THE FANS' LOVE STORY: How The Movie 'DIRTY DANCING' Captured The Hearts Of Millions! (21 page)

The line “Nobody puts Baby in the corner” is so pervasive and so great.

The cast made that movie—made it into a very endearing movie. I loved the dad. The mother was a perfect mother. The sister was identical to what a sister is.

The story line was beautiful. It was like a Grace Livingston Hill story.

What are Grace Livngston Hill stories like?

She wrote love stories. The good guy wins and overcomes obstacles.

Additional Demographic Information

Marital status:
Divorced

Education:
College degree & culinary degree

Occupation/Profession:
Retired. I’ve done everything—skilled trades, management/administration, training, and development.

Official Patrick Swayze International Fan Club member:
No. Didn’t know there is a fan club.

Barbara states she is a three-time cancer survivor.

Evelyn passed away on May 27, 2009 while at the Hinds Hospice. I think that she would have wanted this interview to run because I know that she had a huge connection to
Dirty
Dancing
and to Mr. Swayze. So I respectfully share the interview.

Evelyn lived in Fresno, California.

The interviews were in February 2008 (telephone interview) & April 2008 (e-mail interview).

Saw
Dirty Dancing
51–100 times.

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

2007. Age seventy-three. The first movie I saw with Patrick Swayze was
Ghost
(years ago) and I liked it a lot, but it wasn’t until I happened upon
Road House
that everything about him clicked for me. I told a gal at Blockbuster about enjoying him on film, and she suggested I rent
Dirty Dancing—s
o I did. I do not know where I was when the film first came out, but have certainly made up for what I missed.

Why do you like
Dirty Dancing
so much?

It has everything in it. I just think Patrick Swayze is absolutely adorable.

He’s such a perfectionist. He does everything so perfect.

The music, the dancing . . . everything about it. It’s a fun movie.

I just love that scene when Billy opens the door and you see all of the Dirty Dancers.

How has
Dirty Dancing
impacted you personally?

I was at kind of a low period and
Dirty Dancing
upped my spirit and mood.

It sort of invigorated me and lifted my spirit.

In addition to
Dirty Dancing
, are there movies that you have you seen multiple times? And if so, is Patrick in them?

Ghos
t.
North and South.
I didn’t see
North and South
when it came out twenty years ago, but now I own the movie and book.
City of Joy.
I have seen quite a lot of Patrick Swayze movies.

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

No.

Will you continue to watch
Dirty Dancing
?

Oh sure. Now and then.

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

I would like to see the stage production. It is hard to visualize it because so many scenes were outside. Also, some parts were just so beautiful and charming, so I wonder how they could capture that in the stage version.

What do you think about a
Dirty Dancing
movie sequel?

I think there are a lot of people out there who would enjoy the movie even if Patrick is not starring in it. The story line is good, the music and dancing, and with the right actors, I think it would be a success.

After all, there have been so many remakes of wonderful movies from the past and there is always a new crop of viewers that would enjoy it. I, for one, could not see it. However, that doesn’t mean squat. With all of the bad movies that are being produced today, it would be refreshing for some to see a new version. The only other thing is that it is still being shown on TV on Demand and some other channels, so I do not think it would be the proper time to make the movie and show it. I don’t think it would show the proper respect to the original one.

You wrote that you honestly feel like you know Patrick through the roles he has chosen. What is your impression of Patrick?

I think he selects roles to extend his own philosophy and values. He plays the characters very convincingly. He is a person with scruples and values. He is sensitive. He plays a person of quality and he is a man of quality. He has a cute personality. He can be a real rascal and cut-up. The wife he has chosen shows his character.

He is just the type of person you would want to have as a friend. He is just a very, very dear man with a good heart. And he is no push-over.

Do you see similarities between Patrick and the character of Johnny?

When he is trying to teach her to dance. He has the same movements in some of his other movies.

Anything else that you want to say?

I just love that scene when Robby says to Johnny, “Do you think you can remember that—what you can and cannot do?” and Johnny says, “Just put the pickle on the plate and leave the hard stuff to me.”

Since I have been watching Patrick in movies, I’ve been broadened. For example, I have read the
City of Joy
book and the
North and South
book (from which I learned about the Civil War).

I feel like seeing Patrick in movies has been a positive force in my life.

Additional Demographic Information

Marital status:
Divorced

Education:
BA in Liberal Studies

Occupation/Profession:
Retired. Retail. Horticulture. Manager for Customer Relations.

Official Patrick Swayze International Fan Club member:
Yes, for about one year.

Age 75. Lives in Derby, England.

Has seen
Dirty Dancing
51–100 times.

July 2008 (written interview) and December 2007 (letter).

What year did you first see
Dirty Dancing
? Did someone tell you about the movie or did you just happen to hear about it?

1995. I have never seen
Dirty Dancing
on the cinema screen. I wish I had. My son bought me the video for my birthday. I watched it so many times that I wore it out and had to buy another one.

Why do you like
Dirty Dancing
so much?

I think it is a film that makes you feel good. I love it.

How has
Dirty Dancing
impacted you personally? Doreen wrote this letter to me on December 16, 2007:

I will always be a fan of Patrick’s. It might sound fanciful but in a way being a fan saved my life. I was very overweight in 1995 when I saw
Dirty Dancing
. I was an instant fan. I thought that one day I might meet Patrick so I would not want to meet him looking so fat, so I dieted and lost 2 stone in weight. Then a few months later, I had a heart attack. If I had not lost that weight, I might have died. So I will always be a fan of Patrick’s.

Until I saw
Dirty Dancing
, I did not know about Patrick. I had seen him in
North and South
on TV—did not know his name then.

In addition to
Dirty Dancing
, what are the names of movies that you have seen multiple times, and is Patrick in them?

I have all of Patrick’s films and TV series on DVD and watch them time after time.

Have you ever met Patrick or anyone from the cast?

I have never met him. I wish I had.

Will you continue to watch
Dirty Dancing
?

Yes.

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

I will not see it. It is on in London, not where I live.

Do you think a good sequel to the movie could be made?

No. Nothing would be right. I agree with Patrick. He says it can’t be done.

Do you know other people your age who watch the movie?

Yes, lots of friends and family. Also, my pen friend Elenore, who I met through the fan club.

Anything else you want to say about
Dirty Dancing
?

It is a great film. It makes you happy to see it and the music is fantastic.

Additional Demographic Information

Marital status:
Married

Education:
Secondary modern

Occupation:
Retired

Official Patrick Swayze International Fan Club member:
Yes, 1995

Age 83. Lives in Lake Worth, Florida.

March 18, 2009 (telephone interview).

Has seen
Dirty Dancing
approximately 51–100 times.

What year did you first see
Dirty Dancing
?

1988.

How old were you?

Sixty-three.

How did you hear about
Dirty Dancing
? Did someone tell you about the movie?

I think I that I was visiting up north-my son . . . Whether it came on TV or they had the video, I don’t remember, but that’s the first time I saw it. I had never ever seen
North and South
. I didn’t really know Patrick at that point in time.

How many times have you seen
Dirty Dancing
?

It is so hard to say, I’ll just go with the middle, 51–100 times. Honestly, it is impossible to give that answer. The only time I saw it up on the big screen was when I went for the Swayze reunion . . . To this day, almost every day, you’ll see it somewhere on TV. It’s still being shown constantly. It just never died.

Why do you like
Dirty Dancin
g so much?

It’s Patrick’s dancing. In all honesty, it wasn’t the story, which may not be what you want to hear . . . What blew my mind was Patrick’s dancing. I have seen Russian ballet dancers . . . I have never seen anyone move the way he does in that movie when he is dancing. Every single little itsy bitsy part of him moves . . . if you really look, especially that scene when she goes with him to that gig.

At the Sheldrake
?

Yes, it shows up so plainly. Also, it was him like when she was carrying the watermelon. He comes over with this finger crooking . . . beckoning with one finger, and the look on his face and the body language. Just everything about that was so unique. He used that in some other movie. I can’t remember what movie that was . . . Everything about him in that movie. I happen to be very big on body language in acting. Peter Coyote, we’ve became very dear friends, ever since 1991 . . . He is a remarkable actor. He is a chameleon. He absolutely becomes another person . . . there are not too many actors that do that. What grabbed me very much with Patrick was his body language in that role. He was very good . . . What got me was Patrick, himself, his dancing in particular and especially when he was dancing with Penny. That first time when he comes in . . . when the two of them are dancing . . . They were supposed to be doing their job as instructors . . . When they first start—the two of them—down an aisle between people and just the way they are moving in toward each other—sort of a walking dance . . . Just everything about the way he dances—his body language and in the acting in the movie itself. It was excellent . . . It was really, really good. I’ve never seen anyone move like that . . . and it is particularly evident at The Sheldrake—although it also shows up in that final dance scene—when he comes off the stage. It’s gorgeous. That was beautifully done.

I also liked the music very much—especially “She’s Like The Wind.”

How has
Dirty Dancing
impacted you personally?