Greatest Film Scenes
and Moments



Dirty Dancing (1987)

 



Written by Tim Dirks

Title Screen
Movie Title/Year and Scene Descriptions
Screenshots

Dirty Dancing (1987)

In Emile Ardolino's teen dance and romantic drama:

  • the repressed, sweaty, secret, off-limits scenes of early 1960s 'dirty dancing' among the resort staff in their dormitory quarters in the film's opening
  • the character of the macho Catskill Mountains resort hotel resident dance instructor and sexy suitor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) who ended up teaching 17 year-old Frances 'Baby' Houseman (Jennifer Grey) expressive R 'n' B dance moves, in one sequence to the tune of Hungry Eyes
  • the scene in Johnny's red-lit bungalow when Baby invited him ("Dance with me") - to the tune of Cry to Me, and stripped down to her white bra and jeans
  • the film's most iconic pose: Johnny's lifting 'Baby' above his head - initially during practice in a lake
  • the after-sex scene of Baby naked and awaking with Johnny - when she asked: "Have you had many women?...Tell me, I wanna know," but he was reluctant to talk about his sex partners; but then he did speak about his past relationships mostly at the resort with older rich women: "You gotta understand what it's like, Baby. You come from the streets and suddenly you're up here and these women - they are throwin' themselves at ya and they smell so good. And they really take care of themselves. I mean, I never knew women could be like that, you know? And they're so rich - they're so goddamn rich, you think they must know about everything. And they're slippin' their room keys in my hand two and three times a day -- different women -- so, here I think I'm scorin' big, right? And for awhile, you think - 'Hey, they wouldn't be doin' this if they didn't care about me, right?'; when Baby asked if he was using them, he claimed it was just the reverse: "No, no, that's not it. That's the thing, Baby. See, it wasn't like that. They were usin' me" - and then they kissed passionately
  • in the film's finale at the end-of-season show, Johnny confronted Baby's parents (mostly her protective father Dr. Jake Houseman (Jerry Orbach)) - he told Jake: "Nobody puts Baby in a corner!" and led her to the stage; (although fired) he interrupted and announced to the crowd: "Sorry about the disruption, folks, but I always do the last dance of the season" - and then to the tune of Bill Medley and Jennifer Warne's "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," he and Baby danced together, including Johnny lifting Baby above his head in the midst of the audience, and encouraging the many other guests at the Catskill Resort to dance
The End-of-Season Show With a Risque Performance
That Proclaimed Baby's Love for Johnny
"Nobody puts Baby in a corner!"
Dragging Baby On-Stage
Johnny: "I always do the last dance of the season"

Off-Limits "Dirty Dancing" in Staff-Employee Quarters-Dormitory




Dance Practice Lessons: Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) with "Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey)


Practicing the Lift



After Sex: "Have you had many women?"

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