This blog discusses the movie Dirty Dancing, which was released in 1987 and starred Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze. The articles discuss:
* literary aspects, such as characterization, motivation, interactions;
* the music and dances;
* the production of the movie;
* critical reactions.
.... [The soundtrack album] Dirty Dancing has been certified 11 times platinum since it came out in 1987. The album spent 18 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard’s Top 200 album chart. It spawned singles: Eric Carmen’s misty “Hungry Eyes” went to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Double-duty star Patrick Swayze’s “She’s Like the Wind,” went to No. 3. Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes’ duet, “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life) was a No. 1. The album was, is, a monster.
But no one would argue say that all the album’s songs are deathless classics .... I didn’t have to revisit the soundtrack to know its highs and lows. These songs are forever lurking in my mental substrate. Some for better, some for worse. So, here’s my ranking of the album’s tracks, from favored last dance picks to the tracks that belong, eternally, in a corner:
1. Be My Baby by The Ronettes
Film trivia: Along with Dirty Dancing, what other American cinema classic has an opening scene set to “Be My Baby?” Mean Streets! It’s hard to think of two more temperamentally opposed films, but the Ronettes put the pedal down on both. And it works beautifully both times. Those opening drum blasts and Ronnie Spector’s booming voice have such a sense of promise and possibility to them — it’s the start of summer, it’s the sun coming up, it’s an exemplary lead-off song.
2. Overload Alfie Zappacosta
“Overload” is ridiculous and I love it. Zappacosta sings in a goofy macho belch, like he’s thinking about absolutely crushing some bicep curls as soon as he’s through with the song. It kills me, and the sparse drum beat and guitar wriggles during the chorus are weirdly cool and minimal. If Rambo-era Sylvester Stallone made music, it’d sound like this.
3. Love Is Strange by Mickey and Sylvia
The opening guitar licks are tersely funky and culminate on an awesome broke-note fill. The song’s spoken duet part (“Hey, Sylvia?”) never stops being adorable either. Sylvia’s delivery has an acid sassiness that keeps the song from getting too sweet.
4. Hey! Baby by Bruce Channel
A No. 1 single in 1961, this song — an amiable Buddy Holly-esque lope — features harmonica so bright and playful and carefree the Grinch could get with it.
5. Stay by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs
When whichever Zodiac is responsible swoops into his falsetto, it’s impossible not to smile. Even if Williams and Co. intend something lascivious (it’s creepy to convince a girl to hang around by saying her “Mommy” and “Daddy” won’t mind), there’s a buoyancy to the sound that’s irresistible. And the rhythm has a nice lulling Latin lilt.
Marchese continues to list the following songs in order, with a comment about each.
I speculate that the original script of the movie Dirty Dancing depicted the sisterly rivalry between Bay and Lisa much more than the finished movie does. In particular, the original script communicated that Baby, in contrast to Lisa, never wore makeup.
One of the very first scenes that was filmed was the scene where Lisa discovers that her lipstick has been used. In the very first days of the filming, the role of Marge was played by the actress Lynne Lipton, who had to drop out because of illness. Lipton is seen playing Marge in this scene:
When Lisa discovers that her lipstick has been used, Baby admits that she was the culprit, but nobody in the family believes her -- because Baby never wears makeup.
Lisa Houseman
I'm a frizzball, a frizzball [looking at her hair in the mirror]
Marge Houseman
No, no, honey, it's not that bad. You still look pretty.
Lisa Houseman
God, I'm so sick of this rain. Remind me never to take my honeymoon in Niagara Falls.
Marge Houseman
Oh, you'll go to Acapulco instead. It'll be fine. Baby Houseman
I am a genius. I'm a jigsaw genius Jake Houseman
And where do you think you get it from? Lisa Houseman
Look what happened? [looking in her cosmetics drawer] It must have been that stupid, stupid maid. What was she doing in my drawer? Marge Houseman
Well, she probably was trying to straighten up. Lisa Houseman
I should report her.
Marge Houseman
You don't want someone to lose their job because of this.
Lisa Houseman
This is my only iridescent beige. She should lose her job.
Baby Houseman
Shut up, you spoiled brat. I did it. Lisa Houseman
Oh, Baby, come off it for once.
Baby Houseman
I did do it. It's true.
Lisa Houseman
Of course, you didn't. What would you be doing with a lipstick?
Jake Houseman
If Baby says it's true, it's true. Baby doesn't lie. Marjorie Houseman
Baby, where are you going in this rain?
Baby Houseman
Um, they're playing charades in the west lobby.
Lisa Houseman
Quite the little joiner, aren't we? Perhaps this time you'll win a canary.
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In a previous article titled Take that stuff off your face before your mother sees you, I analyzed Baby's use of makeup in the story. I do not have a video-clip of the finished movie's used-lipstick scene, but the scene's entire dialogue is as follows:
Announcer (Unseen)
It's rainy day game time. Pin the tail on the guest. Win ten boxes of Kleenex or a billy goat!
Lisa Houseman
God, I am so sick of this rain. Remind me not to take my honeymoon at Niagara Falls. Marjorie Houseman
So, you go to Acapulco. It'll be fine. Lisa Houseman
Where is my beige iridescent lipstick? I know I put it in this drawer. Marjorie Houseman
Baby, where are you going in this weather?
Baby Houseman
Uh, they're having charades in the west lobby. Lisa Houseman
Quite the little joiner, aren't we?
In the finished movie, the lipstick is missing (not just used) and Baby does not admit that she is the culprit.
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In the original scene where Lipton plays Marge, Baby's father Jake remarks that "Baby does not lie". This remark indicates that this used-lipstick scene originally occurred earlier in the story -- before Jake discovered that Baby had used his $250 to pay for an illegal abortion.
I speculate further that the rain in this used-lipstick scene is significant in placing the scene's original place in the story. This scene must have preceded immediately the scene where Johnny broke his car window.
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Since Baby's admission and Jake's remark about her honesty have been removed from the used-lipstick scene, why has the scene been left in the movie at all?
I speculate that Eleanor Bergstein liked the contrast between makeup-wearing Lisa and makeup-never-wearing Baby. Bergstein wanted at least a subtle indication of that contrast to remain in the finished movie. I suppose, however, that only a tiny portion of the movie audience realizes that Baby used Lisa's lipstick.
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In the original story, the sequence of events went as follows:
1) Lisa complains that her lipstick has been used.
2) Baby admits that she used the lipstick.
3) Lisa does not believe Baby's admission
4) Jake remarks that Baby never lies.
5) After Penny's abortion, Jake realizes that Baby lied to him.
6) Jake orders Baby to wipe off her makeup before her mother sees it.
If Marge sees the makeup on Baby's face, then Marge will wonder whether something strange is going on -- because Baby never wears makeup.
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In the finished movie, the sequence of events goes as follows:
1) After Penny's abortion, Jake realizes that Baby lied to him.
2) Jake orders Baby to wipe off her makeup before her mother sees it.
3) Lisa complains that her lipstick is missing.
Baby does not admit to taking the lipstick, and Jake does not praise Baby's honesty.
Practically nobody in the movie audience realizes that Baby took the lipstick.
Practically nobody in the movie audience understands why Jake did not want Marge to see Baby wearing makeup.
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The original story explained better that Baby -- in contrast to Lisa -- never wears makeup, that Baby did use Lisa's makeup, and that Baby's makeup might alarm Marge that something strange was happening.
I speculate that Bergstein liked this makeup contrast between Baby and Lisa and fought against its total removal from the story. As a compromise in the arguments about the script, two elements remained in the final movie:
1) Jake ordered Baby to remove her makeup before Marge saw it.
2) Lisa complained that her lipstick has been taken.
However, practically nobody in the movie audience realizes that Baby normally never wears any makeup.
I am discussing tours only in North America -- not in other countries.
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I saw the touring stage musical in New Jersey on January 7, 2018. As I wrote in my review, most of the audience was old people.
When we [my wife and I] did come into the the theater building, my first impression was that everyone there was quite old. I am 65 years old (I received the tickets as a birthday present), and most of the people in the lobby looked older than me. I figured that old people have enough sense and free time to arrive very early for such an event.
However, as I looked at the audience during and after the play, I saw that most of the audience was old people. I would estimate that the median age was about 60. I expected to see a lot of teenage girls in the audience, but there were very few.
Since then, I have seen various videos that show glimpses of the touring stage musical's audience. Those glimpses indicated to me that the audience everywhere was mostly old people.
It seems to me that the potential audience for future tours is dying of old age.
Maybe there will be future tours, but less frequently -- at intervals of several years.
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I suppose that, in the future, the stage musical will be performed mostly by amateur groups based in community, university and high-school theaters.
This new environment will re-invigorate the stage musical. Few high-school students have been going to see the touring stage musical, but thousands will participate in or attend performances at their high schools.
Many high-school drama groups have performed, for example, the stage musical Grease.
As far as I can determine, no high schools at all have performed Dirty Dancing from the copyrighted script I suppose that the script still has not been made available to amateur groups. It might become available soon, though, if the national tour is ending -- or already has ended -- its regular existence.
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I welcome expert information about the stage musical's situation.
Lisa and Baby Houseman both want to find a man as great as their father.
The best role model for such an effort is their mother. After all, their mother found and married their father.
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Lisa pays close attention to her mother's conduct, asks for her advice, and follows her advice.
During the movie's story, Lisa involves herself with a young man -- Robbie Gould -- who is similar to her father. Robbie is tall, pursues intellectual interests and studies to become a doctor.
In her romantic interaction with Robbie, Lisa applies the going-steady rules that her mother applied on her father when they were dating. Lisa requires Robbie to demonstrate more commitment before she will allow him to advance to the next "base" sexually.
Although Lisa might not continue her relationship with Robbie, she is learning from her experience with him. She is learning how to attract the romantic attention and to develop the romantic commitment of a great guy like her father. Lisa is is well on her way to marrying a tall, intellectual doctor like her father.
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Baby disdains her mother's lifestyle and does not intend to follow her mother's advice and example.
Likewise, Baby disdains her older sister's example.
At the resort, Baby involves herself initially with a short, dopey young man -- Neil Kellerman -- who is pursing a career in hotel management.
Then Baby redirects her romantic attention toward another dopey man -- Johnny Castle -- who spends practically all of his time on ballroom dancing.
Baby intends to attend an all-female college and then to join the Peace Corps, where she will live for two or three years in a remote village in a poor, Third-World country.
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When Baby returns to the USA, Lisa already will be married to a tall, intellectual doctor and will be developing his romantic commitment further by giving birth to and raising a couple of children. Lisa will be conducting her life according to her mother's example and so will enjoy a marriage like her mother's.
Baby will return to school and will spend several years researching and writing a dissertation, about the economics of Third-World countries, that practically nobody ever will read.
Baby might pursue her relationship with Johnny -- futilely
Baby will spend many evenings and weekends dancing with dopey, poor men who are similar to Johnny and who are very different from her father.
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Lisa and her doctor husband will bring their children to visit her parents frequently. Her parents will be delighted constantly by their grandchildren, who will grow up healthy and intelligent.
Aunt Francis sometimes will babysit Lisa's children and will buy them presents on birthdays and holidays.
Aumt Francis will marry relatively later in her life -- too late to give birth. She will marry a short, dopey man whose main feature is that he dances well. Francis's husband will not feel comfortable visiting her parents.
Francis herself will avoid spending time with her father, because such visits end always in angry arguments about politics.
Furthermore, Francis argues about politics all the time with her husband too. During the 2016 election, her husband votes for Donald Trump, and she votes for Hillary Clinton. Subsequently, Francis divorces her husband and lives the remainder of he life alone.
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Here again is the best video about sisters' rivalry.
YouTube has deleted a video that I have used many times in this blog. The video is a collection of scenes that were deleted from the finished movie Dirty Dancing.
I am pretty sure that there were several copies of that video on YouTube, but it seems that all of them have been deleted.
I suppose that YouTube deleted all of them because of a copyright complaint. The video is an extra feature on the DVDs that are sold.
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Although such a copyright complaint is valid, and the copyright owners certainly must prevent other people from providing and profiting from the entire movie.
However, I suggest that making copyright complaints against rather short videoclips is counter-productive. Free and available videoclips help to maintain the public's interest in the movie. Interested people watch the movie on cable television, buy tickets to watch the stage musical, and buy DVDs to give as presents.
The copyright owners have earned millions of dollars and will continue to earn millions of dollars forever. They can afford to let enthusiastic fans put some short videoclips on the Internet.
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Many of my articles on this blog have used this video of deleted scenes in order to analyze the movie. Unfortunately, now my readers can see only this:
The movie Dirty Dancing portrays a rivalry between two sisters. The youngest, called Baby, is 17 years old, and the older, Lisa, is a year or two older.
Lisa is socially and sexually more conventional. She is interested in feminine beauty and in attracting a good husband. She identifies more with her mother than with her father.
The conventional sister and the rebellious sister
Baby is more interested in developing a professional career. She identifies more with her father than with her mother.
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In one scene, Lisa and Baby are lying in their beds and talking with each other. Lisa summarizes the current state of their rivalry as follows.
What you care about is that you're not Daddy's girl anymore.
He listens when I talk now. You hate that.
Lisa perceives that Baby had been their father's favorite daughter, but Baby has lost his favor by lying to him that his $250 loan to Baby was not for an illegal purpose. In addition, Lisa surely has informed their father that Baby has been sneaking around and was not in her hotel room during a recent night.
As the older daughter, Lisa feels that she herself should receive more attention from their father than Baby receives. After all, Lisa is OLDER. Lisa is more mature and has more life experience.
Baby had been receiving more fatherly attention because -- unfairly, in Lisa's view -- Baby had been "Daddy's girl". Baby had won and maintained their father's favor by behaving -- in Lisa's view -- in a childish, cute and adoring manner toward him.
The main focus of the sisters' rivalry is their father, not their mother. The sisters are two adolescent females competing for an older male's attention and favor. As adolescents, both are less interested in an older female's attention and favor.
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While they are lying in their hotel beds and talking, Lisa also informs Baby that she intends "to go all the way with Robbie". At this point in the story, Lisa still does not know that Baby already has become sexually active with Johnny Castle. Lisa thinks that Baby has been sneaking around and petting during the night with Neil Kellerman.
This conversation in the hotel beds took place during the night between Friday and Saturday, when the talent show would take place on Sunday, immediately after which the Houseman family would depart for home. Because Robbie worked in the hotel restaurant, Lisa would "go all the way with Robbie" after meal hours, during the night of Saturday-Sunday.
When Lisa thus informed Baby about her intention "to go all the way with Robbie" during the next night, Lisa was asserting her own more advanced sexual maturity. Baby might have petted with short Neil during a recent night, but Lisa imminently would "go all the way with tall Robbie" during the very next night.
Lisa, the older sister, was about to do sexual activities that Baby, the younger sister, was still too immature to do. Lisa would continue to lead the way through life's adult experiences, while Baby would continue to merely follow in Lisa's footsteps.
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Secretly, Baby was preparing to perform, with Johnny, a spectacular dance at the talent show. Baby had learned to dance quite well, and her dance partner would be big, strong, handsome, masterful Johnny Castle.
However, Baby's father had ordered her to stay away from Johnny. If she performed with Johnny at the talent show, then her father would become even more angry at her.
By defying her father, by dancing publicly with Johnny, Baby intended to change her family's dynamics. Baby's mother would be delighted by Baby's surprising dance performance with Johnny. Baby would further forfeit her father's favor but would win her mother's favor.
Most importantly, Baby would outperform her sister Lisa in the talent show. Baby's mambo dance would be far more skilled, sexy and sensational than Lisa's dopey "Hula" song. Baby, in feminine glory, would defeat and humiliate her rival sister Lisa.
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The Wikipedia article about Sibling Rivalry includes the following passages.
Siblings generally spend more time together during childhood than they do with parents. The sibling bond is often complicated and is influenced by factors such as parental treatment, birth order, personality, and people and experiences outside the family.[1] Sibling rivalry is particularly intense when children are very close in age and of the same gender and/or where one or both children are intellectually gifted. ...
Sibling rivalry often continues throughout childhood and can be very frustrating and stressful to parents. Adolescents fight for the same reasons younger children fight, but they are better equipped to physically, intellectually, and emotionally hurt and be intellectually and emotionally hurt by each other. Physical and emotional changes cause pressures in the teenage years, as do changing relationships with parents and friends. Fighting with siblings as a way to get parental attention may increase in adolescence. ...
Children may feel they are getting unequal amounts of their parents’ attention, discipline, and responsiveness. ... In families in which physical fighting is forbidden but no method of non-physical conflict resolution (e.g., verbal argument) is permitted, the conversion and accumulation of everyday disputes into long-simmering hostilities can have an effect nearly as corrosive. Stress in the parents’ and children’s lives can create more conflict and increase sibling rivalry. ...
The Wikipedia article about Birth Order includes the following passages.
In his book Born to Rebel, Frank Sulloway suggested that birth order had powerful effects on the Big Five personality traits. He argued that firstborns were much more conscientious and socially dominant, less agreeable, and less open to new ideas compared to later-borns. ...
Smaller studies have partially supported Sulloway's claims. Paulhus and colleagues reported that first-borns scored higher on conservatism, conscientiousness and achievement orientation, and later borns higher on rebelliousness, openness, and agreeableness. ...
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The rivalry between two sisters involves particular dynamics.
Sisters are compared in physical beauty
Sisters are supposed to behave nicely.
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The British Psychological Society has published an article titled Siblings -- friends or foes, which includes the following passages.
Sibling pairs in which children were less than four years apart in age... were more intimate, but also more competitive. In addition, the interactions of same-sex sibling pairs in childhood often involve more aggression and dominance than interactions of opposite-sex sibling pairs, although this does not preclude warmth and closeness.
The Live Strong website has published an article, written by C. Giles and titled Conflict and Jealousy Between Sisters, which includes the following passages.
Sisters may threaten one another's place in the family, and in the world at large. ....
Even the most successful woman may feel jealous of her sister's achievements, [says] psychologist Terri Apter ... It's perfectly possible to have positive feelings toward your sister, with an undercurrent of envy and insecurity, reveals Apter, who interviewed 76 sets of sisters for her book The Sister Knot. The relationship between sisters may be the best example of a love-hate relationship. ....
Despite being painful, conflict and jealousy between sisters may serve a healthy purpose. By competing with your sister, and learning to survive those battles, you learn who you are, and what you will and won't put up with, explains Apter. Sisters who are able to recognize and address conflict and jealousy in their relationship may be able to develop a greater bond.
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This series about sisters' rivalry continues in the following posts.
Today I have had more than 82,000 pageviews from Finland -- and I am only half-way through today.
I have had also more than 9,000 pageviews from Estonia (The Finnish and Estonian languages are similar.)
My previous record for one day is about 3,000 pageviews from the entire world.
These Finnish and Estonian pageviews focus on articles about Patrick Swayze's son. I suppose that this huge, new focus has something to do with the fact that Patrick Swayze's wife Lisa grew up in a Finnish-American family, named Haapaniemi. She shortened that name to Niemi -- Lisa Niemi.
