THE FANS' LOVE STORY: How The Movie 'DIRTY DANCING' Captured The Hearts Of Millions! (23 page)

Continuing about Patrick, Roberta remarked how incredible it was that Patrick returned to work so soon after falling off of the log (scene where Johnny is teaching Baby to dance) and having had to go to the hospital for treatment of his knee, and how Patrick pulled off that jump from the stage during the finale considering his chronically painful knee. Cheryl commented about Patrick in the ’80s (although this was said in regards to
Without A Word
, it can be applied to
Dirty Dancing
as well): “He would kind of limp around and be in pain and then go out on stage and perform as though nothing was wrong. I always wondered where he got the strength to do it. But that’s passion—you know that driving force that we all have deep within us.”

People really got in to the love story. Helena (age 24) from Greece said, “It is the ultimate love story . . . the best thing about this movie is that you see this love as it grows . . . and you become part of it . . . This movie makes me believe that there is still hope for every person to find the love of their life . . . it is keeping our faith in love strong and everlasting.” Per Mallory (age 60) from the US: “It is a pure love story.” Per Angela: “It made me think that maybe I could have something like that when I got older (was fourteen when she started watching
Dirty Dancing
and is now happily married to the man of her dreams). Callie (age 57) from the US commented, “There are many reasons I like the movie. Mostly the love story between two opposites as in Romeo and Juliet . . . I identified with it due to my own love story with my husband, David.” (They have been married twenty-five years.) Flabia said, “In such a controversial and material world, the role of love is worth to be mentioned. I love the kind of men that have the guts to fight for love.”

What I am calling the haven is also referred to by the interviewees as: an escape, a place where I feel safe, and a lifeline. Becky said, “
North and South
and
Dirty Dancin
g have been escapes for me . . . they’ve been havens . . . It’s kind of like a favorite food, or a blanket or a cup of hot chocolate . . . And he (Patrick) has helped create those places through his art—just to watch him dance.” Crystal stated, “
Dirty Dancing
takes me to a place away from life’s problems and takes me to a place that I feel safe . . . It helped me through my cancer treatment.” Debbie wrote, “ . . . because of the way
Dirty Dancing
made me feel, it helped me through a very terrible personal health ordeal, during which I almost died . . . when I was in the theater, I could smile and feel good, safe and healthy for a few hours. The movie really became a kind of lifeline for me.” Evelyn said, “I was in a low period, and it upped my spirit and mood.” The movie also helped two people—Mallory and Doreen (age 75) from UK—lose a significant amount of weight. Doreen commented that it may have saved her life as the weight loss helped her deal with a cardiac problem. Lelia (age 30) from Romania said, “ . . . when I am feeling lonely, I just love to stay in bed and enjoy this wonderful film.” Angela stated, “I had a difficult childhood, and when I would turn on the VCR, I instantly stepped into Johnny and Baby’s world. It kept me together.”

The messages category touches on values, ethics, and ways one can live life in a positive manner. Callie said, “It fortified my resolve that I will always do the right thing.” Barbara P. (age 62) from the US talked about Baby standing up for Johnny because she knew that he did not steal the billfold. She said, “Baby stood up for what is right. Americans are losing their morals. We need some heroes . . . It’s the kind of ethics that you want to instill in your kids. Johnny worked hard and had good ethics. It also shows that learning new things can be fun.” Kelly said, “I think in the end, it showed people are about doing the right thing.” Clare stated, “I think the film shows you that we are all different people from different backgrounds but at the same time we can all learn something from one another . . . People can sometimes make themselves come across as something they are not in order to protect themselves. I think it teaches and makes you realize never to judge people without knowing them.” Kari also talked about how “‘Bad boys’ aren’t really bad. It’s a mask they wear . . . If you get beyond the facade, you will find sincerity, compassion, and also many hard knocks.” Elly, Flabia, and Barbara S. all made comments about how
Dirty Dancing
has given them motivation and courage to stand up for their beliefs and feelings and to fight for what they want. Barbara S.: “I had to become forty-one years old to tell my parents my point of view, not accepting bad compromises. And now I feel comfortable with my decision.” Finally, most everyone talked about the message to follow your dreams. Roy (age 35) from US said, “Dreams can come true.” Mallory stated, “The movie is a positive statement of possibilities.” Clare noted, “Dreams really do come true.” Per Kari: “The movie gives the person the feeling that you can be anything you want to be.”

Regarding the timeframe—1963, Cheryl wrote, “It reminded me of things from my past. It took me back to a time and place where things were simpler.” Mallory commented that the movie resonated so much with her because: “It was the timeframe. It was 1963 . . . I also come from a Jewish family and Mountain Lake looked just like the Catskills . . . I’ve lived that . . . I worked in the Catskills . . . in college.” Crystal said, “I remember the era. I was too young to be part of it, so
Dirty Dancing
let me live vicariously. It is an age before our world view became more cynical.” Barbara P. commented that it was a less stressful time.

The next category—inspiration to dance: “After all,
Dirty Dancing
is exactly why I started to dance in the first place. It’s my passion and long term commitment,” said Elly. Barbara S. stated, “I re-discovered my love for dancing . . . The dancing of Patrick and others inspired me to find my own way of dancing.” Kari noted that the movie inspired her to take more dance lessons, to be freer in movement and more confident in her dancing, and “to enjoy the beauty of dancing in all forms.”

I saved the overall feel-good effect of the movie for last, as it most certainly incorporates all of the above themes. Here are comments made by the interviewees:

Elly: “It has been an exhilarating experience.”

Helena: “It’s a lighthouse of hope . . . keeps me warm in the heart.”

Clare: “I feel the film is inspiring, a feel-good film . . . leaves you with a smile on your face and a warm heart . . . ”

Barbara P., Roy, and Doreen: “It made me feel good.”

Kelly: “It’s a positive movie . . . This is an uplifting movie.”

Kari: “There is so much out there to enjoy and experience if we allow ourselves the opportunity to be free. Everyone should be able to ‘dance’ and be ‘like the wind.’”

Crystal: “
Dirty Dancing
and Patrick Swayze bring happiness. They are a happy jinx.”

I will close with statements by Simone (age 35) from Germany, and Becky, that I am sure are true for many of the interviewees—Simone: “
Dirty Dancing
is a part of me,” and Becky: “Patrick and
Dirty Dancing
and
North and South
are just part of who I am.”

Elly Ali. Melbourne, Australia.

“It’s exactly why I started dancing in the first place . . . I especially love how Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey can work together in such a natural, sexy, and trusting way . . . Made me realize that I can get out there and do what I love and not let anyone stop me . . . ”

Helena Damigou. Athens, Greece.

“You see this love as it grows and you become part of it . . . it’s really a lighthouse of hope that is shimmering in our hearts and that is keeping our faith in love strong and everlasting.”

Clare Gregan. Preston, England.

“ . . . standing in front of me (at the stage door) was Patrick Swayze . . . looking right back at me, Clare Gregan, the girl with a dream from nineteen years ago . . . so you see, dreams really do come true . . . inspiring, feel-good film . . . great love story . . .”

Becky Williams. Macomb, Michigan.

“They (Baby & Johnny) could live in the moment . . . Both
North and South
and
Dirty Dancing
have been escapes for me . . . they’ve been havens . . . Patrick and
Dirty Dancing
and
North and South
are just part of who I am.”

Kelly Miner. Southfield, Michigan.

“Jennifer Grey definitely stole the show for me . . . the character (Baby) being quirky and naïve . . . and then confident towards the end . . . it shows love on many levels . . . happy . . . uplifting.”

Barbara Schiebl. Landsburg, Germany.

“The courage of Baby inspired me to find my own courage. The dancing of Patrick and the others inspired me to find my own way of dancing . . . It’s a real feel-good movie for me.”