Dirty Dancing (1987)
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A young woman finds herself falling for a dance instructor while vacationing at a resort in the 1960s.
The story
In the summer of 1963, teenager Frances "Baby" Houseman is vacationing with her family at Kellerman's, an upscale Catskills resort in the Borscht Belt. While exploring the grounds, she observes the resort's staff and becomes intrigued by Johnny Castle, one of the dance instructors. After being introduced to him at a secret "dirty dancing" party, the two begin to develop a mutual attraction. However, the social divide between the wealthy guests and the working-class staff creates significant obstacles for their burgeoning relationship, especially as Baby must navigate her family's expectations and the complexities of the resort's social hierarchy.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1963, Frances "Baby" Houseman stays at the Kellerman's resort in the Catskills. She meets Johnny Castle, a dance instructor, and they share a dance at a private party. When Baby's friend Penny becomes pregnant and needs an abortion, Baby secretly secures the funds for her. She then stands in for Penny to perform a dance routine, during which she and Johnny develop a romantic connection. Despite her father's disapproval of their different social standings, they begin a secret affair. After a series of complications involving a theft and a medical emergency, Baby stands up for Johnny against her father's classist views. At the end-of-season talent show, Johnny takes the stage to declare his love for Baby, and they perform a final dance together, successfully completing a climactic lift while the audience joins them in a final celebration.
- First release year
- 1987
- Runtime (minutes)
- 100
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Emile Ardolino
- Writers
- Eleanor Bergstein · writer
- Cast and characters
- Patrick Swayze · Johnny Castle; Jennifer Grey · Frances "Baby" Houseman; Jerry Orbach · Jake Houseman; Cynthia Rhodes · Penny Johnson; Jack Weston · Max Kellerman; Jane Brucker · Lisa Houseman; Kelly Bishop · Marge Houseman; Lonny Price · Neil Kellerman
- Genres
- romantic drama; dance; musical
- Themes
- class struggle; forbidden love; gender; coming-of-age
- Tone and mood
- romantic; nostalgic
- Premise and plot tags
- 1960s; dance; romance; summer
- Source material / true-story basis
- Based on screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein's own childhood.
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, particularly for the performances of the leads and its soundtrack. It was a commercial success, becoming a popular video rental and a staple of pop culture, often cited as a 'gold standard' for its portrayal of abortion.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 73% · scale: percentage · review count: 80
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Original Song · won; Golden Globe Award · Best Original Song · won
- Production trivia
- The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2024.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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