I don’t think I’m alone in saying that Dirty Dancing has to be my favourite chick-flick. I have no idea how old I was when I first watched the VHS tape of Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey sashay their way through the steamy mambo, but I do remember being very confused about what kind of ‘trouble’ Robbie had gotten Penny in to….
Every time I hear the soundtrack I am transported back to my early teenage years, bombing around my hometown of Sheffield in an old VW Polo with my friend and her Mum belting out ‘Hungry Eyes’. I feel the need to add here that by this age I had worked out the Penny and Robbie situation….
On a trip to Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains several years ago we popped into the ‘Kellermans’ resort for lunch and I can proudly say that I too have walked in the footsteps of Baby, though sadly I missed out on carrying a watermelon.
Last week I returned home to my South Yorkshire motherland to watch the stage production of Dirty Dancing. In short we had a blast and as I’m sure you all know, it is an exact word-for-word, dance-by-dance replica of the beloved film apart from a few short scenes. I enjoyed the first act more than the second, though the finale was obviously my favourite scene.
I couldn’t fault the dancing, atmosphere, or Baby’s performance. (Johnny was played by an understudy so his lack of ‘buffness’ and tan was understandable). However, like many others who have seen the stage production, I actually preferred the film to the theatre version. Whilst sometimes it’s an utter travesty that a reproduction changes the ending, kills off a main character etc, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed by the lack of any originality in the translation from film to stage.
So now it’s time to open up the whole ‘is the film-better-than-the-book?’ or is the ‘film-better-than-the-stage?’ debate.
Les Misérables is the first to spring to mind. I haven’t seen the musical but many say it’s incredible. For me the film was stunning from a visual perspective, but the powerful ‘live’ audio was just too raw to be sung in Surround Sound. The French historical novel by Victor Hugo is viewed as a literary classic but at 1,500 pages it’s going to be many weeks of bedtime reading!
I went to see the West End production of Lord of the Rings several years ago. Other than being completely enthralled (and terrified) by the blade-wearing orcs patrolling the aisle seats, I cannot remember anything of note about the play at all. Gandalf bursting into song all seemed a little bit odd if I’m honest. However in the films the score is utterly emotive and adds a dimension that I can’t recreate when I read Tolkien’s novels.
I would love to hear your comments on the books-stage-films debate. Don’t worry if your book or film wasn’t made into a West End theatre production, let’s have a chat about Jaws, The Godfather, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Beach or any of the other hundreds of novels that have made it on the big screen. Who’s read ‘The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’ and gone on to watch Wicked, or foot-tapped through the Billy Elliot film and gone on to watch the stage version? In general do you prefer film watching to book reading or theatre-going? And if none of this floats your boat just let us know your favourite Dirty Dancing moment!
I’m lucky enough to make it to the West End at least once a month thanks to my job. I always fear that taking a stage show and making it a massive on screen production just won’t work. I always prefer the stage shows. I recently saw the new film trailer for Jersey Boys, this looks like they’ve done the show justice. However film to stage show can work well, i was very disappointed with Dirty Dancing but The Bodyguard is fantastic.
Kirsty – you’re such a lucky lady getting to go once a month!
Thanks for The Bodyguard recommendation. Have you by any chance seen the West End version of Ghost? It was going to be next on my list but I’ve heard mixed reviews.
Ghost was ok. If you like the film, you’ll be disappointed.
Ahh that’s a shame Kirsty. I’m checking Bodyguard tickets right now instead!
I hated the Bodyguard! Ok, hate is a strong word. It’s impossible to hate 2 hours of Whitney classics, but a fantastic soundtrack aside I just found the whole thing a bit lacklustre and naff… Maybe I went on a bad night.
Ah…book is always better than the film in my opinion. One Day – LOVED the book and the film was bang average….I find it is always a disappointment when you’ve read the book and imagined the characters then the film doesnt do your imagination justice.
Victoria, it’s so sad when that happens. I can’t bring myself to watch the film version of The Book Thief. I wept the whole way through the novel and would be devastated if the film didn’t do it justice!
Oh my goodness, I have just finished reading this book, serious waterworks! I just know the movie will be nothing like my mind imagined it! 🙁
I’m not sure I can bring myself to read it… I am just about to start the Luminaries which I think will be a tearful expedition.
Maybe there should be a Rock My Style bookclub…? Rock My Book…?
We’ll see what we can do 😉 x
Being a BIG fan of Disney (and uhum young at heart) I have always been a mahoosive fan of the Lion King.
I was blown away by the stage production when we say it a few years ago, the costumes are worth going to see it alone. One small tip I will say to anyone who hasn’t been is get seats downstairs/flower level to really embrace the beginning of the show!
Helen xx
Another one to go on my list Helen! It would be nice to get myself away from the cheap seats too as I seriously thought I was going to topple from my seat in the stalls! x
For me the one that has always stuck out was The Beach!
I LOVED that book! I had such vivid ideas of all the characters and the look of the island that the film just didn’t match up to. Even having yummy Leo DiC couldn’t save that film for me!
As for Les Mis, last December the boy gave me the Les Mis movie to me for my 30th and inside was a pair of tickets to the West End show! It was amazing! So amazing, in fact, that I still haven’t watched the movie – I think I’m just too scared it will ruin my memories of the stage show! haha
I promise I’ll watch it soon & report back! xx
The Beach was SO disappointing as a film! I read the book after just so I could understand what the fuss was about. It was far better!
I haven’t yet come across something where the film is better than the book. I refused to go and see Life of Pi because I love that book so much, won’t see The Book Thief for the same reason. Sometimes it can be as good (in a different way), eg I love the Bridget Jones film and I love the book , probably because they’re just different enough from each other.
aside – am I the only person in the universe who HATED the les mis film??
I know a few people who would join you in your Les Mis camp Claire…
There was a hybrid stage / film event last summer that you would have LOVED – future cinema presents Dirty Dancing! Everyone dressed up, carried watermelons, arrived at Kellerman’s to be welcomed by Mr Kellerman himself, watched the talent show, tried to sneak in to the staff quarters, could try on wigs, have a dance lesson etc – it was amazing! And then they showed the film on a big screen – live dances happened during the screening, mirroring the scenes in the film. It was incredible! Especially ‘the lift’ at the end! This was a really exciting way to incorporate stage and screen and was one of the best night’s out of last summer!
This sounds immense Bryony! I bet it was amazing. You are right – I would have absolutely loved it x
It’s not quite ‘a book’ as such, but the best play to film is most definitely Baz Luhrman’s Romeo & Juliet. The man is a god.
A smashing choice Sama. His version is amazing x
Oh I loved the film Life of Pi, I was just in awe of it from the moment it started. I then got the book but I haven’t been able to read it because I loved the film so much(?!)
I wept my way through the book, The Time Travellers Wife – the film just couldn’t match it (although that didn’t stop me sobbing quite a bit.)
And I went to see The Lord of the Rings musical too, I thought it was good, a bit crazy and odd! And really no match to the film – I’ve yet to read the book!
I am a bit of a LotR geek, OK that’s now out in the open! I love love love the books, and I think Peter Jackson did an amazing job adapting them to the films. It was also the first time ever that a trilogy was filmed simultaneously, rather than them doing one, releasing it and then going back later to do the others and I think that made a huge difference to how those films turned out. Obviously there are bits missing from the films that were in the books that a lot of Tolkien purists would have had a go at Jackson for, but I don’t think their inclusion would have benefited the narrative at all. I wouldn’t say either one is better or worse than the other, as they are both magical in their own way.
Needless to say I am also a huge Hobbit fan. It is the first book I ever remember reading (besides picture books) as a child and I actually prefer The Hobbit book to LotR. I’m loving the films so far, not too sure about the added inclusion of Legolas and his lady elf love interest but am interested to see where it goes.
Sorry – I’ve completely revealed my true nerd nature! x
I still haven’t seen The Hobbit. I must get to it though.
And btw, I know people with far nerdier natures 😉 x
I’m late to the party here!
I haven’t seen any shows where I’ve read the book, but I’ve just booked War Horse tickets. Hoping the puppetry will save the film story, which I find all a bit too soppy for my liking!!
I can’t bring myself to watch The Time Traveller’s Wife or The Book Thief, some stories should just stay the ones the words created in your imagination. I made that mistake with PS I Love You, never again!
The only book I have ever read where the film was soooo much better was The Remains of the Day. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson bring that story and the understated bitterness of a love wasted to life so well, the book was just so boring. At least for me, anyway!