When Dirty Dancing hit the big screen in 1997, everyone went wild. Even though it was a low-budget film, the film instantly became a box office hit. Thanks to its incredible dance numbers, strong leads, exceptional writing and brilliant casting, Dirty Dancing immediately drew audiences in. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey were the talk of the town – their onscreen chemistry was sizzling to watch. Be that as it may, we’ve decided to talk a behind the scenes look at this romantic drama dance film. These little known facts will stun you, find out why.
Not A Fan
Jennifer Grey, AKA Baby, actually had to be convinced to work with Patrick Swayze. Initially she wasn’t happy with his casting as she had really disliked him while filming Red Dawn years before. However once they did their dancing screen test, the chemistry between the duo was obvious. Eleanor Bergstein, the film’s writer, described it as “breathtaking.”
Not A Fan
Influence
The characters of Baby and Johnny were actually influenced by the life of the writer Eleanor Bergstein. Just like Baby, Bergstein came from a liberal family who often visited Catskills resorts during the 60’s. Bergstein’s father was also a doctor. Moreover, her nickname was “Baby” until she was 22 ~and~ her real first name was inspired by a famous woman with ties to Eleanor Roosevelt. Just like Johnny, Bergstein was a brilliant “dirty dancer” who learned how to groove at house parties and later would become an Arthur Murray instructor.
Influence
The Leads
We can’t picture anyone BUT Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey playing the lead roles. There’s just no other choice that even makes sense. However Billy Zane and Sarah Jessica Parker both auditioned for the leads of Johnny and Baby. It all worked out in the end though!
The Leads
Johnny Castle
Originally Val Kilmer was offered the lead role of Johnny Castle but he declined. Kilmer was already a star thanks to his role in Top Gun, from there he went on to star in Willow and Tombstone. Who knows what Dirty Dancing would have looked like with him as the lead?
Johnny Castle
Act Young
At the time, Jennifer Grey was 27, 10 years older than Baby’s character. During auditions, she only had a mere 5 minutes to prove that she really could play younger, and also that she could dance. The rest, as we know, is history.
Act Young
Not Intentional
Everyone recalls the famous scene where Johnny and Baby are practicing their dance number for the big night and are crawling towards one another on the floor. As it turns out, that wasn’t meant to be a part of the film! Grey and Swayze were just warming up before doing the real scene. However the director thought it was brilliant so he kept it in the film.
Not Intentional
Chuckles
Speaking of scenes, think back to when Johnny and Baby are practicing but she keeps laughing as he runs his arm down hers. Turns out that that moment also wasn’t part of the movie! Jennifer Grey really was laughing and Patrick Swayze was genuinely frustrated. Swayze wrote in his autobiography, “She slipped into silly moods forcing us to do scenes over again when she’d start laughing. I didn’t have a whole lot of patience for multiple retakes.”
Chuckles
The Blues
Think back to the scene when Johnny and Baby are practicing the lift in the water. Do you remember that no close-ups of that lake scene took place? That’s because the actors were so cold, their lips turned blue!
The Blues
Mrs. Houseman
Originally Lynne Lipton was cast as Baby’s mom, Mrs. Houseman. In the beginning of the film, we see the Houseman pull into the Kellerman’s and we can see Lipton as Mrs. Houseman – her blonde hair is a clear indication. However after she fell ill, the role was then given to Kelly Bishop. Bishop was already posed to play Vivian Pressman (the Bungalow Bunny), but that part then went to the film’s Assistant Choreographer Miranda Garrison.
Mrs. Houseman
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights
In 2004, the sequel Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights hit theaters. Initially, Patrick Swayze was offered six million dollars to reprise his role as Johnny, he declined. Although Swayze did have a cameo as a dance instructor in the film.
Dirty Dancing Havana Nights
Not As Good
Speaking of Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, Eleanor Bergstein wasn’t the writer for the sequel. The film went on to be rated in the #11 slot of Entertainment Weekly’s Top 25 Worst Sequels Ever Made. Ouch. Maybe Bergstein should have returned as the writer? Or maybe we just need the original Baby and Johnny! Either way, critics hated the sequel.
Not As Good
Almost
Director Kenny Ortega announced in 2011 that a Dirty Dancing remake was in the works. The following year, however, Lionsgate postponed the reboot as they were facing casting issues. Finally in February 2015, the remake was scheduled to be a TV movie. Although by July 2015, that was also eventually scraped.
Almost
The Music
The soundtrack of Dirty Dancing went on to sell 32 million copies worldwide. Moreover, it is considered one of the best-selling albums of all time. We should mention that it also won the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album. We’re not surprised by any of this, the film had some seriously great music.
The Music
She’s Like The Wind
No one can deny that the song “She’s Like The Wind” tore at the heartstrings. Especially during Baby and Johnny’s goodbye scene. That song became a massive hit and is still considered one today. Turns out that Patrick Swazye sang and wrote the song! Actually, Swayze had written the song years earlier with Stacy Widelitz, it was supposed to be used for the film Grandview, U.S.A. We’re lucky that didn’t happen.
She’s Like The Wind
(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life
Oh man, from one hit song to another. “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” was an epic final number for Dirty Dancing. But did you know that the song wasn’t finished by the time the final dance scene was filmed? The budget was too tight. Therefore a demo version by “Frankie and The Knockouts” was used instead. Patrick Swayze said that he actually preferred this version then the final version, which was sung by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.
(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life
Hula Hana
Baby’s sister Lisa was played by Jane Brucker and Brucker is more than just an actress! She actually co-wrote the song “Hula Hana”, however she didn’t receive credit for this until March 18, 2002! Better late than never, huh?
Hula Hana
Dancing With The Stars
After Dirty Dancing, Jennifer Grey did not dance much at all. Not even at weddings, she was scared that she would disappoint people. After Patrick Swayze’s death in 2009 and after her bout with thyroid cancer, Grey began dancing again. In fact, she signed up for Dancing With The Stars in 2010, where she won the competition!
Dancing With The Stars
Fearless
When it came to ~the iconic lift~, Jennifer Grey was terrified. In an interview, she revealed that Patrick Swayze just couldn’t wrap his head around her fear of the lift, as he himself was fearless.
The Lift
Color Me Impressed
All throughout Dirty Dancing, Johnny and Baby are always seen wear contrasting colors. You’ll find Baby in light colors while Johnny always wears dark colors.
Color Me Impressed
Stunt Man
When it came to doing stunts in the film, Patrick Swayze insisted he do his own. During the log scene, Swayze kept falling off of the log and ended up injured his knee so badly that he had to have fluid drained from all the swelling. Ouch.
Stunt Man
Thanks, Conan
We have talk show host Conan O’Brian to thank for this fact. In 1997, he started a petition on his show, one that caused Dirty Dancing to be re-released! Conan asked viewers to pen multiple letters asking for the film’s re-release. Eventually exhibitors agreed and O’Brien joked that he actually wasn’t a fan of the movie.
Thanks Conan
Mrs. Schumacher
Who could forget the adorable thief Mrs. Schumacher? Yes, that is a rhetorical question. Of course everyone remembers her! Turns out that the 80’s sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer had originally agreed to play the thieving little grandma. However Dr. Ruth backed out as she was afraid playing a pilferer of purses would tarnish her image.
Mrs. Schumacher
Lover Boy
During Baby and Johnny’s love scene, there was something familiar. Although we wouldn’t know. Turns out that the dancing Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey did in this scene was the exact same as what they did in their screentests. Originally it wasn’t meant to be in the movie.
Lover Boy
The Famous Line
Let’s be real, when Johnny Castle showed up at the end-of-season talent show and said “Nobody puts Baby in a corner,” you went weak in the knees. And you were probably grinning ear to ear. That scene was ~everything~ and you know it! Turns out that the very line was voted as the #98 movie quote of all time by the American Film Institute (out of 100). While we think it could have placed higher, it still made the list.
The Famous Line
Improvise
Director Emile Ardolino encouraged all of the actors and actresses on set to improvise. He would keep the cameras rolling, even if the cast members went “off script”. Remember the scene when Johnny runs his fingers down Baby’s arm and she keeps giggling? As we mentioned, that was totally genuine. And it went on to become one of the film’s most iconic scenes. Choreographer Kenny Ortega even said, “as one of the most delicate and honest moments in the film.”
Improvise
Too Beautiful
When it came to filming Cynthia Rhodes’ agonizing scene after seeing the doctor, the crew had their work cut out for them. See Rhodes was just too beautiful without makeup to look as though she was in total agony convincingly enough. Therefore they had to add strategic makeup to make her look worse.
Too Beautiful
Frances
When Baby tells Johnny that her real name is “Frances, after the first woman in the cabinet.” She isn’t kidding! Frances C. Perkins was indeed the U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1947. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her during his first term, and she continued to serve throughout all four of his terms. Including two years into Harry Truman’s Presidency.
MSDDIDA EC002
Tension
Throughout production, Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze didn’t always see eye to eye. After overcoming their initial tensions when filming Red Dawn, things seemed to be working smoothly between them. However that initial cooperation soon faded and they were practically at each other’s throats before every scene. Production staff began to worry about their animosity endangering the love scenes between the two stars. As a result, Eleanor Bergstein and Emile Ardolino forced the duo to re-watch their initial screentests, the ones that showed their “breathtaking” chemistry. Immediately this worked as Grey and Swayze were able to begin filming again with a renewed energy and enthusiasm.
Tension
Was Illegal
Not once in Dirty Dancing is it explicitly said that Penny needs money for an illegal abortion. All that is said is that the doctor just has “a dirty knife and a folding table”. Back then in 1963, abortion was still illegal in the United States.
Was Illegal
Selfish
Robbie tries to lend “The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand to Baby as justification for his not helping Penny. Rand created the philosophy known as Objectivism, which believes it is far more important for an individual to be concerned with his/her own well-being rather than helping others. Some of her followers, like Robbie, used her book as justification for their selfish and self-serving behavior.
Selfish
Party!
It didn’t take long for rehearsals to become disco parties with just about every cast member. The dancing and drinking was practically non-stop that even the lead stars began to identify with their characters. That’s when Eleanor Bergstein encouraged everyone to improvise scenes as well. She built on the sexual tension by stating despite how intimate or “grinding” the dance steps were, none of the dancers could have any other physical contact with one another for the next six months.
Party!
Cry to Me
Let’s talk about that epic love scene again. That “Cry to Me” love scene has consistently been voted as one of the sexiest movie moments in cinematic history. And hey, we agree with the voters!
Cry To Me
End Number
The end number (which featured one of the greatest dancing scenes ever) didn’t go to plan. Jennifer Grey revealed that the floor had been painted which made it difficult to dance on. She told Marie Claire in 2017, “I remember doing the big dance finale and they had just painted the stage and it was sticky.” Grey added, “The paint would stick to my feet so I couldn’t turn. All the extras were sitting around, just hundreds of people, watching you about to fall on your face.”
End Number
Made The Movie
Patrick Swayze admitted in his autobiography, which was released in 2009 after he tragically passed from pancreatic cancer, a few things about co-star Jennifer Grey. Swayze wrote that she was “truly phenomenal” and “in many ways, she made the movie”. However he admitted that she was also difficult to work with. “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.”
Made The Movie
Breathrough
Patrick Swayze had appeared in a few episodes of various television shows and even starred in The Outsiders alongside Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe. However his breakthrough role was in Dirty Dancing as the dashing dance instructor. Swayze also received a Golden Globe Award nomination for the role. After Dirty Dancing, Swayze was in great acting demand and appeared in multiple films, like Ghost.
Breathrough
Love Story
Speaking of Swayze, he was married to Lisa Niemi for 34 years! They married in 1975 and remained husband and wife until Patrick passed away in 2009. The couple met in 1970 when Swayze was 18 and Lisa was 14, she was taking dance lessons from Swayze’s mom! In a 2008 interview, Swayze revealed that his lovely wife inspired the hit song, “She’s Like the Wind”.
Love Story
A Fighter
In December 2007, Patrick Swayze was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. The following year he appeared on the ABC, NBC, and CBS simulcast of Stand Up to Cancer where he received a standing ovation, “I dream that the word ‘cure’ will no longer be followed by the words ‘it’s impossible’. Together, we can make a world where cancer no longer means living with fear, without hope, or worse.” Sadly in 2009, the cancer spread to Swayze’s liver and he was hospitalized with pneumonia. 20 months after his cancer diagnosis, Patrick Swayze passed away at age 57.
A Fighter
Tribute
When Jennifer Grey learned of Swayze’s passing, she described him as “a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace”. Grey added, “Gorgeous and strong, he was a real cowboy with a tender heart. He was fearless and insisted on always doing his own stunts, so it was not surprising to me that the war he waged on his cancer was so courageous and dignified.”
Tribute
Left The Biz
Before landing the role of Penny in Dirty Dancing, Rhodes starred in Flashdance and Staying Alive. After Dirty Dancing, Cynthia Rhodes continued to do a little acting and appeared in various music videos. She married the singer-songwriter Richard Marx in 1989 and after their three sons were born, Rhodes left Hollywood. She retired from performing so she could focus on her family.
Left The Biz
Courage
When Jerry Orbach (an accomplish actor and Broadway star), AKA Dr. Jake Houseman, passed away in 2004, Patrick Swayze had a few words to say. “Jerry Orbach has been one of the most successful actors who ever lived to make that transition from musical theatre into real, organic, break-your-heart kinds of reality in his work as a film actor, but transition back and forth seamlessly… it was a very interesting time for me, when I was shooting Dirty Dancing, I think probably the eyes I trusted if I was real, and it worked, and I had nailed it, [were] Jerry Orbach’s eyes. I would go over to him and under my breath ‘What did you think?’ and he goes ‘No, go there further, I think there’s more you can get.’ He would say little things like ‘courage’, and it gives me goosebumps to say that. I really, really respected that man. I watched his career from the time I was little. I think it was a great loss when he passed.”
Courage
The Location
Kenny Ortega was chosen by screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein to do the choreography for the film. Ortega was trained by Gene Kelly and he was eager to start on the project. However when it came to choosing a location, they struggled to find anything in the Catskills that was suitable. Therefore they chose two locations, ake Lure, North Carolina and the Mountain Lake Hotel near Pembroke, Virginia. The crew were very careful in the editing as they needed to make it look as though all the shooting took place in the same area.
The Location
The Script
Originally Bergstein wrote the script for It’s My Turn, the 1980 Michael Douglas film. However the producers removed an erotic dancing scene from the script. As a result, she then wrote a new story, focused primarily on dancing. Four years later, she pitches the idea to MGM and Dirty Dancing comes to life. The plot was changed to match Bergstein’s own personal life, if you recall. By November 1985, the script was done! However management changes at MGM put the script in limbo.
The Script
Partnership
After problems with MGM, Bergstein looked around until meeting with Vestron Pictures. They gave the film the green light and teamed producer Linda Gottlieb and Bergstein with the director Emile Ardolino. Ardolino had just won the Academy Award for the documentary, He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin’. While he had never directed a feature film, he was very passionate about the project. So much so that he sent a message to be sequestered from jury duty because he insisted he was the best choice as director.
Partnership
Low Budget
Dirty Dancing was actually Vestron’s first feature film production, which might explain the low budget the film had to work with. They only had $5 million while the average cost for a film was around $12 million. The crew had their work cut out for them.
Low Budget
Irish Lad
At 34, Patrick Swayze auditioned for the role of Johnny Castle. He was known for his roles in Grandview, U.S.A. and Red Dawn. Moreover, Swayze was a seasoned danced, thanks to his experience with the Joffrey Ballet. The producers loved him although his agent wasn’t keen on the idea. Once Swayze read the script and saw the multi-level character of Johnny, he took the part, much to his agent’s dismay. As a result, Johnny’s character when from Italian to Irish.
Irish Lad
Dance and Act
The director Emile Ardolino didn’t know much about directing a feature film but he knew one thing – he wanted actors who could dance AND act. Ardolino didn’t want to use the “stand-in” method which had been done with Flashdance in 1983. We guess he knew what he was talking about in the end!
Dance And Act
Tight Schedule
Not only did the film have a low budget but they were also on a really tight schedule. As it was already the tail end of summer, they only had two weeks for rehearsals. And 44 days to film all of Dirty Dancing. However filming went past the projected date and finished only in October.
Tight Schedule
Hot and Cold
As they were filming in the intense summer heat but also in the chilly, fall weather, the cast and crew had to endure a lot. In summer, temperatures went up to 120 °F (49 °C)! The choreographer Kenny Ortega said that one day 10 people had passed out within just 25 minutes of shooting. Yikes. However by October, the crew were wearing warm coats, gloves, and boots as the temperatures plummeted.
Hot And Cold
Probably Not
Think back to the scene where Johnny and Baby are practicing the lift in the lake. Well, as we mentioned, the water was incredibly cold but they were only wearing light summer clothing. Later Grey said that the water was “horrifically” cold. Moreover she added that she probably wouldn’t have gone into the lake but she was “young and hungry”.
Probably Not
That’s A Wrap
When shooting finished in October 1986, it was on-time and on-budget. A great accomplishment for such a low budget, rushed film. However no crew member liked the rough cut that had been put together. Additionally, the Vestron executives were absolutely convinced that the film was going to be a flop. In May 1987, Dirty Dancing was screened for the producer Aaron Russo. Vestron executive Mitchell Cannold said that Russo’s reaction was simple, he said, “Burn the negative, and collect the insurance.”
Thats A Wrap
Subplot
As mentioned, abortion was illegal in the United States at the time. Which leads us to say that a whopping 39% percent of people who saw the film did not actually realize that abortion was the subplot. Interesting.
Subplot
Promotion
More disputes continued to grow as to the question if a corporate sponsor would promote the film. Clearasil acne product were on board as they could target a teen audience. However when they learned of the abortion scene, they asked for it to be cut and when Bergstein refused, Clearasil dropped their promotion. As a result, Vestron had to promote the film themselves. Considering just how many people weren’t fans of the film, the producer Gottlieb said this of her feelings at the time, “I would have only been grateful, if when it was released, people didn’t yell at me.”
Promotion
The Reviews Are In
After a few but generally positive reviews, Dirty Dancing was a hit and not a disaster. Many adult audiences flooded theaters and not teenagers. In fact, most of the movie-goers when right back in the theatre to watch it a second time! Thanks to word of mouth, the film took the number one slot in America. In just 10 days, it broke the $10 million mark. Heck, it even started to generate international fame. Seven months after it was released, the film had earned $63 million in American alone and became one of the highest-grossing films of 1987. It earned $170 million worldwide
The Reviews Are In
Star Wars
In May 2007, a survey was conducted by Britain’s Sky Movies. Their conclusion? Dirty Dancing is the number one on the “Women’s most-watched films”, above the Star Wars trilogy, Grease, The Sound of Music, and Pretty Woman. Additionally the film’s popularity also ensured it would be known as “the Star Wars for girls.”
Star Wars
Approved
Abortion rights advocates were thrilled with how the film portrayed abortion. They even called it the “gold standard” for cinematic portrayals of abortion. The author Yannis Tzioumakis also remarked that a “compassionate depiction of abortion in which the woman seeking an abortion was not demonized with the primary concerns being her health and preserving her capacity to bear children at a future time rather than the ethical dilemma that might or might not inform her decision, a portrayal that is not necessarily available in current films.”
Approved
Number One
“I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you.” That particular line that Baby said in the film was voted as the number one “most romantic movie quotes ever”. And we can understand why!
Number One