I AM PATRICK SWAYZE
US, 2019, 92 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Adrian Buitenhuis.
This portrait of Patrick Swayze is one of a series of studies of actors (including Heath Ledger, Paul Walker, Burt Reynolds, Steve McQueen) directed by Adrian Buitenhuis.
These documentaries offer an opportunity for movie lovers to learn something of the star, life and background, career and development, relationships, strengths and problems. Patrick Swayze died at the age of 57 from cancer.
What emerges from this film is a very sympathetic portrait of Swayze. He is a man of strong ego and determination. The impact for most of the documentary will make audiences like him. It is only towards the end that some of the problems emerge, a drinking problem, the pressure on his wife of so many years, Lisa Niemi, and her moving out from him for a year.
As regards his career, we see some scenes from Skateboard USA indicating his gymnastic and dance skills, but the breakthrough, dramatically, with Francis Ford Coppola is The Outsiders. A great deal of attention is given, of course, to Dirty Dancing, followed by Ghost. And there are some scenes with him in full drag costumes in To Fong Woo… Finally, there are scenes from the television series he was involved in before he died, The Beast.
One of the advantages of this portrait is that so much of it is given by his wife, meeting early, together in New York, marrying, sadly unable to have children after a miscarriage, her own skills in dance, supporting her husband, sharing the enjoyment of the ranch that they bought, his attention to her at public events. The other advantage is the testimony from his younger brother, Don Swayze, with great appreciation of Patrick, talking about his place in the family and relationship with their parents, very supportive, especially his final comments.
The film also has the advantage of comments from Patrick Swayze’s manager and agent and personal assistant, also strongly favourable. And, very interesting comments and observations as well as personal empathy with Swayze from co-stars Rob Lowe, C.Thomas Howell, Jennifer Gray, Demi Moore, Kelly Lynch – and action star Marshall Teague, with long scenes from their fights in Roadhouse.
In fact, there is also great emphasis on Patrick Swayze being influenced by his dance instructor mother (who could be very demanding, at times tyrannical) but who also speaks about her son. He trained as a ballet dancer, suffered from sports injuries and knee reconstruction, but was determined to continue as a dancer. On the other hand, he was devoted to his father who encouraged him in outdoor activities, sport, horse riding, to be something of a cowboy. Sadly, his father died of a heart attack age 57 – and the documentary offers excerpts from Swayze’s interview with Barbara Walters after his father’s death, his warm acknowledgement of his father, his tears. And the suggestion that this cemented Swayze’s reputation and audience response to him.
There are some final scenes with Swayze speaking in public about his cancer and being active in raising consciousness and support for cancer victims.
