Were Big In The 50s
The Kellerman’s resort was located in the Catskills and was often referred to as the Borscht Belt. One of the main reasons behind the name was because the resorts became popular with Jewish-American families between the 1920s and 1980s. The resorts were at peak-popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, but after the 90s their popularity waned. Some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry like Joan Rivers and Jerry Seinfeld actually started their flourishing careers in these resorts.
Borscht Belts Were Big In The 50s
What’s In A Name?
Dirty Dancing became one of the most iconic films of all time, and we couldn’t imagine it as any other name. However, the writers were so close to calling it a completely different title! The legendary writer Eleanor Bergstein later revealed that the movie was almost dubbed ‘A Teenage Mumba Teen’ as it had trouble getting across the Canadian border under the name Dirty Dancing. It seems the border police thought that with this title it was actually a guise for an adult film.
What’s In A Name
Dirty Dancing Remake
After the success of the movie, there was actually a remake produced, which was titled Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. Some might argue it was not even in the same league or caliber as the original movie, especially as it had different leading characters. Nevertheless the dance scenes were choreographed by the same dancer as the original movie, and it actually was a box office hit. The movie had all the ingredients for success, from an attractive cast and Latin dancing to some pretty sensual scenes. Even if it steered away from the original, it’s still a must-see.
Dirty Dancing Remake
Eastern Europe Is A Fan
One of the most interesting feats about the movie is that it had a powerful impact throughout Eastern Europe and Russia. Bergstein actually revealed in 2016 that “In Russia, it’s policy in the battered women’s shelters, when a woman comes in for help. First, they wash and dress her wounds, then they give her soup. Then they sit her down and show her Dirty Dancing. When the Berlin Wall came down, there were all these pictures of kids wearing Dirty Dancing T-shirts; they were saying, ‘We want to have what they have in the West! We want Dirty Dancing!’”
Eastern Europe Is A Fan
Butting Against Each Other
Although the on-screen chemistry between Jennifer and Patrick was hot and steamy, fans may not realize that the pair didn’t get on so well when the camera wasn’t rolling. Swayze later said, “We did have a few moments of friction when we were tired or after a long day of shooting. She seemed particularly emotional, sometimes bursting into tears if someone criticized her. Other times, she slipped into silly moods, forcing us to do scenes over and over again when she’d start laughing.”
Butting Against Each Other
From Italy To Ireland
The producers initially wanted the character of Johnny to be played by an Italian- American, so they considered casting Billy Zane. In fact the actor later became well-know for his part in Titanic. Nevertheless when it was Zane’s turn to impress them with his on-screen test, they realized his moves weren’t quite up to scratch. Luckily for Patrick Swayze, he certainly had all the right moves in the audition. so the producers decided to make the lead character Irish instead of Italian, so Swayze would fit the role.
From Italy To Ireland
Deciding On Dirty
Although the producers had some notion of the story-line before the movie was underway, something wasn’t quite working when they were brainstorming the script. That was until producer, Lisa Gottlieb, asked Eleanor Bergstein to tell her about her background. Then everything just clicked as Eleanor replied “I grew up in Brooklyn, my father was a doctor, I was one of those kids who used to go across the tracks to go dirty dancing.” It was like a light-bulb moment for Gottlieb who said, “That’s a million-dollar title! Now we’ll figure out the story.”
Deciding On Dirty
Backed Into A Corner
One of the most classic lines of the movie has to be “Nobody puts Baby in the corner!” However Swayze was originally less than impressed with the phrase and asked the production team if he could scrap the line completely. But the production team insisted they kept it in. After the film premiered, and Swayze saw the final product, he soon changed his tune and agreed it was a good fit.
Backed Into A Corner
Temporarily Grounded
That iconic lift where Baby floats over the crowd, purely supported by Johnny’s strength, was in reality as terrifying for Jennifer to pull off as it looks. Due to her understandable fear, she told the producers she didn’t want to continue rehearsing the lift after her audition. When it was time to film the scene, it was actually only the second time they had attempted to create the lift. This made it even more vital for the pair to ensure they perfected the lift on the first take.
Unprompted Giggling
Just like many movies, there were a few spontaneous moments that were not scripted. One of these magic moments occurred when Johnny tickled Baby and she burst out laughing uncontrollably. In fact, Jennifer is extremely ticklish and she just couldn’t hold back the laughter. Luckily the cameras were rolling and they managed to capture the spontaneous scene. One person who wasn’t so impressed with the uncontrollable laughter was Johnny, who was visibly annoyed in the scene. The production team still loved it so kept it in.
Temporarily Grounded
Can’t Win Them All
Although there were a few concerns that the movie would flop at the box office, it ended up becoming a blockbusting hit. So as they never produced a sequel, in 2017 they decided to revive the movie and release a remake with a new cast. In this version, they cast Abigail Breslin as Baby. However the film was not received well by the critics, who cited Breslin’s lack of charisma as a dancer. The movie had all the ingredients for success, but unfortunately they couldn’t recreate the same magic as the original.
Can’t Win Them All
No Help From Friends
When the producers toyed with the idea of asking Eleanor Bergstein’s real life dance partners to be part of the film, she candidly revealed “My old partners are either in jail or out on parole … it was a very rough neighborhood.” While the original dirty dancers were not able to feature in the hit movie, they certainly inspired the unforgettable characters and gave the movie the raw authenticity that made it such a classic.
No Help From Friends
A Musical Hit
In 1987, after the film became a box office hit, the iconic anthem “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” made it to the top of the charts with over 50,000 copies sold. The song then won the seal of approval at the Grammy’s and Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes landed an award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals. If that’s not enough, the Dirty Dancing writers took home the Oscar at the 1988 Academy Awards, for Best Original Song. It’s probably safe to say that that they had the time of their lives.
A Musical Hit
From Another Mother
Kelly Bishop, who had already established a showbiz career as a dancer, was originally cast as Vivian Pressman. You would probably recognize her more easily today as the snarky grandmother on Gilmore Girls. However she then landed won the role of the mom Marjorie Houseman instead. This was because the original casting choice, Lynne Lipton was sick, so the producers asked her to fill the part of the mother… and the rest is history.
From Another Mother
Come Out For Conan
On the 10th anniversary of the film’s release, some avid fans wanted the next generation to experience the same cinematic magic as they had. Conan O’Brien even started a Dirty Dancing campaign on his show, asking his audience to band together and write letters to demand that they re-release the film. Surprisingly, his plan worked and the producers re-released the movie on it’s 10 year anniversary. It’s hard to imagine, but this was all achieved before Twitter or Facebook had even come into existence.
Come Out For Conan
Dirty Dancing Reflects The Writer’s Life
The script was composed by the talented Screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein, who was actually inspired by her own experiences. When she younger she had also visited the Catskills with her family. She was also given the nickname “Baby, and went to similar parties where she learnt how to dance. She also didn’t let them put her in the corner and became a talented screenwriter and produced a hit movie. After the success of Dirty Dancing she began directing movies in 1995 and wrote the script for Let It Be Me, but so far hasn’t directed anything since then.
Dirty Dancing Reflects The Writer’s Life
Sounds Like A Bad ‘Adult Film’
Just like some of classic scenes in the movie became iconic in their own right, so did the anthem “Time Of My Life”. While this song will forever be associated with romance and dancing lifts, originally the singer-songwriter Bill Medley refused the offer to compose it as the title sounded like a raunchy adult film. Luckily for us, the director convinced him otherwise and the iconic song that we all know and love was written.
Sounds Like A Bad ‘Adult Film’
Dirty Dancing Reality Show
It seems there were no bounds to the Dirty Dancing spin-offs, as in 2007 a Dirty Dancing reality show was launched in the UK, aptly titled, Dirty Dancing: The Time of Your Life. The show saw contestants compete for first place in a dancing competition and they were actually judged by some of the original cast of the movie. While the show ran for two seasons, it was not renewed again. It seems many of these spin-off shows found it hard to recreate the magic of the original film.
Dirty Dancing Reality Show
Wayne Knight’s Big Break
Dirty Dancing gave some stars like Wayne Knight their big break when he was cast as Stan. At that time he had just starred in some minor shows on TV, but after he was cast as Newman in Seinfield and became a household name.
Wayne Knight’s Big Break
Straight To VHS
Some of the people needed convincing that Dirty Dancing wouldn’t be a monumental flop, included the show’s producers. They even considered releasing the film straight to VHS instead at the movies. Luckily for the fans, it turned out to be the best decision they could have made and a record-breaking box office success. Thi sis probably since nothing beats watching the on-screen chemistry between Swayze and Grey on the silver screen.
Straight To VHS
It’s All In The Outfits
The producers of the film made sure the leading characters were color-coordinated throughout. Baby was always dressed in light pastel colors, which reflected her innocence and Johnny stuck to black and darker colors, which was a perfect fit for his bad-boy image.
It’s All In The Outfits
No Time Like The Present
When the movie was in the making, they cast had a tight filming schedule. So the rehearsals only lasted two weeks, which including perfecting that lift. The entire movie was shot in just forty-four days, which is no time at all compared to most movies in Hollywood. This movie already had a lot of ingredients for a blockbuster, so perhaps that’s all the time they needed to create such an iconic hit.
No Time Like The Present