Wednesday, January 29, 2014

D is for Dirty Dancing

Dirty Dancing was kind of like my coming of age movie. I was 12 when it came out. It was the first movie I went on a date to. Kudos to the boy who took me for taking me to a girlie movie. For a long, long time, The Time of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes was my favourite song, and my reverie was complete when I was given the soundtrack to the movie for Christmas 1987.

Patrick Swayze was so handsome, he could dance like a dream and he could even sing!




I must admit that at 12, I didn't pay much attention to Jennifer Grey, but of course, the movie would not have worked had she not given the amazing performance that she did, and the final dance is one of the best, if not the best dance sequence I've ever seen on the movies. I wish there would be more dance movies, and I wish Patrick had done more dancing movies. I feel the same way about John Travolta and Grease. Is it because action movies are more popular? I think it's a shame, when action stars really are a dime a dozen, and only a handful of people can dance and sing. Anyway, maybe if there had been more dance movies, these wouldn't seem as amazing as they do. Pure, timeless perfection.




People often reference the dancing in the water scene, and the watermelon scene in Dirty Dancing, but this was one of my most favourite scenes from any movie ever. Kellerman's Anthem. As time has gone on, Kellerman's Anthem has come to remind me of a lovely time in my life. Summer days will soon be over, soon the autumn starts.  I love Lisa's part in this - in fact, it makes it what it is and lightens it a lot. Starting from 0:53, Lisa's act being so bad it's funny. I think it's hard to act like you're acting badly - you must actually be good! Is the line at 0:59 "Games and lectures, dogs and music?" I've wondered that for years and years - and if it is, what does it mean? If you have clarity, please tell me...  LOL - I love it...



I was wondering if I could ask my recent interviewee Lindsay Blake to do some celebrity location stalking on the Kellermans Lodge for me. How much fun would that be? It was filmed at Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia, which still seems to be fantastic, and at Lake Lure in North Carolina, where you can actually participate in a Dirty Dancing Festival. I would LOVE to do that, and a portion of the sales of tickets for this go to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, so if you're there, get along to it.  Maybe one day my dream will come true and I will go to America and see all this myself.  Lindsay has in the past stalked Patrick Swayze's former apartment  - incredible in itself.

Patrick Swayze passed away on September 14 2009 at the age of 57 from pancreatic cancer. During his career, in addition to Dirty Dancing, he starred in a variety of roles on the big screen and the TV including North and South, Ghost, City of Joy, To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything. RIP to a fantastic actor, gone too soon. We will miss you forever. Tonight the memories whisper softly in our hearts.

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This post forms part of a blogging challenge I'm participating in. For the preceding and following posts, click through to Typewrite Transcription, my other blog and view other posts on this blog.

18 comments:

  1. I love that show! Thanks so much too for all the other thoughts on it. Makes me want to go and watch it again soon. Always reminded me that you can do anything you set your mind to. Thanks! Diana Ennen

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    1. Hi Diana, it's my pleasure! Really a feel good movie and the music was perfect for it. Made being a teenager at that time so special.

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  2. Wow! I am not really a dance person but the video shows it is superb!

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    1. Hi Lornajane, thanks for stopping by here! It REALLY was. Patrick Swayze danced like a dream. I really recommend you watch it if you haven't seen it!

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  3. Your post just made me really nostalgic. Dirty Dancing is one of my old favorites! :)

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    1. Hi Jason, thank you for reading! It was a great movie!

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  4. Dirty Dancing is a 1987 film yet I have not watched or even heard of it until now. I guess I should have more exposure to film and entertainment.

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  5. Love the song, actually! Reminds me of my high school days...

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  6. Thank you for reminding me of this... brings me back some good old memories. :)

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  7. my dad wont let me watch dirty dancing but dont tell him i peeked onthis! hahahaha

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    1. Hah now that's interesting lol. My friends and I watched it when we were 12, and loved it and we're okay. We think. Hahaha!

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  8. I think I was in a totally different mind frame why I've never watched Dirty Dancing! haha but I LOVED Ghost. I must have watched it a million times. Patrick Swayze was gorgeous though!

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    1. I am vice versa, have only watched Ghost a few times, but I did enjoy it and yes - a very handsome man.

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  9. Definitely one of the best movies :) brings back so many memories!

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  10. Loved Dirty Dancing. I didn't watch it while it was in cinemas; was not really into dance movies at the time. But when I did see it, I was very impressed. thanks for the trip down memory lane.

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  11. I can't believe it's 5 years since Patrick Swayze passed away! It seems like yesterday.

    I've not watched Dirty Dancing for some time, but I think it's about due.

    Thanks as always for a great read :)

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  12. In 1987 I was married with 3 children...however, in 1963 the time period of the movie, I was a teenager and this movie brought back so many wonderful memories when my boyfriend and I danced every Friday night at the local park pavilion to many of the songs in the movie. My boyfriend even had a car like the one in the scene when Patrick says goodbye to Jennifer. (I think a '56 or '57 Ford). As Patrick said in an interview..... this movie captures a period in the lives of many...it sure did for me and I love watching this movie even today.

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