The cameo is a tricky thing indeed. Do it well and you can steal the whole show, but anything less than perfect and that’s all anyone can remember about the film. (Holly Valance at the end of Taken. Unforgivable.) It seems the cameo has become something of an art form in the world of the silver screen. No longer just a novelty tool for the producers of floundering comedies, or a directorial trademark of Hitchcock, it has become big business, with many an old-timer qualifying to list ‘Cameo Actor’ as their primary occupation. Indeed, I wouldn’t be surprised if the cameo industry is the main source of funding for David Hasselhoff’s tanning sessions.
Over time the role has developed and showcased its own variety. We have director cameos, comedic cameos and downright bizarre cameos, each category deserving to stand alone in any awards ceremony. In terms of actor cameos, good performances have been known to revive careers, boost popularity, and, in the case of Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love, even bag an Oscar. Equally, the weirdest of performances are at worst a chance for some publicity, so it’s really no wonder that anyone who is anyone (or anyone who is no one for that matter) is keen on securing themselves an appearance.
However, it’s not all about the media attention. Director appearances are a far more subtle art, and are definitely a nerdy niche in the film world. Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorcese and Peter Jackson are all cameo fans, the latter appearing in his Lord of the Rings trilogy and, somewhat strangely, as the stabby Santa in Hot Fuzz. A man of many talents. It’s no coincidence, however, that these directors in particular happen to be some of the biggest fanboys in the industry, each producing their own brand of geekery in their films.
Fundamentally, the cameo is a geeky thing: it allows the directors to play out their fantasies by popping up in their own creations, and the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it style separates your average fan from the completely (ever so slightly worryingly) devoted. I for one reward myself with a sugary treat and a smug glow every time I spot Alfred Hitchcock lurking in one of his films. The trivia section of IMDB helps. Hitchcock is probably the master of director cameos, appearing in 37 of his 53 films in both speaking and non-speaking parts. His appearances capture the science behind the cameo. It is both a nod to the audience and a subtle act of self-promotion. Just as Chaucer creates a character for himself in his works, so Hitchcock does in his films: each glimpse of him on screen creates an overall portrait of him as well as a claim of ownership.
But, poncey film buffery aside, the best bit of a cameo appearance is when it makes you chuckle, and when you get the idea that the actor, or figure involved, is having a laugh too. Be it the famed news team standoff in Anchorman (Tim Robbins – who knew?!) to Keith Richards simply playing a woozier version of himself in Pirates of the Caribbean, there are some truly bizarre guest turns. Most entertaining is when an actor is taken out of context – Orson Welles’ appearance on The Muppets, for example, will be eternally baffling. Evidently, the comic potential of cameo appearances is huge, but the beautiful irony of my all-time favourite cameo inspires more than a few giggles. Charlie Sheen’s brief appearance in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off sees him as a charming bad boy; a loveable rogue, if you will. A loveable rogue who happens to be sitting in a police station completely stoned. So, there you have it. Cameos can make us laugh, turn us into super nerdy reference spotters, and apparently, even predict the future.
