Not a Cameo

Cafe Society
41

I guess uncredited would be a big part of it. These days though, someone might be credited online IMDB) but maybe not in the official scrolling cast text. But I don’t know since it’s hard to watch the credits without watching the movie.

Was Dwight Yoakum listed in the screen credits of Red Rock West?

I guess a bright-line case would be Tom Cruise in Young Guns.

And can you play a cameo part in a movie you are already in? In Miller’s Crossing, when Tom barges into the ladies room, one of the women is actually Albert Finney in drag. Uncredited, as he was primarily the crime boss.

42

I’ve rewatched that scene multiple times looking for Albert Finney but couldn’t easily spot him.

43

Sure seems like a cameo to me!

44

I would agree. The appearance should be a surprise, though with all the spoilers these days, even in the trailers, sometimes it’s hard to be surprised anymore.

45

Here ya go!

46

I’m leaning toward Easter Egg. It’s just something spotted in the background for eagle-eyed viewers. Just like spotting the Discovery pod from 2001: a Space Odyssey in Watto’s junkyard or R2D2 and C3P0 in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

47

They were in Raiders?

48

They even included it in the Lego set.

49

Coolio! Did not know that. Nice Easter egg. I like the red and green snakes too.

50

What about the scene in Deadpool 2, where the X-Men are hiding from Deadpool? I’ve seen that listed as a cameo.

51

And that would be my beef with the overuse of the word cameo. Many guest appearances are referred to as cameos when they’re really not. To my mind, a cameo is notable for its brevity, like Donald Trump giving directions in Home Alone 2. The X-Men had significant roles in DP&W if memory serves. Henry Cavill’s blink and you miss it appearance as one of the versions of Wolverine would qualify as a cameo. Unless I’m way out to lunch on what my understanding of a cameo is.

52

I think ‘brief’ is the key to a cameo. Doesn’t matter to me if it’s credited or not.

53

I think “Surprise appearance” is often confused with “Cameo”. A cameo has to almost be incidental to the plot; literally there for its own sake.

54

But he was referring the the X-Men in Deadpool 2, which is just Beast closing a door while the other X-Men are in that room, hoping that Deadpool doesn’t see them.

I think you’re conflating Deadpool 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine.

55

Hmmm. Could be.

56

To me, the platonic ideal of a cameo is Sean Connery’s appearence in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. “I will not allow thish wedding to prosheed!”

It’s very brief, it’s a complete surprise, and it’s both awesome and completely inconsequential to the film’s plot.

57

I moustache you a question—but I’m shaving it for later. :wink:

58

How would people label these three appearances In Mary Poppins Returns:

  • Dick Van Dyke (Mr Dawes Jr)
  • Angela Lansbury (Balloon Lady)
  • Karen Dotrice (Elegant Lady) She played Jane Banks in the original movie

I think you could make the case for all three being Cameos, but the first one is really a surprise casting. DVD plays a critical role in the plot. The role played by Karen Dotrice is closer to an Easter Egg and spoke a line she sang in the original movie. Angela Lansbury IMO is a legit Cameo.

59

I think the categories of cameo, Easter Egg, and various other special performances can overlap a great deal.

60

Is that the Marry Poppins that came out a couple years ago with an Emily Blunt?