Renowned film critic Roger Ebert said Dirty Dancing "might have been a decent movie if it had allowed itself to be about anything." In this broadly researched and accessible text, Stephen Lee Naish sets out to deconstruct and unlock a film that has haunted him for decades, and argues that Dirty Dancing, the 1987 sleeper hit about a young middle-class girl who falls for a handsome working-class dance instructor, is actually about everything. The film is a union of history, politics, sixties and eighties culture, era-defining music, class, gender, and race, and of course features one of the best love stories set to film. Using scene-by-scene analyses, personal interpretation, and comparative study, it's time to take Dirty Dancing out of the corner and place it under the microscope.

Fans of the movie and students and scholars of cultural, performance, and film history will appreciate the insight in The Time of Our Lives.

THE FANS LOVE STORYHow The Movie ?ÇÿDIRTY DANCING Captured The Hearts Of Millions! is a celebration of this hit movie from the fans point of view. Fans from all over the world give their heartfelt take on how the movie deeply resonated with them and had a positive impact on their lives. The book is a must-have for any Dirty Dancing/Patrick Swayze fan.You will meet an entertainment icon who served as a consultant to the movie and her real-life dance partner in the Catskills in the 80s. You will also enjoy interviews with three people who worked at two of the film locations during the shooting of the movie and twenty-two fans. In addition to the twenty-seven interviews, the author shares her strong connection to the movie and background information that she gathered during her trip to one of the main film locations, Mountain Lake Hotel in Virginia. The book also contains a folklore section, photos (including Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze, film location, fans, and more), results of an online survey, archives from Mountain Lake Hotel, research from multiple media sources, and an in-depth bibliography. You will discover why the movie has been popular for over twenty years and is still going strong. Even the most avid Dirty Dancing fan will learn something new. Finally, best of all, you will experience the heart and soul connection of the movie once again!

An engaging exploration into the enduring popularity of Dirty Dancing and its lasting themes of feminism, activism, and reproductive rights When Dirty Dancing was released in 1987, it had already been rejected by producers and distributors several times over, and expectations for the summer romance were low. But then the film, written by former dancer Eleanor Bergstein and starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze as a couple from two different worlds, exploded. Since then, Dirty Dancing’s popularity has never waned. The truth has always been that Dirty Dancing was never just a teen romance or a dance movie — it also explored abortion rights, class, and political activism, with a smattering of light crime-solving. In The Time of My Life, celebrated music journalist Andrea Warner excavates the layers of Dirty Dancing, from its anachronistic, chart-topping soundtrack, to Baby and Johnny’s chemistry, to Bergstein’s political intentions, to the abortion subplot that is more relevant today than ever. The film’s remarkable longevity would never have been possible if it was just a throwaway summer fling story. It is precisely because of its themes — deeply feminist, sensitively written — that we, over 30 years later, are still holding our breath during that last, exhilarating lift.

It has been 30 years since Johnny pulled Baby from the corner to have the time of their lives. To mark the occasion, People offers a loving look back at the classic dance romance. Featuring a Dirty Dancing oral history: Jennifer Grey, choreographer Kenny Ortega, and other members of the cast and creative team recall the making of a movie-both the challenges and mishaps as well as the on-location party atmosphere. With a foreword by Dancing with the Stars pro Derek Hough. Includes: Meet the real Baby, Dirty Dancing creator Eleanor Bergstein. And the three guys who wrote "(I've Had) the Time of My Life" talk about its creation-and how it changed their lives The movie's living legacy: the wildly successful stage musical, the annual summer festival, and how to nab the Housemans' bungalow at the hotel that doubled as Kellerman's. Also: inside the ABC television 30th anniversary movie remake From the People archive: a 20th anniversary interview with Patrick Swayze on the role that made him a leading man. Plus: tributes to the lives and careers of Jerry Orbach, director Emile Ardolino and others we've lost from the Dirty Dancing family All about "the lift" and how to do it!

Get behind-the-scenes information that you won't find anywhere else. Rub elbows with Dirty dancing producers, stars, singers, songwriters, and filmmakers as you enjoy stories and photos related to the movie.

Named one of the most romantic movies of the past twenty-five years by Entertainment Weekly, Dirty Dancing is a touchstone in the lives of generations of moviegoers. Now, for the first time, millions of fans have the opportunity to own the first-ever book celebrating the magic, music, and memories of the seminal film. With photographs, reminiscences from cast and crew, memorable quotes, trivia, and song lyrics, this gift-able package is a perfect and brand-new way to relive the film. Dirty Dancing is a timeless love story set in the summer of 1963 when Baby, an innocent seventeen-year-old, meets Johnny, a dashing hotel dance instructor at Kellerman’s Catskills resort. Its passionate story line and alluring dance numbers made the film a box-office hit and pop-culture phenomenon. Though the film launched the careers of stars Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, and won an Academy Award®, a Golden Globe®, a Grammy Award®, and an Independent Spirit Award®, it is best known for being an undeniably loved, oft-quoted piece of American cinematic history. With the recent passing of Patrick Swayze, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the film takes on a new meaning and poignancy. This official celebration of the film, the stars, and the time is a must-have for any of the millions of people who love the film.