Russ Tamblyn’s Unforgettable “Shovel Dance”

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.