Dirty Dancing hit theaters three decades ago, can you believe it? We should all know the story by now. Innocent girl named Baby meets Dirty Dancing boy named Johnny. Boy teaches girl to dance. Baby gets put in a corner. Boy tells father that “nobody puts Baby in a corner.” Boy and girl fall in love and film becomes an instant classic. Oh yeah, and there’s a slew of great music, romance and yes… dancing — some dirty, some simply beautiful. And yes, many had the Time of Our Life.
In celebration of this cinematic milestone, Lionsgate is releasing the 30th Anniversary Blu-Ray of the iconic film starring Patrick Swayze as Johnny and Jennifer Grey as Baby. This new home video release features tons of new bonus features, including a terrific Happy 30th Birthday, Dirty Dancing featurette and never-before-seen interviews with the late, great Swayze.
The ultimate salute to the summer-set love story, Dirty Dancing, begins when Baby and her family land in the upstate New York vacation community known as the Poconos. The clan has been going to this resort for years, but this particular summer things will be different than ever before. It starts when Baby discovers that there is an “underground” place at the facility where staff (and a few visitors) gather to dance rather dirty. Yup, they gyrate and grind against one another, but most of all… they have some serious boogie chops that gets shown off in several dance numbers that send temperatures rising.
Johnny is the lead dancing instructor at the vacation locale and when his partner can’t compete in the upcoming dance contest, Baby volunteers. This wide-eyed young lady has no idea what she’s volunteering for, but she will soon not only learn to dance like a pro, but also find love for the first time in her life.
Dirty Dancing made hundreds of millions of dollars upon its release in 1987 and took home the Oscar for Best Original Song for (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life. Since it first arrived on home video, it has sold 14 million DVDs and Blu-Rays. Is the 30th Anniversary Edition worth the upgrade for those who have it? No question, and for those who do not have Dirty Dancing in their home video collection, this latest release is a must-own.
There are over six hours of bonus features that include several that are brand new.
We have to start by saluting the Patrick Swayze Uncut Interview and the Patrick Swayze: In His Own Words Interview. Both of these give fans of Dirty Dancing and fans of the iconic actor a look at the talent that we’ve never seen before. He is candid. He is honest and he dishes what the Dirty Dancing experience meant to him, as well as giving viewers insight into the making of the classic film and how his involvement changed his life.
Happy Birthday, Dirty Dancing is an almost-half hour featurette that looks back at the film and its impact on pop culture, while featuring a nice group of experts discussing the seismic influence the film had on Hollywood, the dance world and the lives of all involved. For true appreciators of the classic film, this featurette alone is worth the price of the home video release.
The final “all-new” featurette is simply awesome. Eleanor Bergstein: Thoughts On A Lifetime of Dirty Dancing Interview spotlights Bergstein, who wrote and co-produced the film. To get her insight into the making of the film and how, over the last 30 years, its mere existence has changed her life and all of those involved, is enthralling, moving, enlightening and entertaining.
Even though many of the follow featurettes have been available on previous editions, it does not make them any less enthralling. Of particular interest is the Dirty Dancing: The Phenomenon featurette. It takes us back to when the film first arrived and how it slowly but surely became a sensation.
We also cherished the dancing-centric featurettes Dancing to the Music and The Rhythm of the Dancing. Each takes us inside the choreography and the massive scope that was placed on all those who boogie-woogied in those numerous dance scenes that are the heart and soul of Dirty Dancing.
Fans will certainly not want to miss the Original Screen Tests. Those stars look like mere babies! The outtakes are fun, as are the music videos that are also included for the hit songs from the soundtrack, including Hungry Eyes, She’s Like the Wind and of course, (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.
Film Grade: A
Bonus Features: A+