Dirty Dancing was one of the biggest indie hits of the 1980s.

But, as it turns out, it was beset by a whole bunch of problems… Ive never met anyone who could say that about its sequel,Havana Nights, however.

And I struck gold withDirty Dancing.

The bits you probably know aboutDirty Dancing.

It gave Patrick Swayze his big breakthrough movie.

He and co-star Jennifer Grey supposedly werent best of friends.

It went on to be a huge hit.

The soundtrack sold a few copies too.

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However,Dirty Dancingwas the epitome of a surprise breakthrough hit.

It was a cheap, independent production that broke through, building up off sizeable word of mouth.

It would be fair to call it something of a phenomenon.

When she got it, from Vestron Pictures, it came with a proviso: she had $5m.

But for many years, he resisted any that involved dancing.

Id always be seen as a dancer-turned-actor, rather than an actor, he wrote.

Dirty Dancingchanged his mind, but he wasnt automatically cast.

But after a successful audition process, the pair were cast.

The late Emile Ardolino was firmly attached to direct by this stage too.

Yet terrorist incidents in Europe that took place in 1986 led to many Americans cancelling their foreign travel plans.

US hotels began to get booked up.

By this stage, it was already June.

Thats when things start going wrong.

The Shoot

Production onDirty Dancingstarted on September 5th, 1986.

It didnt take long for trouble to start.

Day one involved scenes with the mother of Jennifer Greys character.

The unnamed actress concerned complains of fatigue and weakness, Gottlieb wrote.

Her scenes were shot, and she had to lie down a lot.

It is clear to everybody that this woman will not be Jennifer Greys mother for much longer.

Oh, with 200 extras on standby.

Kelly Bishop, originally cast in a different role, changes roles.

As Gottlieb wrote, we realise she has one strong thing going for her: she is here.

Bishops original role was filled by the films assistant choreographer, Miranda Garrison.

She continued her role as Swayzes off-screen dance coach, too.

On day five actress Paula Trueman, playing the hotel thief, collapsed on set.

Fortunately, she recovered.

But its the day after where all concerned must have thought the film was cursed.

The Sixth Day

The following all happened on day six of the films shoot.

Firstly, burglars ransacked the films rehearsal space.

Time for an urgent journey to get replacement material.

However, the hotel where everyone was staying was up a mountain.

And thered been severe flooding.

The roads were blocked.

Theres more, though.

The set decorator fell off his ladder and injured himself.

The second assistant director broke her wrist.

The wardrobe assistant broke her toe.

Oh, and three of the crew were hit by food poisoning.

The rain would continue, holding up the shooting of exteriors.

In which time, the leaves on the trees outside took on autumnal shades.

The leaves had to be sprayed green.

As Gottlieb wrote, a nurse hovers on the set dispensing oxygen and Gatorade.

He won many of his fights onDirty Dancing, but he lost that one.

Probably for the best.

Crucially, though, Swayze wasnt having joy with his knee either.

Throughout the production, he would have to ice his knee as it swelled up on a regular basis.

It was the scene where Grey and Swayze balance on a log where his knee hit rock bottom.

I can only imagine the pain he must be feeling, Gottlieb recalled.

Swayzes book also tells of how he and Grey got along reasonably well for most of the shoot.

But he remained critical of her.

He admitted that I didnt have a whole lot of patience for multiple retakes.

Whilst they got on better than was generally perceived, there was still friction.

And theres more

Away from Swayze, further problems mounted up.

On the same day she announced that, a wasp infestation was discovered.

Jennifer Greys arms took the brunt of said wasps.

She was not left handed.

She too left the production.

Turned out hed not been out of prison long in the first place.

In the non-internet age, nobody found out.

But Ardolinos later cut worked.

That producer Linda Gottlieb and her team heldDirty Dancingtogether is no small feat.

That she steered clear ofHavana Nights, the ill-fatedDirty Dancingsequel?

All the better…

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