With a running time of an hour and 40 minutes, Emile Ardolino captures it all. Beautiful filmmaking, timeless actors and an amazing soundtrack with classic lines, breathtaking scenery and an unforgettable storyline.
Nobody puts Baby in the corner, and neither should you with this film.
“Dirty Dancing” is a love story between two individuals from different walks of life. Frances “Baby” Houseman is a young girl who has everything but itches to make a change in the world. Johnny Castle is a working man who has to put in the hours to get where he wants to be.
Baby was whisked away to the Catskill Mountains with her family for a relaxing stay at an exquisite resort for the summer. Johnny is the resort’s dance instructor who is in charge of giving dance lessons to the guests.
The two had a chance meeting when Baby wanted to help out Johnny’s dance partner who needed a serious operation done. While his partner is recovering, Baby fills in and the story takes off from there.
This film is visually beautiful. The scene’s background and talented cast make it hard for anyone to get bored of this film. Especially a young 10-year-old girl.
I grew up in the dance world and stumbled upon this film when checking it out at my local library. I secretly watched it in my room as it was one of my first PG-13 films. I was shocked, to say the least.
The provocative dancing, the beautiful face of Patrick Swayze and the impressive lift scene set to Bill Medley and Jennifer Warne’s “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” captivated me as a young child.
I watched in awe as this movie unfolded and still do to this day. The carefully selected soundtrack is what ultimately brings this film together. Each song brings the scenes to life. When I hear these songs, I often think of the specific scenes associated with them.
The main two actors, Swayze and Jennifer Grey had me in a bind and still do. The way they made this film look so effortless (even though they had issues in real life, come to find out) is what ultimately draws me in every time.
The pair who appeared together in multiple 80s films, worked their magic once again in this movie. They both have such a spark to them but in a different way. Swayze has the sex appeal and masculinity, while Grey brings a more mysterious and light-hearted tone to the film.
Their magic comes together to create a wonderful masterpiece that shows how dancing can bring people together even through the toughest of challenges. The film juggles real-life topics making it relatable to people of all walks of life.
With Swayze deceased and Grey not being in any recent films, it makes movies like this extra special. “Dirty Dancing” will always be one of my favorite movies because I know good and well to never be put in the corner.
Steinmetz can be reached at [email protected].
