Turner Classic Movies | Russ Tamblyn’s Unforgettable “Shovel Dance” from THE FASTEST GUN ALIVE | Mad About Musicals | TCM @TurnerClassicMovies | Uploaded July 2024 | Updated October 2024, 3 hours ago.
Legendary actor and dancer Russ Tamblyn initially resented being cast in THE FASTEST GUN ALIVE because he felt his role wasn’t interesting or challenging but changed his mind when he was told he’d be allowed to do his own dance number on screen.
Glenn Ford assumed the number would be the kind of brief musical interlude that often appeared in musicals but when he saw Tamblyn’s extraordinary routine, he was astonished. Ford, who was married to esteemed tap dancer and actress Eleanor Powell, was fond of dance numbers but felt Tamblyn’s number was out of place in the film.
As Tamblyn later recalled Ford said “This is a little western here and this guy is coming in and trying to do a Donald O’Connor all over the walls.” Ford tried to get the number cut from the film and it was said to have been cut from the preview but the credits still contained a reference to Russ Tamblyn’s dance number and the audience demanded to see it.
The number was reinserted into the picture and ended up being one of the highlights of the film.
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Russ Tamblyn’s Unforgettable “Shovel Dance” from THE FASTEST GUN ALIVE | Mad About Musicals | TCM
youtu.be/EsimdPNbifc
TCM
youtube.com/@TurnerClassicMovies
Legendary actor and dancer Russ Tamblyn initially resented being cast in THE FASTEST GUN ALIVE because he felt his role wasn’t interesting or challenging but changed his mind when he was told he’d be allowed to do his own dance number on screen.
Glenn Ford assumed the number would be the kind of brief musical interlude that often appeared in musicals but when he saw Tamblyn’s extraordinary routine, he was astonished. Ford, who was married to esteemed tap dancer and actress Eleanor Powell, was fond of dance numbers but felt Tamblyn’s number was out of place in the film.
As Tamblyn later recalled Ford said “This is a little western here and this guy is coming in and trying to do a Donald O’Connor all over the walls.” Ford tried to get the number cut from the film and it was said to have been cut from the preview but the credits still contained a reference to Russ Tamblyn’s dance number and the audience demanded to see it.
The number was reinserted into the picture and ended up being one of the highlights of the film.
#MadAboutMusicals #RussTamblyn #TCM
Connect with Turner Classic Movies:
Visit TCM WEBSITE: bit.ly/4bXC5tZ
Follow TCM on INSTAGRAM: bit.ly/4bYR1I6
Like TCM on FACEBOOK: bit.ly/4ehMIcB
Follow TCM on X: bit.ly/3VD6dVz
Follow TCM on TIKTOK: bit.ly/3VOMUsN
Subscribe now to watch more classic film content from TCM spr.ly/6017cTBT
Russ Tamblyn’s Unforgettable “Shovel Dance” from THE FASTEST GUN ALIVE | Mad About Musicals | TCM
youtu.be/EsimdPNbifc
TCM
youtube.com/@TurnerClassicMovies
