I’ve seen this statement presented as fact online as well as heard it in passing conversation. It strikes me as too outlandish to be factual, but I’m wondering if it has any basis in reality; e.g. it was written in for one film appearance.
I understand that someone trained as a dancer will display a greater tendency to do a little soft-shoein’ than a member of the general public and that Walken’s propensity to dance/spin in films probably stems from from that.
Maybe every Director that that has worked with him has a little secret scene of the Chris “Cake” Walken that they are stashing away. Maybe Chris wants a reel for his special award or maybe even a Will (LWT) activated, posthumous, Documentary of a dancin’ fool…
I recall hearing that Walken is an accomplished dancer; Wikipedia merely states that he “initially trained as a dancer in musical theater before moving on to dramatic roles.” His dancing talent may simply be too good for directors to resist, or, if he’s like some dancers I’ve known, difficult for them to avoid.
some serious dancing chops kick in about the 3min mark.
I think dancing is such a divergence from his usual characters that it throws a little curveball at the audience, maybe it’s noticed more because of that.
Well as it was the Straight Dope who originally pointed me in the direction of Walken’s astonishing turn in “Pennies From Heaven” seems only fair to now do this myself for those who might not be aware of just how damn good he is!
I’ve heard him say he tries to do a little dance in every movie he’s in, but I’ve never read anything about it being in his contract. At this point, though, what casting or film director would keep him from doing whatever the hell he pleases? It’d be like hiring him then telling him to respect the screenplay’s punctuation. Very un-Walkenesque.
Or Sleepy Hollow
Although now that I think of it, a well crafted headless jig would have been gold. Maybe something with Johnny Depp? The mind boggles.
