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A New ‘Dirty Dancing,’ and Baby’s Love Story Is Just the Start A New ‘Dirty Dancing,’ and Baby’s Love Story Is Just the Start
(about 20 hours later)
When “Dirty Dancing,” a coming-of-age film set in 1963 that depicts a family’s summer vacation spent at a Catskills resort, came out in 1987, it was an instant and unexpected sensation. Reportedly costing just $6 million, the movie earned $214 million at the box office and won the best original song Academy Award for “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”When “Dirty Dancing,” a coming-of-age film set in 1963 that depicts a family’s summer vacation spent at a Catskills resort, came out in 1987, it was an instant and unexpected sensation. Reportedly costing just $6 million, the movie earned $214 million at the box office and won the best original song Academy Award for “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”
The movie also prompted a generation of young women to cut and roll their jeans to the knee (paired with white Keds), while transforming Jennifer Grey into the hero of nontraditionally pretty girls everywhere and Patrick Swayze into a major celebrity.The movie also prompted a generation of young women to cut and roll their jeans to the knee (paired with white Keds), while transforming Jennifer Grey into the hero of nontraditionally pretty girls everywhere and Patrick Swayze into a major celebrity.
Now, 30 years later, ABC will broadcast a musical remake on Wednesday that painstakingly tries to maintain many of the key elements of the original. Even the network’s marketing poster features the new stars, Abigail Breslin and Colt Prattes, as Frances Houseman (nicknamed Baby) and Johnny Castle, tenderly entwined in a pose eerily reminiscent of the iconic movie-poster image of Ms. Grey and Mr. Swayze.Now, 30 years later, ABC will broadcast a musical remake on Wednesday that painstakingly tries to maintain many of the key elements of the original. Even the network’s marketing poster features the new stars, Abigail Breslin and Colt Prattes, as Frances Houseman (nicknamed Baby) and Johnny Castle, tenderly entwined in a pose eerily reminiscent of the iconic movie-poster image of Ms. Grey and Mr. Swayze.
But as Twitter will most certainly note, much is different in the ABC update, which is produced with Lionsgate Television. Not only has a 100-minute film been extended into three hours (including commercials), but the producers have added an interracial flirtation, an explicit attempted date rape and a sexless marriage crisis for Baby’s parents. The characters now sing as well as dance.But as Twitter will most certainly note, much is different in the ABC update, which is produced with Lionsgate Television. Not only has a 100-minute film been extended into three hours (including commercials), but the producers have added an interracial flirtation, an explicit attempted date rape and a sexless marriage crisis for Baby’s parents. The characters now sing as well as dance.
That creative tightrope of just how faithful a new “Dirty Dancing” should be concerned many involved in the 2017 version. “I understand what it’s like to be a superfan,” Ms. Breslin said. “I love ‘Twilight’ and was worried they would mess up the book.”That creative tightrope of just how faithful a new “Dirty Dancing” should be concerned many involved in the 2017 version. “I understand what it’s like to be a superfan,” Ms. Breslin said. “I love ‘Twilight’ and was worried they would mess up the book.”
The ultimate goal was to make the movie more relevant while not changing the overall tone. “We are not trying to mimic the original,” Ms. Breslin said. “If you try to do that, you won’t succeed.”The ultimate goal was to make the movie more relevant while not changing the overall tone. “We are not trying to mimic the original,” Ms. Breslin said. “If you try to do that, you won’t succeed.”
Just as the original did, the new “Dirty Dancing” focuses on Ms. Breslin’s character, Baby, as she vacations with her family at the Kellerman’s Lodge in the Catskill Mountains of New York.Just as the original did, the new “Dirty Dancing” focuses on Ms. Breslin’s character, Baby, as she vacations with her family at the Kellerman’s Lodge in the Catskill Mountains of New York.
It’s the summer of 1963, before the Kennedy assassination shattered the shiny facade of postwar Americana. Baby is soon to leave for Mount Holyoke College with plans for a career in medicine, while her older sister, Lisa, played by the “Modern Family” star Sarah Hyland, is more interested in earning an MRS. than an M.D.It’s the summer of 1963, before the Kennedy assassination shattered the shiny facade of postwar Americana. Baby is soon to leave for Mount Holyoke College with plans for a career in medicine, while her older sister, Lisa, played by the “Modern Family” star Sarah Hyland, is more interested in earning an MRS. than an M.D.
Dr. Jake Houseman, the strong and sage man-of-the-family portrayed on the big screen in the 1980s by Jerry Orbach, remains steady and circumspect, played in this remake by Bruce Greenwood. His wife, Marjorie Houseman, is played by Debra Messing.Dr. Jake Houseman, the strong and sage man-of-the-family portrayed on the big screen in the 1980s by Jerry Orbach, remains steady and circumspect, played in this remake by Bruce Greenwood. His wife, Marjorie Houseman, is played by Debra Messing.
It’s her character whose story is the most fleshed out addition, part of the new version’s bid to be more than a teen movie. No longer is Marjorie a yes-dear wife who doesn’t add much. In ABC’s version, she is a housewife on the verge of becoming an empty-nester and a woman whose husband’s attention is fully focused on his career. “You haven’t touched me in almost a year,” she laments to Jake.It’s her character whose story is the most fleshed out addition, part of the new version’s bid to be more than a teen movie. No longer is Marjorie a yes-dear wife who doesn’t add much. In ABC’s version, she is a housewife on the verge of becoming an empty-nester and a woman whose husband’s attention is fully focused on his career. “You haven’t touched me in almost a year,” she laments to Jake.
Marjorie is not willing to accept the emptiness of her marriage and her awakening creates a crisis for the entire Houseman family. “Communication about sex has always been a tricky thing in American culture, especially back then,” Ms. Messing said.Marjorie is not willing to accept the emptiness of her marriage and her awakening creates a crisis for the entire Houseman family. “Communication about sex has always been a tricky thing in American culture, especially back then,” Ms. Messing said.
For Ms. Messing, as with many of the cast members and creative team, the 1987 movie was a formative cultural moment. “I remember seeing it in the theater as a teenager, and seeing this character who had un-Hollywood hair and an un-Hollywood nose but she still was the protagonist and I thought, ‘I’m Baby,’” she said. “Now I know that every teenage girl thought she was Baby and that was the magic of the film.”For Ms. Messing, as with many of the cast members and creative team, the 1987 movie was a formative cultural moment. “I remember seeing it in the theater as a teenager, and seeing this character who had un-Hollywood hair and an un-Hollywood nose but she still was the protagonist and I thought, ‘I’m Baby,’” she said. “Now I know that every teenage girl thought she was Baby and that was the magic of the film.”
A different character had a similar effect on the choreographer of the remake, Andy Blankenbuehler, who won Tony Awards for his choreography of “In the Heights” and “Hamilton” and was nominated for another Tony this month for “Bandstand.”A different character had a similar effect on the choreographer of the remake, Andy Blankenbuehler, who won Tony Awards for his choreography of “In the Heights” and “Hamilton” and was nominated for another Tony this month for “Bandstand.”
As a boy who loved to dance, Mr. Blankenbuehler had few role models. Then came Mr. Swayze as Johnny Castle. While rethinking the dances for the new “Dirty Dancing,” Mr. Blankenbuehler said: “It was important not to throw away what millions of people loved, including myself. When Baby walks into the bunkhouse — I call it the watermelon scene — they were so alive and so sexy.As a boy who loved to dance, Mr. Blankenbuehler had few role models. Then came Mr. Swayze as Johnny Castle. While rethinking the dances for the new “Dirty Dancing,” Mr. Blankenbuehler said: “It was important not to throw away what millions of people loved, including myself. When Baby walks into the bunkhouse — I call it the watermelon scene — they were so alive and so sexy.
“I wanted to capture that exact same thing,” he said, “but with all new steps.”“I wanted to capture that exact same thing,” he said, “but with all new steps.”
The music is old-but-new, too. “She’s Like the Wind” is now performed by the British singer Calum Scott, and “Time of My Life” is sung by the new cast. Ms. Messing and Mr. Greenwood each do solo renditions of “You Can’t Take That Away From Me.”The music is old-but-new, too. “She’s Like the Wind” is now performed by the British singer Calum Scott, and “Time of My Life” is sung by the new cast. Ms. Messing and Mr. Greenwood each do solo renditions of “You Can’t Take That Away From Me.”
Transforming “Dirty Dancing” this way also fits into ABC’s foray into the musical-event genre that has been dominated by NBC (“The Sound of Music Live!,” “Peter Pan Live!,” “Hairspray Live!” with the “Jesus Christ Superstar” coming next Easter Sunday) and Fox (“Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Grease Live” with “Rent” scheduled for this fall). ABC will follow up this fall with a two-hour live musical event that revolves around songs from Disney’s film “The Little Mermaid.”)Transforming “Dirty Dancing” this way also fits into ABC’s foray into the musical-event genre that has been dominated by NBC (“The Sound of Music Live!,” “Peter Pan Live!,” “Hairspray Live!” with the “Jesus Christ Superstar” coming next Easter Sunday) and Fox (“Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Grease Live” with “Rent” scheduled for this fall). ABC will follow up this fall with a two-hour live musical event that revolves around songs from Disney’s film “The Little Mermaid.”)
There is also the bolstered story line involving Lisa Houseman, played by Ms. Hyland. She fights off an attempted date rape by a conventional, parent-approved suitor and then falls into a coy friendship with Marco, a Kellerman employee who is black.There is also the bolstered story line involving Lisa Houseman, played by Ms. Hyland. She fights off an attempted date rape by a conventional, parent-approved suitor and then falls into a coy friendship with Marco, a Kellerman employee who is black.
A framing device — set in 1975 — at the start and end of the film was added by Jessica Sharzer, who wrote the teleplay, to explain why the characters are now singing.A framing device — set in 1975 — at the start and end of the film was added by Jessica Sharzer, who wrote the teleplay, to explain why the characters are now singing.
Some elements remain untouched. As in the movie, a main plotline hinges on an unwanted pregnancy and the illegal abortion that ends it. This was controversial in 1987. Whether ABC is concerned about blowback for broadcasting the abortion subplot is unclear. An ABC spokeswoman said that no executive was available to discuss “Dirty Dancing.”Some elements remain untouched. As in the movie, a main plotline hinges on an unwanted pregnancy and the illegal abortion that ends it. This was controversial in 1987. Whether ABC is concerned about blowback for broadcasting the abortion subplot is unclear. An ABC spokeswoman said that no executive was available to discuss “Dirty Dancing.”
And the film’s most memorable line — “No one puts Baby in the corner” — stayed, though Ms. Sharzer considered cutting it. Allison Shearmur, the executive producer who oversaw the project for Lionsgate Television, urged her against making that mistake. “Don’t touch that line; we’ll get slaughtered without that line!’” Ms. Sharzer recalled Ms. Shearmur telling her. And the film’s most memorable line — “Nobody puts Baby in a corner” — stayed, though Ms. Sharzer considered cutting it. Allison Shearmur, the executive producer who oversaw the project for Lionsgate Television, urged her against making that mistake. “Don’t touch that line; we’ll get slaughtered without that line!’” Ms. Sharzer recalled Ms. Shearmur telling her.