Unearthed footage emerges of Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey’s Dirty Dancing screen test

Billy Zane once claimed that he and Sarah Jessica Parker auditioned for the lead roles.

But unearthed footage, which has emerged of the late Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey’s Dirty Dancing screen test, shows exactly why they landed the parts of Johnny Castle and Baby in the 1987 Hollywood hit.

In the video, the Ghost star – who passed away in 2009 – and the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off actress, 60, are shown practising their sensual moves and THAT iconic lift.

Nobody puts baby in the corner: Unearthed footage has emerged of the late Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey’s Dirty Dancing screen test

On Tuesday, writer Giles Paley-Phillips tweeted the clip, writing: ‘The Dirty Dancing screen test with Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze is the uplifting content I’m here for.’ 

Spotting the tweet, fans were delighted, with one person responding: ‘Two beautiful people in their prime – love everything about this film.’

‘And that, boys and girls, is how babies are made,’ wrote another, while someone else added: ‘awww the world misses Patrick’s charm and charisma that he brought to his roles… life can be so cruel sometimes! X.’ 

The original film was released to a positive critical reception and was a smash hit at the box office, grossing $214.6 million on a budget of $5 million. 

That lift! The duo performed the famous lift in the iconic 1987 Hollywood hit

That lift! The duo performed the famous lift in the iconic 1987 Hollywood hit

Onscreen chemistry: The video shows exactly why the pair landed the parts of Johnny Castle and Baby in Dirty Dancing

Onscreen chemistry: The video shows exactly why the pair landed the parts of Johnny Castle and Baby in Dirty Dancing

Those moves: The Ghost star - who passed away in 2009 - and the Ferris Bueller's Day Off actress, 60, are shown practising their sensual moves in the incredible clips

Dirty Dancing: In the famous film, Patrick's character teaches Jennifer's how to dance

Those moves: The Ghost star – who passed away in 2009 – and the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off actress, 60, are shown practising their sensual moves in the incredible clips

The story was based on experiences from screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein’s childhood, as she had participated in ‘dirty dancing’ competitions in her youth. 

Both Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey were nominated for Golden Globe awards for Best Actress and Actor in a Motion Picture-Comedy/Musical, respectively.

The film also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes’ (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life, which also went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Dirty Dancing has been adapted into a successful stage show that premiered in 2004; a short-lived TV series based on the film was released in 1988, and a prequel to the film was released in 2004.   

Mega casting! The original film was released to a positive critical reception and was a smash hit at the box office, grossing $214.6 million on a budget of $5 million

Mega casting! The original film was released to a positive critical reception and was a smash hit at the box office, grossing $214.6 million on a budget of $5 million

Critical praise: Both Grey and Swayze were nominated for Golden Globe awards for Best Actress and Actor in a Motion Picture-Comedy/Musical, respectively

Critical praise: Both Grey and Swayze were nominated for Golden Globe awards for Best Actress and Actor in a Motion Picture-Comedy/Musical, respectively

Superstars: In November, Jennifer spoke about the upcoming sequel to 1987's Dirty Dancing and how there will be a void without her former co-star

Superstars: In November, Jennifer spoke about the upcoming sequel to 1987’s Dirty Dancing and how there will be a void without her former co-star

In November, Jennifer spoke about the upcoming sequel to 1987’s Dirty Dancing and how there will be a void without her former co-star. 

She admitted to People that the movie would not attempt to re-create the onscreen rapport between her and Swayze that anchored much of the original film. 

‘All I can say is there is no replacing anyone who’s passed—you never try to repeat anything that’s magic like that.’ 

The actress also noted that the development team has opted to look for new storytelling avenues, stating that instead of trying to rehash what made the original film appealing, they are going for ‘something different.’ 

A one time thing: She admitted to People that the movie would not attempt to re-create the onscreen rapport between her and Swayze that anchored much of the original film

A one time thing: She admitted to People that the movie would not attempt to re-create the onscreen rapport between her and Swayze that anchored much of the original film

Magic: 'All I can say is there is no replacing anyone who's passed—you never try to repeat anything that's magic like that' said Jennifer of Patrick in the original film

Magic: ‘All I can say is there is no replacing anyone who’s passed—you never try to repeat anything that’s magic like that’ said Jennifer of Patrick in the original film 

Patrick, who starred alongside Jennifer as dance instructor Johnny Castle, passed away in 2009 at the age of 57.  

After months of speculation the sequel was confirmed in August 2020 by Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer, according to Deadline. 

The studio head had previously referred to the project as ‘one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood.’ 

The upcoming film is set to be directed by 50/50 director Jonathan Levine with Gillian Bohrer from a script written by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis.