THE FANS' LOVE STORY: How The Movie 'DIRTY DANCING' Captured The Hearts Of Millions! (13 page)

In addition to
Dirty Dancing
, how many movies have you seen multiple times? And is Patrick in them?

Have
One Last Dance,
Ghost
,
North and South
,
Icon
and have watched many times. I love all films of Patrick.

Have you ever met Patrick or anyone else from the cast?

Met Patrick and Lisa on 29 July, 2006 in London [when Patrick was in
Guys and Dolls
].

Will you continue to watch
Dirty Dancing
?

One can never get enough of the film.

What do you think about
Dirty Dancing
, the movie being made into the stage production? Do you plan
to see the stage production?

I find it beautiful that the film will be on stage.

Do you think
Dirty Dancing
is very popular in Germany?

I think
Dirty Dancing
is popular in Germany.

I find it sad that the twenty year anniversary was so largely celebrated [in the]US.

Anything else you want to say about
Dirty Dancing
?

Dirty Dancing
is part of my life.

Additional Demographic Information

Marital status:
Live [s] with boyfriend

Education:
Hauswirtschaftlerin

Occupation/profession:
Work [s] in hospital kitchen

Official Patrick Swayze International Fan Club member
: Joined September 1998

AGE 34. Lives in Sumter, South Carolina.

April 2008 (e-mail and telephone interviews).

Has seen
Dirty Dancing
over 500 times.

What year did you first see
Dirty Dancing
? And how old were you?

I saw
Dirty Dancing
in 1987. I was fourteen years old.

Why do you like
Dirty Dancing
so much?

Where do I start? The main reason being Patrick starred in it. The coming of age story was fantastic and very believable. It made me think that maybe I could have something like that when I got little older. I also loved the dancing! I can’t dance that way, but I would love for Patrick to teach me. LOL.

How has
Dirty Dancing
impacted you personally? I know that you made some wonderful comments on the questionnaire.

Watching
Dirty Dancing
gave me an “escape” from life as I was growing up. I had a difficult childhood and when I would turn on the VCR, I instantly stepped into Johnny & Baby’s world. It kept me together.

I was wondering if there was anything else that you wanted to add or re-iterate, and why was it
Dirty Dancing
that you chose?

I was already in love with Patrick “The Actor” because of his role as “Orry Maine” in
North and South, Love and War
. I was excited to see him in a new movie. Then when I watched it for the first time, I just got lost in the love story. I loved how Patrick and Jennifer danced.

Going back to what I touched on in my questionnaire, I felt so alone and for some reason when I watched
Dirty Dancing
, it made me feel better. I guess I was grasping for the fact that some day that could be me, when I found my first true love. I had lots of bad days so I wound up watching DD several times a week, to almost daily at times. I used to be able to tell you exactly where certain scenes were using the counter on the VCR. My best friend, Amy and I would watch DD and imitate the dances. We knew word for word a lot of the scenes. It seems silly to say that a movie made that much of an impact on me and my life, but it truly did. What is amazing is that it wasn’t just me who fell in love with the story.

In addition to
Dirty Dancing
, how many movies have you seen multiple times? And is Patrick in them?

Let’s see . . . The ones with Patrick that I can think of off the top of my head are:
Road House
,
Ghost
,
City of Joy
,
North and South
,
Love and War
,
Point Break
,
Red Dawn
. I have seen all of Patrick’s movies, and many multiple times, but not as many times as
Dirty Dancing.

I have always liked movies and can’t name all the ones that I have seen. I worked in a movie theater and Blockbuster too. So that’s way too many. My favorite animated is
Lion King.

Have you ever met Patrick or anyone else from the cast?

Unfortunately, no. When I was younger, it was my fondest wish to meet Patrick! Of course, I’d still like to meet the man who helped me through some tough stuff, but realistically I know that won’t happen.

Will you continue to watch
Dirty Dancing
?

I haven’t stopped yet and I don’t think I ever will! When it comes on TV, I still get caught in the story and can’t change the channel. As an adult, I can now appreciate the fact that it was a well written film. Everyone my age loves DD and Patrick Swayze.

What do you think about
Dirty Dancing,
the movie being made into the stage production, and do you plan on seeing it?

Is Patrick in it? LOL. I think it’s great but I don’t expect it to be as good as the original ’87 version. Mostly because I think Patrick helps make the story come alive in a way no other actor can or could.

Do you think a sequel could be made?

Technically, there is a
Dirty Dancing
sequel. It is
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights
. Patrick is a dance instructor in the movie . . . I would truly love to see Patrick do an ACTUAL sequel because in my heart
Havana Nights
isn’t a sequel. LOL.

Anything else you want to say about
Dirty Dancing
?

Just that it is a great movie! Patrick did an awesome job in the role as “Johnny Castle,” as did Jennifer Grey as “Baby.”

On a more serious note, I am saddened to hear about Patrick having pancreatic cancer. I pray that he will be able to make it through this tough time in his life. I’m sending him all my strength that I can!!!!!!

Additional Demographic Information

Marital Status:
Happily married to the man of my dreams

Education:
Some college

Profession:
Homemaker (son—age 13)

Official Patrick Swayze International Fan Club member:
Joined in 2007

Age 35. Lives in Ferndale, Michigan.

September 2008 (written interview).

*Roy’s mother—Barbara Phipps (age 62) also did an interview.

Has seen
Dirty Dancing
16–50 times.

What year did you first see
Dirty Dancing
? And how old were you?

1988. Sixteen.

Why do you like
Dirty Dancing
so much?

It made me feel good and that dreams can come true.

How has
Dirty Dancing
impacted you personally?

On the questionnaire, you checked off, “has given hope that love exists” and “has given hope that people will do the right thing.”

Could you say anything more specific about this?

By believing that hope can bring positive things in your life.

People in general are good and want to help others.

In addition to
Dirty Dancing
, how many movies have you seen multiple times? Is Patrick in them?

Bridget Jones
,
Muriel’s Wedding
,
Steel Magno
lias,
Star Wars.

Have you ever met Patrick or anyone else from the cast? If so, what was it like
?

Met Patrick one time at dinner [following a benefit gala that Patrick hosted in Detroit for the dance company—Complexions].

Will you continue to watch
Dirty Dancing
?

Yes.

What do you think about
Dirty Dancing,
the movie being made into the stage production? Do you plan to see the stage production?

I think it will be a huge success. Yes.

Do you think a good sequel can be made
?

I think the sequel came out too late and did not capture the same energy and passion that
Dirty Dancing
had.

Anything else you want to say about
Dirty Dancing
?

Dirty Dancing
is a movie that has impacted many generations in my family’s life. It is one of the few movies we all can identify with and enjoy sharing.

Additional Demographic Information

Marital status:
Single

Education:
MA in Psychology

Occupation/Profession:
Mental Health

Official Patrick Swayze International Fan Club member
: No

Age 36. Lives in Macomb, Michigan.

May 28, 2008 (in-person interview).

Has seen
Dirty Dancing
countless times.

What year did you first see
Dirty Dancing
?

I saw it in ’87 . . . when it came out . . .

How old were you?

I was fifteen when I first saw
Dirty Dancing . . .

You said you were a fan of Patrick before?

I was a fan of Patrick before the movie came out . . . Yes, I became a fan of Patrick when I saw
North and South . . .
He captured me then, and he’s had me captured ever since . . . I have seen
North and South
probably almost as many times as I’ve seen
Dirty Dancing
.

How many times have you seen
Dirty Dancing
?

Oh, countless. I tried to come up with a number and I don’t even think I can hazard a correct guess . . .

Have you seen
North and South
almost as many times?

Dirty Dancing
is so much easier because it’s such a shorter timeframe, but certain episodes certain themes from
North and South . . .
again, just countless times. I absolutely love the story, and you know he makes it that much better—so both of them.

When did you first see
North and South?

North and South
sometime around ’84 . . . or right before then.

And you said you would love to meet Patrick and that you are not usually a celebrity fan.

I am not a star struck individual. He is the one and only that I have, you know, a real yearning to meet and talk with.

Do you think you will meet him?

I hope so. It has become that much more important to me since he’s been ill, and I don’t know whether that is right or wrong, but I would love to meet him . . . if nothing else to let him know the real impact that he’s had on me . . .

What do you think that impact is?

I think earlier you said something about the book being sort of like a dream or call it a passion . . . He’s made that very real for me through his work . . .

I’ve just developed a real healthy, not an obsession affection . . . a healthy affection . . . I think sometimes so many people can get really obsessed with a famous celebrity or individual, and I don’t want that to be confused with . . . I have no unhealthy notion of anything, but you know a good conversation and just really sharing with him the impact that he’s had on my life.

What impact is that?

I think he has helped to develop that dream . . . you know two of his stories—both
North and South
and
Dirty Dancing—
have been escapes for me . . . they’ve been havens . . . they’ve been places to go . . . It’s kind of like a favorite food, or a blanket or a cup of hot chocolate—just some place comfortable to go . . . a get-away . . . And he’s helped create those places through his art. Just to watch him dance.