The sad reason why Dirty Dancing almost didn't happen

A world without Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze's on-screen relationship is not one we want to live in

Dirty Dancing

A world without Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze's on-screen relationship is not one we want to live in

It's hard to believe that one of the best and most classic films of all time, Dirty Dancing, turns 30 years old this year. Anyone else feel old?

The film starred Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, who recently revealed who she would cast in a Dirty Dancing remake, as the central characters Johnny and Frances (aka "Baby"). The pair charmed just about anyone who watched it with the dancing, the romance and the whole 'Nobody puts Baby in a corner' thing.

Well, you need to brace yourself for some difficult news: The movie almost didn't happen AND people thought it was terrible, both during production and when it was first released.

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We know, we can't believe it either.

Speaking to Bustle, Dirty Dancing's creator Eleanor revealed that the film was almost never made because nobody was really on board with the concept.

'We couldn't get anybody to make it. It took me a long time before anybody agreed to make it. And then they made it planning to shove it right into video, so it was made by a video company' she said.

'We had no encouragement. Everyone told us it was terrible while we were making it. And even when it first came out, everyone told us it was terrible.'

Can you imagine growing up in a world where THAT lift never existed? It just doesn't bear thinking about.

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Fortunately, people saw sense.

'We eventually got these wonderful, wonderful audiences that we've had now for 30 years' Eleanor said. 'All ages, men, women, kids. I've met kids whose parents hadn't even met or had sex before we made this film.

'It's really all generations. I'm very beholden to my audiences because they're wonderful.'

We're very glad that Dirty Dancing is now appreciated for the glorious movie that it is.

Lucy Abbersteen
Beauty Contributor

Lucy is a freelance beauty editor and contributor at Marie Claire, and has written for titles including Glamour, Refinery29, Popsugar, woman&home and more. She was previously Marie Claire’s junior beauty editor. During her career, she’s covered everything from backstage beauty at fashion week to interviews with famous faces like Drag Race royalty and Little Mix. As for her beauty ethos, she’s a big advocate for not having to spend a fortune on beauty products to get good results, and when she’s not got beauty on the brain you’ll find her reading or hanging out with dogs.