Dirty Dancing in Theaters

This Day in History: August 21, 1987

Theatrical release poster

A massive, unexpected box-office hit, one of the greatest movies of all times, Dirty Dancing, opens in theaters across the nation. Originally billed as a low-budget film by a new studio, Great American Films Limited Partnership, its expectations consisted of the film being shown in theaters for one weekend only, then, direct-to-video. To lessen its hopes of success even more was the fact that the cast consisted of no major stars at the time (except Broadway legend Jerry Orbach in a supporting role). 

What a surprise! It was the first film to sell one million copies on video and as of 2009, Dirty
Dancing had earned over $214 million worldwide. The little-known Patrick Swayze became an overnight sensation and in 1991, he was chosen by People magazine as that year's "Sexiest Man Alive".

Not only was the movie a monumental success but also the soundtrack. The Dirty Dancing soundtrack went multi-platinum. Included in the hit singles: “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, “Hungry Eyes” by Eric Carmen and “She’s Like the Wind,” co-written and sung by Swayze himself. The film also contained the now-famous line “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”

 

Sidenote: In 2004, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, a reworking of the original film set in Cuba in the 1950s, just before Fidel Castro’s revolution, was released to a tepid response from critics and audiences. The still-fit Swayze appeared in a cameo role as a dance instructor. Want to watch Dirty Dancing? Watch the original! You just can't beat a classic!

 An iconic scene from the dancing finale

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...as well as the movie!