Inspired by screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein’s childhood experiences, the Borscht Belt–set Dirty Dancing became an Oscar-winning worldwide phenomenon.

In the summer of 1963, teenager Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) vacations with her family at Kellerman’s, a Catskills resort owned by Max Kellerman (Jack Weston), a friend of her father, Dr. Jake Houseman (Jerry Orbach). Baby’s mother Marge (Kelly Bishop) and older sister Lisa (Jane Brucker) enjoy the resort’s structured activities, while Baby grows restless. Exploring the grounds at night, Baby witnesses Max directing the Ivy League waiters to flirt with guests’ daughters while treating the working-class entertainment staff with open disdain, including dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze).

Baby is drawn to Johnny and is introduced to the staff’s after-hours dance party by his cousin Billy (Neal Jones). She briefly dances with Johnny, while Max’s grandson Neil (Lonny Price) attempts to pursue her romantically. Baby later learns that Johnny’s dance partner Penny (Cynthia Rhodes) is pregnant by Robbie (Max Cantor), a womanizing waiter who is also courting Lisa. When Robbie refuses to help Penny, Baby secretly borrows money from her father to pay for Penny’s abortion.

Penny initially hesitates because the procedure will cause her and Johnny to miss a paid performance, but Baby agrees to replace her. During rehearsals, Baby and Johnny grow closer. Their performance succeeds despite difficulty with the final lift. Penny returns injured from the abortion, and Baby asks Dr. Houseman to help her. He becomes angry over Baby’s deception and assumes Johnny is responsible, ordering Baby to stay away from him.

Baby continues seeing Johnny in secret. Vivian Pressman (Miranda Garrison), a married guest, accuses Johnny of theft after he rejects her advances, but Baby provides him an alibi. Although the real thieves, Sydney (Alvin Myerovich) and Sylvia Schumacher (Paula Trueman), are exposed, Johnny is dismissed. At the final talent show, Johnny returns to dance with Baby, they complete the lift successfully, and Dr. Houseman reconciles with her after realizing his mistake.

Dirty Dancing has been a blind spot of mine for several years now. I suppose I needed to wait for the extra context provided by Paula Eiselt’s documentary We Met at Grossinger’s, which is soon to play at the Miami Jewish Film Festival. While the film could have been inspired by any Borscht Belt resort, it is inspired by Grossinger’s in particular, something screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein confirms on the bonus features.

If you go by what is said in We Met at Grossinger’s, Johnny Castle is said to be inspired by Steve Schwartz, a dancer working at the Catskills resort. But if you go by what Bergstein has said in the past, the Dirty Dancing character is inspired by Michael Terrace’s stories about the mambo when Bergstein was researching the film. Jackie Horner, who was Schwartz’s dance partner at Grossinger’s, is likely the inspiration for Penny. Whether Terrace or Schwartz is the true inspiration for Johnny Castle, I do not know. If it is the former, they should have cast the role differently. If it is the latter, it is another case of erasing a Jew on screen.

If you were to make a film for $4.5 million today, it would likely be impossible for it to bring in over $200 million worldwide. Even by mid-to-late 1980s standards, Dirty Dancing was thought of as an indie film. And yet, that is exactly what happened. Can you imagine a Jewish-coded film like Dirty Dancing doing such a thing in today’s current antisemitic climate? Even with how much the film pushed boundaries with its romance and dancing, it is very hard to think it would do as well today.

One thing that stood out to me while watching Dirty Dancing is that unless it were made as a niche indie today, there is no way they could make it without resorting to ethnic cosplay. I hate to say this, but we all know this to be true. Look at how Hollywood loves to erase Jews from stories (see Blue Moon). They essentially had the non-Jewish Patrick Swayze playing a character who is more likely inspired by a Jewish dancer than not. But for the parts that really mattered, they largely went with Jewish actors. Seeing as the Borscht Belt was the predominant vacation spot for a vast number of Jews—and also attracted Black vacationers—authentic casting is important.

Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze crush their performances. Much of Dirty Dancing would not be what it is without the choreography, especially during the closing number, but none of it works if Grey and Swayze cannot sell the chemistry on screen. The rest of the cast holds up well, too. Speaking for myself, it is nice to see Jerry Orbach performing in something that is not Law & Order or Beauty and the Beast.

Unfortunately, Dirty Dancing did not have access to the remaining Borscht Belt resorts in the Catskills. Of the ones that were no longer in use, the paint job alone would have exceeded the film’s budget. It is a shame, but it was no longer the same as it had been during the glory days of the Borscht Belt, when Jews were more accepted by society. As a result, filming took place in Lake Lure, North Carolina, and Mountain Lake, Virginia. They made the best of the situation with the locations available at the time, and thanks to the editing, it is impossible to notice the seamless shifts between North Carolina and Virginia.

“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” earned the film its sole Oscar nomination and win for Best Original Song. Much like “Nobody puts Baby in the corner,” it entered the cultural lexicon. Both the film, the song, and the quote have been honored by the American Film Institute, appearing on their lists of top passions (#93), songs (#86), and movie quotes (#98). Dirty Dancing itself contains a killer soundtrack, which became a defining collection of the era’s songs, and much credit is owed to music supervisor Jimmy Ienner. Patrick Swayze himself contributes “She’s Like the Wind” to the soundtrack. Who knew he could write music and sing in addition to acting and dancing?

Dirty Dancing delivers classic romance, iconic choreography, and a killer soundtrack, earning its place as a beloved film while reminding us of the social and cultural world it reflects.

DIRECTOR: Emile Ardolino
SCREENWRITER: Eleanor Bergstein
CAST: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, Cynthia Rhodes, Kelly Bishop, Jane Brucker, Lonny Price, Max Cantor, Paula Trueman, “Cousin Brucie” Morrow, with Charles Honi Coles and Jack Weston

Vestron Pictures released Dirty Dancing in theaters on August 21, 1987. Grade: 4.5/5

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