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Put on your dancing shoes: Dirty Dancing turns 20Dirty Dancing, that story of forbidden love and forbidden dance in the Catskills, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. To honor the two decades that have passed since somebody put baby in that corner, the film will begin a two-day run in theaters tomorrow and will be released as a special edition DVD on May 8. Besides making me feel very, very old, this milestone also brings up some painful truths from my youth. This is going to be embarrassing, so I'm just going to admit it up front, in order to keep the snickering to a minimum.
For a significant portion of my life, I thought Dirty Dancing was the best movie, like, ever. To my junior high mind, it was totally awesome. My preteen heart felt the pathos, loved Jennifer Grey's jean shorts (I owned several pairs) and — this is where things start to get really embarrassing — mooned over Patrick Swayze. I'd like to take a second here and note that, in my defense, I thought him the dreamiest when he was wearing that black tank top. And we all know the white tank top is No. 2 on the Top 11 Lesbian Fashion Accessories. (Let's not quibble over colors, people; I'm trying to hang on to the last vestiges of my lesbo street cred here).
I haven't seen the film in at least a decade, but I'm willing to bet that if pressed, I could still recite certain scenes verbatim. Back then, the appeal — beside the right/wrong side of the tracks romance and the slightly naughty overtones (hey, Dirty is right there in the title) — was Jennifer Grey's every-girl geekiness as Baby. Come on: She carried a watermelon. Now, I see how the film's appeal also comes from the age-old Pygmalion myth (but with dance shoes instead of marble) and the abundance of girls in leotards.
And then there were those brief training sessions between Baby and Penny (played by the fantastically bendy Cynthia Rhodes). Sure, Johnny was there, too. But those 24 seconds (yes, I counted) where Jennifer and Cynthia shadow-danced with each other was, well ... let's just say it made an impression. I had always hoped Jennifer would go on to become a huge star. And while she has continued to act, she has never been able to live down the infamous nose job that some say stymied her career. Let that be a lesson to all you aspiring actresses: What makes you different makes you better (for reference, please see Barbra Streisand and Sarah Jessica Parker).
Submitted by on April 30, 2007 - 11:50am. |
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Yeah, I feel old too...
On many a road trip during the summers I was in Junior High, my sister and I drove our parents NUTS listening to the soundtrack over and over and over again in the car. How that tape never wore out, I couldn't tell you.
Auto-Reverse ruled.
Start Snickering
Although I guess this is not as embarrassing as my pubesecent crush on Kelly Ripa when she was on the low budget Dance Party USA, Dirty Dancing is still at the very top of my list of top movies--I watch it at least once a month. At least, for the most part, I'm over Kelly:)
Oh, and jean shorts are still a staple of my wardrobe.
And you can be forgiven Patrick Swazye. Its like I was commenting the other day, sometimes it is necessary for some lesbians to go through some pretty heavy mental gyrations to maintain their world view--like deny that Brad Pitt exists.
Fine fine..if we're
Fine fine..if we're admitting shame today, I still love Swazye singing She's Like The Wind. And ok, my favorite scene was on that log. And if you must know, my friends and I saw it in the theater five times at least. Good times..good times..
"Maybe it's time to stop not doing what you pretended you can do and can't, and start doing the thing that you can't do, but can no longer pretend that you can.. - Jerri Blank"
I haven't seen this movie
Oh Gods . . .
I am right with you, dorothy snarker. I discovered this movie around the same time I discovered my libido. I love movies with dancing that even looks halfway ballroom (Strictly Ballroom, anyone?). Plus, Dirty Dancing is kinda sexy. If you're stuck inside on a rainy day with a hot paramour, I suggest watching this movie together.
"I had the time of my life and I never felt this way before, yes I swear its the truth . . . "
Sorry for putting Baby in the corner
You mean you don't watch it every Thanksgiving when its aired? Don't tell me I'm the only one who has noticed that. Come on. You have the guys, and awesome lesbians like me, who want to watch the NFL games -- BUT, there's those women in the house who just HAVE to watch Dirty Dancing for the 100th time. I find it amusing as I am sipping a beer watching football.
I do love the movie, but I love football more. :)
Me too!
Although looking back it is embarassing to admit it, I also had a HUGE crush on Patrick Swayze after Dirty Dancing.
And while I'm over my crush on him I still have a mad crush on this movie. I watch it a couple of times a year and I still have to crank up the volume whenever "The Time of My Life" comes on the radio.
"Most of all 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."
Sigh.
Nostalgia for the win
My sister actually had three copies of the dvd at one point. I've probably seen it at least 15 times.
Sidenote/question: Emily Gilmore/Lenny Briscoe = otp?
Don't worry...
I love love love that movie.
Never Seen It
>:-o
Feel no shame...
You should feel no shame as I had a poster of Mr. Swayze in that black tank top on my wall. Right next to Luke Perry. (Amy Grant was my guilty pleasure hanging on the back of my door. So it wasn't obvious when
my mompeople were in my room. She was all mine.) I wore out my Dirty Dancing tape on repeat. Actually, I had both tapes because there was an extended version called More Dirty Dancing. This movie ruled my teeny bopper heart. I'm not sure how old I was before I realized she had had a "back alley" abortion. There is no way for me to begin to know how many times I've seen it. Another movie, I thought was the greatest thing ever was La Bamba. Ah, good times, good times.I may be showing my (young)
I may be showing my (young) age here, but I was obsessed with this movie when I was five years old, and I literally watched it every single day. For some random reason, my favorite part was when it's raining, and they break the car window with the white wooden peg. I didn't have a crush on either, and I'm not so sure I was all that interested in the "romance" ... I just liked the dancing and the music.
Interestingly enough, I've heard many a lesbian say that they had or have a crush on Patrick Swayze. Personally, he kinda squicks me ... especially after Donnie Darko.
I can't believe the film has
I can't believe the film has been around for 20years. Makes me feel old!
I agree with dorothy snarker, when Baby and Penny are shadow dancing, kinda makes me feel all funny inside! ( I had a huge crush on Penny)..Used to wish I was baby!