031 Dirty Dancing (1987)

NOBODY PUTS BABY IN A CORNER On this episode of Retro Grade Podcast, we go back to 1987 (again) and watch Dirty Dancing, directed by Emile Ardolino, written by Eleanor Bergstein, starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze! We talk about how this film with a small budget went on to become the biggest films of the year, with a firm place within the pop culture zeitgeist. Not only is the film a coming-of-age, romantic dance drama with one of highest selling soundtracks of all time, but it is also a film about social class status, the importance of accessible abortions, sex work, and what it really means to help others in need. We talk about the film’s controversial abortion plot point that screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein not only refused to compromise, but wrote it so deep into the films story that it could not be removed at all. The on screen chemistry between Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey is perhaps the highlight of the film, so naturally we get into why it was so good. We also talk about Grey’s unforgettable performance, and what happened to her career after the world fell in love with Baby. We also get into how we feel about the potentially inappropriate age differences between the two characters, and whether or not it takes us out of the film. Why was is something that bugged us in Scott Pilgrim but not in Call Me By Your Name? We hope you enjoy this episode and have as much fun as we did making it! Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes. Artwork by @jannelle_o