The Speech: Patrick Swayze’s Epic Bad-Assery (NSFW)
by Big Hollywood
And remember:
“You’re too stupid to have a good time.”
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43 Comments
Yeah he was a manly man to be sure.
The fact that Swayze stayed married to the same woman for thirty-three years (I remember seeing them dance together on SNL long ago) says something about the kind of man he was. Actually, it says a great deal.
As Linkara says, "I AM A MAN!"
And so was the Swayz.
like i said, a manly man
A MAN that will be sorely missed!
God bless you Patrick! We miss you…
Absolutely no argument here. I've also heard he was a very nice guy, easy to work with…a pro all the way.
My favorite Swayze role was Orry Main in the North and South miniseries. Hey, anyone who could take on David Caradine and win …
That is true, but he could also do the dancing and romantic type stuff without looking like a wuss. Not many people can pull that off these days, off the top of my head I can only think of Hugh Jackman that does that these days.
I really loved his action flicks, he kicked ass.
He had the best line in an awful movie with Rob Lowe, Youngblood. "Hockey is the last sport for mid-size white boys"
He was a class act and will be missed….
As much as I wanted to hate that "bar bouncer" movie I really enjoyed it….mostly because of Swayze…didn't know he was such a dedicated husband. That is good to hear.
RIP.
When I first saw "Road House" I thought "You HAVE to be kidding me!" There was no way I was going to buy a saga of a super-tough-yet-sensitive bar bouncer who also sports a degree in philosophy and a passion for Zen. [And don't get me started on the picnic-hamper check outfit that Kelly Lynch is wearing when she visits the bar.] Ben Gazzara and Sam Elliott (and thank heavens for both of them) are both so insanely over-the-top that you sit there with your mouth hanging open. Yet now I NEVER miss this film. It is nearly two hours of sheer uncomplicated joy with really good good guys, really evil bad guys and swooning babes all over the place. Swayze just goes with the character and is great. Jeff Healy is great. Gazzara and Elliott are great. Every one of Gazzara's evil henchmen are great. The best guilty pleasure in the history of motion pictures.
My favorite (also from "Roadhouse") will always be "It's my way or the highway!" Classic line…always loved how he was an entertainer through and through; whether it be cheesy bar flicks or over the top rolls like "Donnie Darko" or quality dramatic stuff like "City of Joy"…never worried about him getting in my face trying to make his audience feel guilty about this week's Hollywood star cause! RIP PS!! You'll be missed!!
Wolverines!!!
Well, bon voyage Patrick and good hunting in the great forever after.
Since it always happens in 3's maybe we'll get lucky with the other 2.. }:^)
I liked Patrick in almost all of his rolls (and his brilliant appearance on SNL), but roadhouse was especially cool in a John Wayne kind of way. The movie got stupid (er) in the last 20 minutes, but it's a great example of popcorn movie fun.
Plus whoever casted Jeff Healy was a genius!
Last year I thought it would be fun to try bouncing– I'm 39 and an IT consultant but I bodybuild and I'm divorced and thought it would be a fun way to meet girls.
I asked the manager if he needed any bouncers.
"No, but I *have* seen the movie Roadhouse."
He laughed, I got the job.
The truth of bouncing is that belligerent patrons are so damn drunk the idea that you could be seriously hurt by them doesn't seem very realistic when you're there in it. It's a pretty laid-back job really.
Man, I messed that up. He asked me if I had any experience, and I said "No, but I *have* seen the movie Roadhouse."
I bet if I bothered to set up a login I could edit my comments. Maybe I ought to get around to that.
I loved Patrick Swayze. I'm just sorry that he had to leave us so early and in such a horrible way.
I've probably watched everyone of his movies at least twice.
I always said a real man can sing and dance and still walk tall!!
See, I look at acting in a very particular way… You have to ask yourself: "How many actors could sell that "My Way or the Highways" speech? I would argue, not many. Taking B-movie dialogue and selling — making it 100% convincing is a unique gift and take a real talent.
Could Swayze have played Hamlet? Doubtful. But could Kenneth Branagh pull off Dalton's speech? Equally doubtful.
So which is the better actor?
Gonna miss Patrick a class act all the way. The reality of bouncing is completely different than what is protrayed. I have worked that scene. 6'3" tall helps but that is not what does the job. I worked security in one of the local Casinos here in Louisiana. These casinios are not like Vegas or Atlantic City all they are is rooms filled with poker machines. In the casino proper I was armed. When I worked the bar I was not. You never mix alcohol and weapons that is inviting a tragedy. We had all kinds of stupid happen in the bar from groping to one guy actually taking a leak in the corner by the plate glass windows. With very few exceptions all that I need to do was to say I need to speak to them outside where it was quiet. Once outside I would tell them that they could not re-enter. I also told them it was only for the night, which would calm them down. Only had to ban 3 or 4 in working over 2 years at that gig.
Good points, he wasn't Clint Eastwood, nor Bruce Lee, nor the Duke, but he brought elements of all of them into a believable character and made it all fly, particularly in RH where his Bruce Lee like philosophy was clearly evident, despite not being overly-spoken. I liken his roles to those of John Travolta as well and liked Swazye better, but they both went from early girly type movies to more serious tough guy roles and made it work. Very hard to pull that one off as very few others could or did..
Certainly nobody could rock a mullet the way Swayze did.
Point Break is still one of my favorite movies. 100% pure adrenaline!
Been there, done that. Most people can be escorted out by saying I need to talk to you outside.
Everything you say is true and I agree with it all. I do wish though, that he hadn't allowed himself to be conned into plastic surgery a few years ago ala Mickey Rourke. It really didn't look right.
You said it John. That is why I admire charecter actors so much. Leads hold the spotlight and the story together but without good charecter actors the best actors in the world could not pull it off.
Oh God. North and South. I hadn't thought of that in years.
He and David Carridine were Great in that.
Red Dawn.
Dirty Dancing.
The Outsiders.
Ghost.
All films I watched when growing up.
Speedy journey, Patrick. You will be missed. And you leave behind a great body of work.
Damn, I want to watch Roadhouse…
Did any of you see his film "Too Drunk to fly to Prescott"?
Interesting actor. Managed to take limited roles, play them well and make them convincing. Masculine but not a neanderthal – always a feeling side even in tough guy roles. My favorite was Roadhouse – must have watched it ten times and still entertaining. But his character in Red Dawn was an interesting mix of adolescent and partisan. And man, was he coordinated. Must be nice to be able to move so fluently. Definitely will be missed. Solid guy.
Sad news. Julian from Sunnyvale's favorite actor.
Roadhouse and Point Break.Thank you very much Patrick Swayzee,where ever you are.You'll always be the hero's Hero and a MANS MAN.Hope to drink some 'heavens brew ' or 'devils spit' with you someday!
I look at acting in a very particular way… You have to ask yourself: "How many actors could sell that "My Way or the Highway" speech? I would argue, not many. Taking B-movie dialogue and selling it — making it 100% convincing is a unique gift and takes a real talent.
Could Swayze have played Hamlet? Doubtful. But could Kenneth Branagh pull off Dalton's speech? Equally doubtful.
So which is the better actor?
My standard is simply "convincing." If you don't break the spell while inhabiting a character, you're giving a great performance. By that standard (and it's a good one) Swayze was more consistent over the course of his entire career than Meryl Streep has been since 1996 — by a long shot.
And don't forget Red West in "Road House," one of Elvis's posse. He's the guy who gets his store burnt down. Terrific character actor.
Yeah, you kind of butchered your excellent story. You really should create an account.
Agreed John. I mentioned this in a post yesterday. Swayze's ability to sell the concept of Red Dawn (teenagers fighting off the Russians) is why that movie is a classic.
Road House – a rollicking good ride! Hats off, too, to Kevin Tighe as the owner of the bar who calls in his old pal Swazye to 'clean up Tombstone'.
"Roadhouse" is the cheesiest movie of all time. "I used to f@$% guys like you in prison." Gee that says more about you than it does the Swazeman. Seriously, get the Rifftrax on this one folks — it's THE best one. On a more somber note, "Red Dawn" used to rank with "The Sands of Iwo Jima" back when I was a kid. The Swazeman will be missed.
He was manly, yet he could do a delightfully feminine drag queen too in 'To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar'. Damn good actor.
In pace requiescat.
Oh, I definitely need to see this movie again!
A man that has never cheated on his wife… In America, that is rare…
didn't hurt that he was cute, and looked and acted great in some movies…
To Lisa Swayze was a angel god wanted to bring home. Lisa you know he is still watching over you…….Eileen
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