Welcome to Harbour Highlights, a series of cult and classic favourites, handpicked by the Harbour lights staff. For June, Henry takes us back to the summer of 1963 for the classic romantic drama Dirty Dancing.
Released in the summer of 1987, Dirty Dancing went on to become the third biggest film of the year, turning stars Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey into global stars and the film’s soundtrack into a seminal record of the time. Set over a summer at an upscale summer resort, the film follows Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman (Grey) as she discovers the hidden side of the resort where class differences keep the guests and staff separate. Drawn to the exciting side of the staff’s nightlife, she soon falls for dance instructor Johnny Castle (Swayze). As the pair navigate their cultural differences, Castle finds himself drawn to Baby and a romance begins to blossom during their dance sessions.
Often dismissed as being a fluffier film than it actually is, Dirty Dancing holds up not just because of its soundtrack and romance but because of its empathetic and honest look at class and youth in the early 1960s. But there’s a reason Baby and Johnny remain one of cinema’s most iconic couples and there’s no better way to experience the film than at the cinema where The Lift is as big, and the soundtrack is as loud as both can be.
