Amazing dancer. They got so lucky he was the right age when West Side Story came along. Like a coiled spring, a gymnastic fitness and strength that made it look effortless. Breathtaking.
Fred Astaire gave him the greatest compliment on the opening night of Westside Story. He told Russ that he was a fan of his dancing. That would be like Frank Sinatra telling Frankie Avalon he loved his singing. Doesn't get any better...
I wonder what Gene Kelly thought? Probably of exactly the same opinion. The way he makes use of inanimate objects, like the shovels, is exactly what Kelly used to do.
Russ Tamblyn was like watching poetry in motion. First thing I ever saw him in was Tom Thumb, then West Side Story. He was amazing to watch. Effortless, light and gifted in his dancing as well as acting. He could do serious to campy. One of my favorite entertainers!
Omgoodness! I saw him in Tom Thumb, too! I was thinking to myself...where else do I know him from? Thank you! I don’t remember ever seeing this scene or routine, but he is absolutely spectacular!!! ♥️
Just watched Russ in West Side Story. Magic. Simply magic. In my mind he totally stole that show. I hope he reads these comments, as my 13 year and old daughter just loved his contributions to his art!
russ is incredible,just met him at hollywood collectible show,he is really a down to earth cool guy,thanks russ for your kindness and talent,thanks also for the download to whomever did this
Wow! I kept having to rewind to watch parts over, thinking, “Did he REALLY just do that!!” This is amazing - super-human athleticism but with grace and impeccable timing. Glad UA-cam recommended this video to me! I had no idea what I was about to see when I clicked on this video (had never heard of this actor or movie)!
OMG When I used to live in an apartment I swear my neighbors must have been doing something like this upstairs ROFLMAO It was a good reason to buy my on home which I am proud to say I have finally paid off it's mine free and clear.
KimberlyWong I first saw him when WSS was rereleased in theaters in 1968. As soon as the camera shot zoomed in on him snapping his fingers I was In. Love! Then I started watching all his earlier stuff. Yes, he was wonderful in SEVEN BRIDES. I loved him in PEYTON PLACE also. No singing or dancing, just marvelous acting.
Russ Tamblyn had talent and charisma. Make sure you see his performances in West Side story, Tom Thumb, and The Wonderful World of the Brother's Grimm etc.
I hope Russ reads these comments from people deeply appreciate his talent. Why didn't the powers that be cast him in more roles that show what a good dancer he is? Wish there was footage of him with Astaire, Gene Kelly, Donald O Connor and the like. Because that's exactly where he belongs in dance history.
Russ Tamblyn really had some serious hops. In The Fastest Gun Alive at the near finish of the dance scene, he jumps some walls in the barn they were holding the dance in. These walls look the same height as Tamblyn, but placing hands on the top he pulls and jumps over each one. I couldn't do that on a normal cyclone fence. Those are almost half of what he was going over. He chose dance, but he was probably a pretty good athlete. Way to go Russ!
First movie I saw Russ Tamblyn in as a kid was 'Frankenstein Conquers The World'. No dancing there but when I was 12 years-old watching giant monsters was more fun. This is a great clip. Thank you for posting it.
I just read (and heard) Russ say that he didn't consider himself a dancer, but an acrobat and tumbler. When West Side Story came along he wanted to be Tony and was concerned about the dancing for Riff.
I only learned yesterday that George Chakiris was originally Riff for 22 shows in London's West End before the movie. The studio changed the cast to make him Bernardo because of his skin
@@kharisbell Likely because of GC's black hair. The WSS film applied the same dark orange makeup to him, Natalie Wood and Rita Moreno to make them look (norteamericanos idea of) Puerto Rican.
I believe it. I've never seen a photo or an interview with Russ where he didn't look very happy. His daughter, the actress Amber Tamblyn, is also a writer. I really wish that she would write a biography on her dad.
@@kermsroomy Russ has been working on a biography called "Dancing on the Edge" for a number of years - I believe it is nearly completed now and should be published sometime soon? (I check amazon for it every so often!)
I was so in love with him as a kid..Great skills. In those days you had to prove yourself hard, to get even a small part in a movie...It was really about the art not the money!! Russ Tamblyn was a great dancer "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" and West Side Stories at his finest, my favo musicals among others....
I'm really late to the party here, judging by the number of years listed on the comments below. However, if anyone is interested, there are several good UA-cam videos of Russ being interviewed about his background that explain how his life and career developed. A couple of quick facts. He was a gymnast in high school who went to the all-state level (I believe). He also got into films at an early age because he grew up in the LA area. Because of this film, 7 Brides, West Side Story, etc., he got to develop his dancing abilities on-the-job just be working with some of the great choreographers in film. Just do a search on him on YT--you'll find lots of great clips. Lastly, he's a really nice and humble guy who's grateful to have had all the career success that he's had. Just a nice human being.
The like's of Russ are a thing of the past. Good thing we have these early recordings of him and he got chosen for some outstanding films, musicals in the 20th century! I think he is the only one still living rom 7 brides and 7 brothers, except for Jane Powell who I believe is nearing her 90's. Her husband Dicky passed away a few years ago. She is from the era of the 40's golden hollywood
Forgive me for going all "old fogey" and "fuddy-duddy," but are there any young stars in Hollywood who can so such dancing and acrobatics now? This clip was a pleasure to watch. Thank you for uploading it.
idk Derek Hough and Yassaui Mergaliyev are pretty good. But I know what you mean. I think it was Tamblyn's combination of dancing and acrobatics and the absolute EASE he had in almost superhuman feats.
The movie is The fastest gun Alive with Glenn Ford. The scene with Russ Tamblyn is the only dance scene. Otherwise it's a western, something like High Noon about a "fast gun" who doesn't want to use his gun anymore. It's a very good movie as these kind of westerns go. And it's actually available to see as a download on Amazon.
Ah, for a return to the days when people would commence to singin' and dancin' at the slightest provocation! ;o) Russ was very good as Dr. Jacoby in 'Twin Peaks' (and 'General Hospital'!!) too -- though I don't recall him doing any spontaneous dancing . . . His most recent role was Dog Walker God on 'Joan of Arcadia'
This is from "The Fastest Gun Alive" starring Glenn Ford, a terriffic film, tightly plotted and, coincidentally, also about the twin peaks of good and evil.
Robert O'Rourke I bought theDVD of the MGM musical HIT THE DECK. He’s coupled with Debbie Reynolds, they’re adorable. Even in regular roles, like TAKE THE HIGH GROUND where he’s a Marine I love to see the gymnastic moves he gets.
Marsattacksfan It's not at all easy as it looks. I tried it almost broke my neck trying to do it both with trying to walk with two or hop on one. I figured it wouldn't be any harder than using a pogo stick but it is totally different you don't get that extra spring to get your hop so you can move forward. It's sad that that big dance numbers in the movies died out when he was as so young and able to preform like this. I'm so amazed by the talent this man had. l don't think I could name one actor that could preform like him much less the dancing, singing or acting that he, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly were able to do. Along with many others the studio required the actors and actresses to be extremely talented not just good-looking and can read lines like they do now.
I was surprised to hear Russ say in an interview that he didn't consider himself a dancer. He said he was a gymnast. I think he is being quite modest. He can do both.
Amazing dancer. They got so lucky he was the right age when West Side Story came along. Like a coiled spring, a gymnastic fitness and strength that made it look effortless. Breathtaking.
I feel like Russ tamblyn would have made a great peter pan
Fred Astaire gave him the greatest compliment on the opening night of Westside Story. He told Russ that he was a fan of his dancing. That would be like Frank Sinatra telling Frankie Avalon he loved his singing. Doesn't get any better...
Wow!! Good for Russ!!! That's also crazy to get such a compliment from Fred Astaire of all people! But I think he is well deserving 😎❤️
Damn! That's incredible! What a compliment - and so well deserved. 😊
I wonder what Gene Kelly thought? Probably of exactly the same opinion. The way he makes use of inanimate objects, like the shovels, is exactly what Kelly used to do.
Looks like he barely broke a sweat. His stamina was ridiculous
I think that if Tamblyn had been an Olympic gymnast, he probably would have won about a dozen gold medals.
Russ Tamblyn was like watching poetry in motion. First thing I ever saw him in was Tom Thumb, then West Side Story. He was amazing to watch. Effortless, light and gifted in his dancing as well as acting. He could do serious to campy. One of my favorite entertainers!
Don't miss Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
Omgoodness! I saw him in Tom Thumb, too! I was thinking to myself...where else do I know him from? Thank you! I don’t remember ever seeing this scene or routine, but he is absolutely spectacular!!! ♥️
@@PatrolOfficer161 oh! I didn’t realize that was he, too! I know exactly which one you mean! Saw that as a girl, too! Thanks!
@@PatrolOfficer161 I have!! And on DVD too. He was also in " The boy with green hair", Peyton place, I can go on!
He was great in Satan's Sadists, too.
All that in 3 minutes, 18 seconds. And he makes it all look so effortless. God bless him!
There were 8 jump cut edits in the scene after he starts dancing. The last one is an insertion edit of the horseshoe on the peg.
He invented parkour.
Just going to say that
You said it!
I loved him in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. And in West Side Story.
Just watched Russ in West Side Story. Magic. Simply magic. In my mind he totally stole that show. I hope he reads these comments, as my 13 year and old daughter just loved his contributions to his art!
I agree about Russ in WSS but George Chakiris was absolutely amazing too. Couldn't find two better actors for the leaders of the Sharks and the Jets.
@@firenze5555 Agreed!
russ is incredible,just met him at hollywood collectible show,he is really a down to earth cool guy,thanks russ for your kindness and talent,thanks also for the download to whomever did this
Wow! I kept having to rewind to watch parts over, thinking, “Did he REALLY just do that!!” This is amazing - super-human athleticism but with grace and impeccable timing. Glad UA-cam recommended this video to me! I had no idea what I was about to see when I clicked on this video (had never heard of this actor or movie)!
Still my favorite guy dancing on film.
What the fuck? This dude is insane. Does all this without even breaking a sweat.
The way to dance if you want to piss off your downstairs neighbors.
OMG When I used to live in an apartment I swear my neighbors must have been doing something like this upstairs ROFLMAO It was a good reason to buy my on home which I am proud to say I have finally paid off it's mine free and clear.
I have had a crush on him since I saw Seven Brides for Seven Brothers!
KimberlyWong
I first saw him when WSS was rereleased in theaters in 1968. As soon as the camera shot zoomed in on him snapping his fingers I was In. Love!
Then I started watching all his earlier stuff. Yes, he was wonderful in SEVEN BRIDES. I loved him in PEYTON PLACE also. No singing or dancing, just marvelous acting.
I know. They all did wonderful jobs, but Russ as Gideon was so young and sweet and funny.
That is my favorite musicals of all time!!
If any thing Russ Tamblyn should have like 14 Oscars for best dancer
I just saw him in a interview and he said that he couldn't really dance, well obviously hes one of the best dancers of all time......♡♡♡
He's incredible!!!!
Once a Jet always a Jet!!!! Riff-3
This kid is awesome! A parkour of 1960, a cool acrobat, a great singer and a great great JET! :D
Russ Tamblyn had talent and charisma. Make sure you see his performances in West Side story, Tom Thumb, and The Wonderful World of the Brother's Grimm etc.
Don't forget Satan's Sadists!
One take, no rehearsal, they just asked him to dance and this is what he whipped out with various tools and furnishings in an old barn. Amazing!
Wow.... what a fantastic dancer! Bloody brilliant!!!
How can he possibly do all of this!? He has the strength of like 10 men...
He was actually more of a gymnast when he made Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.
I hope Russ reads these comments from people deeply appreciate his talent. Why didn't the powers that be cast him in more roles that show what a good dancer he is? Wish there was footage of him with Astaire, Gene Kelly, Donald O Connor and the like. Because that's exactly where he belongs in dance history.
Wonderful. Always loved Russ Tamblyn.
Russ Tamblyn really had some serious hops. In The Fastest Gun Alive at the near finish of the dance scene, he jumps some walls in the barn they were holding the dance in. These walls look the same height as Tamblyn, but placing hands on the top he pulls and jumps over each one. I couldn't do that on a normal cyclone fence. Those are almost half of what he was going over. He chose dance, but he was probably a pretty good athlete. Way to go Russ!
He was a gymnast in high school, which was one of the reasons why he landed the role of Gideon in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Just an old barn, and unrehearsed! One take!
@RidgeRunner amazing to do that in 1 take. An athletic guy for sure. Who says white men can't jump?
only russ tamblyn would use shovels for tap shoes..
gotta love it :)
I love Russ Tamblyn in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers!
His athleticism always amazes me!
Wow, that's some serious dancing right there. Amazing.
This guy is a legend! One of the best dancers on the planet I recon (:
That was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen!!! I
I enjoyed his talent and had a crush on him when I was a teen. Great Talent.
When you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way
From your first cigarette to your last dying day.
First movie I saw Russ Tamblyn in as a kid was 'Frankenstein Conquers The World'. No dancing there but when I was 12 years-old watching giant monsters was more fun. This is a great clip. Thank you for posting it.
russ is a classic!!
i have searched for this for ages, classic
Wow! Russ is just unbelievable here! Now I get why he painted his shovels GOLD on the new Twin Peeks LOL - Love you Russ!
I just read (and heard) Russ say that he didn't consider himself a dancer, but an acrobat and tumbler. When West Side Story came along he wanted to be Tony and was concerned about the dancing for Riff.
loge10 But he was perfect for the part!
I only learned yesterday that George Chakiris was originally Riff for 22 shows in London's West End before the movie. The studio changed the cast to make him Bernardo because of his skin
@@kharisbell Likely because of GC's black hair. The WSS film applied the same dark orange makeup to him, Natalie Wood and Rita Moreno to make them look (norteamericanos idea of) Puerto Rican.
One of the nicest guys I've ever met .
I believe it. I've never seen a photo or an interview with Russ where he didn't look very happy. His daughter, the actress Amber Tamblyn, is also a writer. I really wish that she would write a biography on her dad.
@@kermsroomy Russ has been working on a biography called "Dancing on the Edge" for a number of years - I believe it is nearly completed now and should be published sometime soon? (I check amazon for it every so often!)
My favorite dancer and movie star as a teenager. Hope dancing makes a comeback.
I was so in love with him as a kid..Great skills. In those days you had to prove yourself hard, to get even a small part in a movie...It was really about the art not the money!! Russ Tamblyn was a great dancer "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" and West Side Stories at his finest, my favo musicals among others....
Russ Tamblyn a master.
Wardrobe:. Sorry Russ we don't have dancing shoes in your size.
Russ: That's okay give me a couple of shovels and I'll make it work.
I wonder if David Lynch/Mark Frost had this scene in mind when they developed the idea for Dr. Jacoby's golden shovels in Twin Peaks: The Return.
I think you are spot on and it was just what I thought while watching this great clip! Golden Shovels indeed!
Who’s still loving Russ in 2018???
EP..ARMY BUDDY..JACK ENGLISH..ACTOR/SINGER...10/2018
I saw him interviewed recently. He is 88 and doesn't consider himself to be a dancer. I found that surprising. He looks great and is totally alert.
fantastico Russ Tamblyn
Such an amazing acrobat!
This Kid just put everything I have ever seen on America can Dance to shame...Wow.
Russ is a great dancer!
WELL THAT WAS A SHOW!
Faith in people, once again! Thanks for this.
Fearless! What a great talent and kind man.
Real talent
an amazing dancer. Never seen anyone as good as he was
I'm speechless. Superb!!!
What's incredible is that several moves are very similar to "break-dancing" style moves. Amazing!! This guy should have had a great career.
He did; he left an awesome body of film work that will be enjoyed by long future audiences.
He did have an amazivg career. I just watched an interview and he said he was in 70-80 movies! That IS amazing! We should check out his IMDB!
This guy was extraordinary! He could DANCE and beyond!!!!!
Simply Amazing!!!
I'm really late to the party here, judging by the number of years listed on the comments below. However, if anyone is interested, there are several good UA-cam videos of Russ being interviewed about his background that explain how his life and career developed. A couple of quick facts. He was a gymnast in high school who went to the all-state level (I believe). He also got into films at an early age because he grew up in the LA area. Because of this film, 7 Brides, West Side Story, etc., he got to develop his dancing abilities on-the-job just be working with some of the great choreographers in film. Just do a search on him on YT--you'll find lots of great clips. Lastly, he's a really nice and humble guy who's grateful to have had all the career success that he's had. Just a nice human being.
His peak was Satan's Sadists.
@@RidgeRunner-lz5ko Thanks. I'll have to watch that one.
The like's of Russ are a thing of the past. Good thing we have these early recordings of him and he got chosen for some outstanding films, musicals in the 20th century! I think he is the only one still living rom 7 brides and 7 brothers, except for Jane Powell who I believe is nearing her 90's. Her husband Dicky passed away a few years ago. She is from the era of the 40's golden hollywood
Tommy Rall (Frank) is still with us at 90 too...
Phenomenal dancing.
He's not even breathless!
Pure muscle and artistry
Amazing, wonderful and surreal!
To think that they originally considered cutting this scene out of “The Fastest Gun Alive” ; now the best reason for re-watching the film.
::applauds:: Russ joins Gene Kelly, Astaire, and Donald O'Connor in finding unusual things to dance on. I always enjoy seeing him perform.
Forgive me for going all "old fogey" and "fuddy-duddy," but are there any young stars in Hollywood who can so such dancing and acrobatics now? This clip was a pleasure to watch. Thank you for uploading it.
Tom Holland is the only one I can think of - probably more who are less well known though?
idk Derek Hough and Yassaui Mergaliyev are pretty good. But I know what you mean. I think it was Tamblyn's combination of dancing and acrobatics and the absolute EASE he had in almost superhuman feats.
The movie is The fastest gun Alive with Glenn Ford. The scene with Russ Tamblyn is the only dance scene. Otherwise it's a western, something like High Noon about a "fast gun" who doesn't want to use his gun anymore. It's a very good movie as these kind of westerns go. And it's actually available to see as a download on Amazon.
What a talented dancer. I was reading about Richard Beymer and thought of Russ, and am happy he's still with us, as is Richard.
An icon. And a living legend.
Genius Dancer and handsomely talented ❤🎉
That guy is amazing--do you know he is Amber Tamlyn's father? Talent runs in that family I guess
15 years before I was born. Russ is the Man!
Ah, for a return to the days when people would commence to singin' and dancin' at the slightest provocation! ;o)
Russ was very good as Dr. Jacoby in 'Twin Peaks' (and 'General Hospital'!!) too -- though I don't recall him doing any spontaneous dancing . . .
His most recent role was Dog Walker God on 'Joan of Arcadia'
I love seven brides for seven brothers as russ tamblyn is so good at dancing in it
he was awesome...
I think he is just amazing!!!
This is from "The Fastest Gun Alive" starring Glenn Ford, a terriffic film, tightly plotted and, coincidentally, also about the twin peaks of good and evil.
Amazing athlete! He makes it look so easy.
Shovel your way out of the shit and into the truth.
Pretty brilliant!!!!!
This man must have invented breakdance!
I am so in love with him. That smile! I was born in the wrong generation
Such energy. Awesome!
Simply incredible :-)
Love Love Russ..fr Tom Thumb and beyond!!❤😊
Wow, that guy is actually really sporty!
russ tamblyn is amazing . . . wanna say he started parkou, lol
Amazing!
russ is amazing,,!!!
Robert O'Rourke
I bought theDVD of the MGM musical HIT THE DECK. He’s coupled with Debbie Reynolds, they’re adorable.
Even in regular roles, like TAKE THE HIGH GROUND where he’s a Marine I love to see the gymnastic moves he gets.
EXTRAORDINARY SKILLS!!
OK...I'm inspired to go out in the garage and get my shovel and try this...not! Amazing dance sequence!
Marsattacksfan It's not at all easy as it looks. I tried it almost broke my neck trying to do it both with trying to walk with two or hop on one. I figured it wouldn't be any harder than using a pogo stick but it is totally different you don't get that extra spring to get your hop so you can move forward. It's sad that that big dance numbers in the movies died out when he was as so young and able to preform like this. I'm so amazed by the talent this man had. l don't think I could name one actor that could preform like him much less the dancing, singing or acting that he, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly were able to do. Along with many others the studio required the actors and actresses to be extremely talented not just good-looking and can read lines like they do now.
@@suzannejensen275 Or rely on special effects!
I was surprised to hear Russ say in an interview that he didn't consider himself a dancer. He said he was a gymnast. I think he is being quite modest. He can do both.
My God, what strength!
Wonderful talent
Wonderful, awesome!