Kaylah Walton
Jennifer Grey recently opened up about a love scene that was removed from the 1984 film Red Dawn, which she filmed alongside Patrick Swayze. Her experience was memorable, but not in a good way. In an episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, the Dirty Dancing actress recounted the chaotic events that took place during the scene, which ultimately didn’t make it into the film.
Grey shared that what was intended to be a touching moment went awry when Swayze arrived on set under the influence of alcohol. “We were in this sleeping bag, and he was drunk,” Grey, now 64, remembered. She admitted she also wasn’t at her best, revealing that she was dealing with a lot of anxiety and had difficulty sleeping the night before due to her own substance use. “I was smoking a lot of weed in those days,” she confessed.
Despite the mishaps, Grey had looked forward to the intimate scene. “It was one of the more tender moments in the film and a reason I wanted the role,” she explained. However, with Swayze forgetting his lines and the charged atmosphere, the scene was ultimately discarded, and a promised reshoot did not take place.
On-set antics
In addition to the drama, Grey mentioned that her Red Dawn co-stars enjoyed playing pranks, which added to the already stressful environment. “They would put firecrackers in my door,” she mentioned, expressing how these antics left her unsettled.
The difficult relationship Grey had with Swayze during filming was later mended when they worked together again on Dirty Dancing. During their screen test for the 1987 film, Swayze apologized for his previous behavior, saying, “I love you, and I’m so sorry. We could kill it if we did this.”
A determined young actress
Looking back on her early career, Grey noted her dedication to her craft, even if it came off as overly serious to her colleagues. “I was a super young actor, really taking everything seriously,” she recalled.
Although the love scene in Red Dawn was ultimately scrapped, the behind-the-scenes stories provide unique insights into the initial days of two future Hollywood stars and the unpredictable nature of filming.
