While when most of us originally saw the movie when it came out in 1987, the majority of us were 14 years old and like myself included had worn out the movie which was on VHS during that time period had fallen head of heels in love or lust for that sexy main character, "Johnny." While the majority of us, who's mothers had allowed us to watch the movie and probably watched it as well, assumed it was nothing more than a mushie love story with an excess amount of dance scenes with the ultimate dance scene at the end. Little did she really think about it, especially in the 1980's that the movie would inclued such issue's stemming from socio-economic class, rape/date-rape, abortion, and as many sex scenes as there were.
As, we watched it recently in class and had to actually look for different points throughtout the film, while I still enjoyed the film as I had so many years prior but realized so many things popped out at me now as an adult.
What really stuck out for me was that the movie's setting was the early 1960's and actually 1963 to be correct. However, it seemed that while there were approaching subjects more dealt with in the 1980's, they dealt with them in the movie as if they were dealing with these issues on an everyday basis. These subjects were not small and innocent ones either and back in the 60's issues of this sort were not usually spoke about so casually like they were done in the movie. From very apparent socio-economic class difference that are not only talked about but you really see the differences between the two throughout the movie. There was even a casual conversation at a staff meeting about what you can and cannot do with or to the guests, A husband casually paying someone to more or less enjoy his wife ( a clear sign of prostitution), A more prominent topic casually describing someone who thinks he is of better class but in the end, Penny is pregnant and because of her present situation as a dancer which pays her bills, so that she can afford to live and survive, doesn't include being able to be pregnant and she opts for an abortion. Which was never called that in the movie but referred to very clearly. That same guy, who thinks he is so much better and of higher standards and class, attempts to Rape another woman. In my opinion someone like that, if in real life would be loser with absolutely no social class.
One of the things we had talked about in our Women's class was about abortion and when it came the 1960's, Abortion was very illegal and if you check out http://www.projectvoice.org. You will find some stories from older women that talk about when they had to make the choice to have an abortion and what had to be done to have that happen. There aren't too many stories of older women but none the less all the women's stories are important and they decided to post them for people to understand what they were going through and what happens after, their feelings and emotions. Which in the movie doesn't talk about what Penny goes through emotional wise but she does open up to Baby before and tell her that she is scared, and she has the right to be.
One of the things we had talked about in our Women's class was about abortion and when it came the 1960's, Abortion was very illegal and if you check out http://www.projectvoice.org. You will find some stories from older women that talk about when they had to make the choice to have an abortion and what had to be done to have that happen. There aren't too many stories of older women but none the less all the women's stories are important and they decided to post them for people to understand what they were going through and what happens after, their feelings and emotions. Which in the movie doesn't talk about what Penny goes through emotional wise but she does open up to Baby before and tell her that she is scared, and she has the right to be.
In this film, Baby's father on several attempts also tries to assert his authority or Patriarchal values or views if you will in the case of who Baby, "His daughter plans to be" to impress people, when he has to come to the rescue of Penny's botched abortion and in telling or yelling at Baby for lieing and telling her she can't hang around "Those People." Also, at the the end of the film when he confronts johnny about knowing he wasn't the one to get Penny into trouble.
However, I think Baby is the big start in this film, besides for the fact like I said earlier the setting of the film was in 1963 and that Baby stood up for what she believed in being, borrowing the money in the beginning of the movie, Seducing Johnny, or even going behind her fathers back of all things. The fact that Baby never thought of herself as someone better than Johnny or Penny or even any of the dancers and that she just lets Johnny go basically as fast as he had come into her life shows that she is not a selfish person. It shows a lot for her character and I think that is why Johnny calls her "Frances" at the End of the movie.
http://www.projectvoice.org
http://www.projectvoice.org
