Main Cast: Diego Luna, Romola Garai, Sela Ward, John Slattery, Jonathan Jackson
Release Year: 2004
Country: US
Run Time: 86 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Not a sequel, not really a prequel, sort of a remake, more of a re-imagining, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights follows the blossoming love affair of young couple Katey (Romola Garai) and Javier (Diego Luna) against the backdrop of the Cuban Revolution in 1958. Katey is an American girl living in Cuba with her parents who meets Javier, a local. Javier takes Katey to a nightclub where he teaches her how to dance dirty Cuban-style. The two grow closer and closer, but when Castro takes over, Katey's parents decide to flee for the U.S., leaving Katey to make the ultimate decision. Tying the film together with the classic 1987 original is Patrick Swayze who reprises the role of Johnny Castle in a cameo. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
Review
The producers of Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights have a shrewd strategy in remaking the original 1987 hit for a modern audience. The plot is essentially the same (good girl away from home meets bad boy, he teaches her to dance, and they fall in love despite parental objection) and follows a similar arc, ensuring that all the emotional buttons pushed by the prototype are touched upon again. Setting the new film in Cuba at the height of the Castro revolution helps camouflage the redundancy, and gives Havana Nights an ethnic flavor that makes room for an urban-oriented soundtrack from high-profile artists like Wyclef Jean, Mya, and Christina Aguilera. Indeed, the music in the film sounds entirely modern, produced with fat beats and even the occasional rap interlude, often negating the film's 1958 time frame. It doesn't matter, however, because for a lightweight musical, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights does just fine, with an attractive, appealing cast and lots of movement. The film rounds all the bases in record time, bringing leads Romola Garai and Diego Luna together within the first five minutes and painting each supporting character with a wide brush for instant identification. While director Guy Ferland dares to preface the story with "Based on true events," there isn't much history to be found, and often the impending revolution is forgotten among montage sequences of the two young lovers dancing on beaches and in nightclubs. The politics of the era are used mainly to establish a sense of conflict and tragedy for Luna's Xavier, who lost a father to the unjust government and is chastised by his firebrand brother for consorting with the Americans. So don't expect Havana Nights to get into any ideology, because all it wants to do is dance, which it does, constantly. Patrick Swayze pops up briefly to show Garai some steps and give her a pep talk on "facing her fears," Sela Ward is the mother who left her dream of professional dance behind to bear children, and the Cuban population is so hot-blooded that they do their dirty dancing everywhere, slithering against each other without shame through the streets with hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas providing the beat. The very predictability of Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights is its strongest asset, providing a low-impact love story for teenyboppers and romance novel readers. Anyone with an interest in Cuban history or expecting lots of authentic Latin music should probably steer clear. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide
January Jones - Eve; Mika Boorem - Susie Miller; René Lavan - Carlos Suarez; Mya Harrison - Lola Martinez; Diego Alvarez - Rafael Suarez; Matt Birman - stc; Mary Portser - Mrs. Phelps; Angélica Aragón - Alma Suarez; Joann Fregalette Jansen - Dance intructor's partner; Marisol Padilla Sanchez - Yolanda; Manny Siverio - st; Heather Headley - Rosa Negra Singer; Modesto Lacen - Ramon; Roy T. Anderson - st; Polly Cusumano - Polly; Chris Engen - Steph; Tommy Kavelin - Señor Alonso; Wilmer Cordero - teacher; Charlie Rodriquez - Grandpa Suarez; Donato Poveda - Troubador; Shawn Kane - country club singer; Richard E. Lange - chaperone; David Rittenhouse - country club singer; Debbie Casteñeda - girl in club; Luis Gonzaga - Arturo; Ricardo Alvarez - Miguel; César Detrés - Raoul; Yessenia Benavîdes - Esmerelda; Alia Maria Alvarez - Chabe Suarez; Lawrence Duffy - Mr. Phelps; Jerry D. Medina - palace singer; Angel "Cucco" Peña - Julio Daviel; Guillermo De Cun - palace M.C.; Freddie De Arce - General Ramirez; Yvonne Caro Caro - check-in-lady; Chris Colombo - st
Credit
Theresa Carriker-Thayer - Art Director, John Nyomarkay - Art Director, Glenn Morris - Associate Producer, George Leong - Boom Operator, Mark Zimbicki - Boom Operator, Mindy Marin - Casting, Zoraida Sanjurjo Lopez - Casting, Joann Fregalette Jansen - Choreography, Jorge A. Santana - Consultant/advisor, Blake Neely - Conductor, Joann Fregalette Jansen - Co-producer, Trish Hofmann - Co-producer, Julie Kirkham - Co-producer, Ian Noe - Co-producer, Isis Mussenden - Costume Designer, Sandi Figueroa - Costume Designer, Isis Messenden - Costume Designer, Mitzy Ann Ramirez - Costume Designer, Loida Viera - Costume Designer, Grisel Torres - Costume Designer, Lori Ayala-Read - Costume Designer, Carola D. Gonzaléz - Costume Designer, Jonathan Starch - First Assistant Director, Guy Ferland - Director, Matt Birman - Second Unit Director, Luis Colina - Editor, Scott Richter - Editor, Sarah Green - Executive Producer, Meryl Poster - Executive Producer, Bob Osher - Executive Producer, Amir J. Malin - Executive Producer, Jennifer Berman - Executive Producer, Rachel Cohen - Executive Producer, Luis Estrella - Location Manager, Samuel E. Gomez - Location Manager, Heitor Pereira - Composer (Music Score), Christina Kline - Musical Direction/Supervision, Anthony Janelli - Camera Operator, Paul Varrieur - Camera Operator, Rick Tiedeman - Camera Operator, George Richmond - Camera Operator, Hugo Luczyc-Wyhowski - Production Designer, Anthony Richmond - Cinematographer, Lawrence Bender - Producer, Sarah Green - Producer, William Sarokin - Production Sound, Glen Trew - Production Sound, Kevin Mullican - Research, Anthony Carillo - Singer, Justino Sanchez - Singer, Pablo "El Indio" Rosario - Singer, Israel Cruz - Singer, Pedro Bermúdez - Singer, Rafael López - Singer, Alfredo Copello - Singer, Victor Copello - Singer, Eduardo Saborit - Singer, Felix Escobar - Singer, Jean M. Diáz - Singer, Ernesto "Koko Bongo" Roldán - Singer, Alan Hicks - Set Designer, Zina Torres Figueroa - Set Designer, Luma Pictures - Special Effects, Tim Chau - Sound/Sound Designer, Michael Hatton - Technical Advisor, Peter Sagal - Screen Story, Kate Gunzinger - Screen Story, Boaz Yakin - Screenwriter, Guy Ferland - Screenwriter, Victoria Arch - Screenwriter, Kate Gunzinger - Screenwriter, Aaron Vega - Production Assistant, Trish Standard - Production Assistant, Jan Santiago Echandi - Production Assistant, Jana Camacho - Production Assistant, Neyda Johanna Mercado - Production Assistant, Vivian Rebella - Production Assistant, René F. Sagardía - Production Assistant, Bettina Garcia - Production Assistant, Lea Guivas - Production Assistant, Angie Olmedo - Production Assistant, Mariano Fonseca - Production Assistant, Julian Reyes Alvarado - Production Assistant, Payam Shohadai - Visual Effects Supervisor, Marlo Pabon - Visual Effects Supervisor, Raymond Gieringer - Visual Effects Supervisor, Lon Molnar - Visual Effects Supervisor, Nils C. Jensen - Special Effects Editor, Albert Gasser - Special Effects Editor, Michael Jonascu - Special Effects Editor, Doug Jackson - Special Effects Editor, Odin Benitez - Special Effects Editor, Amy Leigh Johnson - Unit Publicist, Mai-Ling Lee - CGI Effects, Ron Stanik - Associate Editor, Ryan Chavez - Associate Editor, Budd Carr - Executive Music Producer, David Galbraith - First Assistant Camera, Angelo Digiacomo - First Assistant Camera, Chunky Richmond - First Assistant Camera, Juli Silver Taracido - First Assistant Camera, Luis Alfredo Montero - Grip, Francisco J. Román - Grip, Anibal Pabón - Grip, Jason Chávez Guerra - Grip, Felix Nuñez Flores - Grip, Richard Guinness Jr. - Key Grip, Ramón Cuadrado - Key Grip, Tricia Miles - Post Production Supervisor, Heather Neeld - Production Coordinator, Sean Fogel - Production Supervisor, Mei-la Belmont - Production Supervisor, Ines Mongil - Production Supervisor, Lori Keith Douglas - Production Supervisor, Daniel Boxer - Properties Master, Brad Sherman - Re-Recording Mixer, Jonathan Taylor - Re-Recording Mixer, Steve Bartkowicz - Re-Recording Mixer, Corey Yugler - Script Supervisor, Michelle Keiser - Second Assistant Director, Rick Tiedeman - Steadicam Operator, George Richmond - Steadicam Operator, Barry Wetcher - Still Photographer, Jim Brookshire - Supervising Sound Editor, Ian Noe - Visual Effects Producer, Andrew Midgley - Visual Effects Producer, Wendy Lanning - Visual Effects Producer, Mary Andrews - ADR Editor, Aurora Cedeño Danielsen - Art Department Assistant, Jorge Calderón - Art Department Assistant, Barbara Matis - Assistant Art Director, Barbara Presar - Assistant Costumer Designer, Luz E. Núñez - Assistant Location Manager, Hector E. Robles-Diaz - Assistant Location Manager, Rita Medina Rodriguez - Assistant Location Manager, Rey Figueroa - Assistant Location Manager, Miguel A. Hernández Domenech - Assistant Location Manager, Alan Feshold - Assistant Location Manager, Michael D. Harrell - Assistant Properties, Harak Rubio - Assistant Properties, Gladys Bustos Landivar - Assistant Properties, Randall Guth - Assistant Sound Editor, Doug Dalisera - Best Boy Electric, José Alvarado Jr. - Best Boy Electric, Angel M. Pastrana - Best Boy Grip, Carlos J. Zayas - Camera Loader, Khristina Kravas - Casting Associate, Russ Engels - Chief Lighting Technician, Ken Hammer - Construction Coordinator, Amy Andrews - Costumes Supervisor, Gladyris Silva - Costumes Supervisor, Linda Di Franco - Dialogue Editor, Patrick McGrath - Dolly Grip, Emmanuel Carrion - Electrician, Gabriel Padilla - Electrician, Rafael Aral Sein - Electrician, Ramón Vázquez - Electrician, Zoraida Sanjurjo Lopez - Extra Casting, Dan Miller - First Assistant Editor, James Moriana - Foley Artist, Jeff Wilhoit - Foley Artist, Bob Beher - Foley Editor, Carlos Nieto - Greensman, Loida E. Jeannot - Key Hairstylist, Dominique Borrell Vlimant - Key Make-up, Jay Richard Kennedy - Personal Assistant, Jeff Swafford - Personal Assistant, Ivan Bess - Personal Assistant, Danielle Butler - Personal Assistant, Danielle Franco - Personal Assistant, Emir Isilay - Personal Assistant, Jim Glander - Production Executive, Christopher Hebel - Scenic Artist, Roberto L. Tort Solá - Scenic Artist, Alejandra Martínez - Scenic Artist, Stephanie Macomber - Scenic Artist, Tony Aponte - Scenic Artist, William C. McConnell Jr. - Second Assistant Camera, Abner Alejandro - Second Assistant Camera, Zoraida Luna - Second Assistant Camera, Richard J. Brock - Second Assistant Camera, Joan Bostwick - Second Second Assistant Director, Francisco Martínez - Set Dresser, Oscar Colom - Set Dresser, Luis E. Colón Arroyo - Set Dresser, Yamil Collazo Diaz - Set Dresser, Jean P. Rubio Rivera - Set Dresser, Alexis Gavílanes - Set Dresser, Juan Guallini - Set Dresser, Carlos F. Lopez Franco - Set Dresser, David Trossi - Set Dresser, Intelligent Creatures - Visual Effects, Alan Hicks - Set Decorator, Bonita Huffman - Set Decorator, Barbara Harris - ADR Voice Casting, Miranda Garrison - Assistant Choreographer, Allen Walls - Assistant Choreographer, Daniel Dietrich - Construction Foreman, Ángel de Andrés Lopez - Driver, Omar Rodriguez - Driver, Angel Rodriguez - Driver, Carlos Santos - Driver, Jeffrey Slone - Driver, Armando Cruz - Driver, Eladio Gascott Andino - Driver, Luis Medina - Driver, Luis A. Rosado - Driver, Nelson Sanchez - Driver, Hector Chaparro - Driver, Fausto Espinosa - Driver, Ricky Gonzalez - Driver, Jose A. Arias - Driver, Nerses Gezalyan - Foley Recordist, José Matos - Generator Operator, Edgar A. Alvarez - Generator Operator, Viv Kim Negative Cutting - Negative Cutter, Ada Y. Shen - Production Secretary, Jose R. Varona - Set Medic/First Aid, Hernán Cortés - Video Assist, J. Kathryn Landholt - Title Design, Mariella Navarro - Art Department Coordinator, Glenn Cocco - Assistant Avid Editor, John Quaglia - Department Head Hair, Patricia Regan - Department Head Makeup, Scott Noonan - Carpenter, Sara Bettinger - Carpenter, Scott Wagner - Carpenter, Henry Orzula - Carpenter, Frank Pearson - Carpenter, Clive R. Brown - Carpenter, Domingo Burgos - Carpenter, Georgie Miranda - Carpenter, Carlos Reyes - Carpenter, José Medina Blanco - Carpenter, David Dimnet - Carpenter, Javier Santos - Carpenter, Ricardo Naviera - Carpenter
Shy, intelligent, eighteen-year-old Katey Miller (Romola Garai) moves from United States to Havana, Cuba with her parents in November 1958, just before the Revolution breaks out. Her parents (Sela Ward and John Slattery) expect her to move within their well-to-do circles, but she defies their wish when she falls in love with Javier Suarez (Diego Luna), a waiter who also happens to be a talented club dancer. Secretly meeting in a Havana nightclub the pair practice their Salsa dance routine in preparation for a prestigious national dance competition.
However, Katey's parents are ex-professional dancers who trained her in ballroom dancing, whereas Javier has been trained in the titular Cuban style of dirty dancing, and the two must reconcile the differences between their styles if they are to win. Things become more heated when the coming revolution spells trouble for the pair's plans. When the Revolution breaks out, Katey and Javier go to a beach tent and make love. The day after, Katey finds out that she has to leave Cuba. On their last night in Havana together, Katey and Javier share a night full of dancing before they say goodbye and they are queen and king of La Rosa Negra! But Katey also narrates that she and Javier know that it will not be their last night dancing together.
Screenplay origins
The film is based on an original screenplay written by playwright and NPR host Peter Sagal. Sagal wrote the screenplay which he titled Cuba mine, based on the true story of a young American woman who witnessed the Cuban revolution. The screenplay was to be a serious political romance story, and was commissioned in 1992 by Lawrence Bender, who was rising to fame with his production of Quentin Tarantino's Resevoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. The screenplay was bought by a film studio who requested several rewrites before deciding not to produce the film. A decade later, Bender decided to make a Dirty Dancing sequel, and the film was very loosely adapted from Sagal's script. Not a single line from Sagal's original screenplay appears in the final film.[1]
