Spencer Dutton's '1923' finale: Brandon Sklenar on that surprise dueling death, nervous waltzing (2024)

Bryan Alexander|USA TODAY

What? Spencer Dutton dances the waltz in '1923' finale

When Jacob learned of the Dutton familyperil through letters, he immediately began his return home with Alex. They've had serious setbacks. The first tugboat capsized,they battled sharks, the couple married on the second ship, and the third,a gleaming ocean liner, led to a titanic confrontation with Alex's ex Arthur, who happened to be traveling out of Italy.

Sklenar says shooting the period scenes, on the historic ocean-liner Queen Mary docked in Long Beach, California, "wasunbelievable. We shot there for a week. We were so lucky to get permission. The hair definitely stood up on your arms seeing those rooms."

Changing from his African bushapparel to "1923" high-class party duds, Spencer surprises Alex by showing he can waltz up a storm on the posh dance floor. Spencer explains he was taught to dance in his family's Montana living room. The waltz did not come naturally to the actor.

"I love dancing, but not that kind of dancing. I've never danced a waltz," says Sklenar, who took a crash course in Malta. "That was probably the most nervous I have been on the set, doing that dance scene."

Sklenar thanks the formally dance-trained Schlaepfer for making the couple's waltz scenes work. "I'm not saying I'm clumsy, but I'm a big guy," he says. "Julia held that dance together, she really did."

Sklenar threw stuntman overboard for '1923' duel sea-toss

The couple's "1923" dance floor frolicis interrupted by the seething Arthur, who demands that Spencer duel andwon't quit. It's a big moment for Spencer, who has shown grit as a gun-for-hire dispatched against dangerous game in Kenya.He reluctantly enters the fight. but ultimately shows hecan handle human threats as well as leopard and lions.

"There is so much talkabout Spencer returning home, and the force he is looking to unleash on people," Sklenar says. "I was excited to explore that for the first time, showing that Spencer should be feared, but that he also is capable of restraint."

In the battle, Spencer beats Arthur down repeatedly. But the cowardly Arthur grabs a pistol and goes after Spencer. To protect himself and Alex, Spencer throws Arthurover the rails to his death at sea.

Did Spencer really need to throw Arthur overboard? "It was kind of a reactionary move;the guy was coming at him with a gun. Ithappened. (Spencer) didn't consciously mean to killhim," Sklenar says.

Sklenar threw a stunt actor over the ship's deck for the sea-tossscene.

"That stunt actor absolutely deserves a medal. Because we threw him off the boatrepeatedly, right into the water," Sklenar says. "He was fearless, that guy."

When will Spencer get to Montana in '1923'

Spencer is kicked off the passengership after the battle and brought by guard to shore.A distraught Alex, locked in her ship's cabin, escapes to bid her husband farewell, vowing to meet him in Montana.

Spencer shoutsromantically to Alex from aboard his departing small boat, a scene shot in Maltese waters.The finale ends with Alex and Spencer separated, and further from Spencer's Montana's homecoming.

Many "1923" fans assumed Spencerwould be back saving his family with guns blazing for the finale.

Paramount+ has not announced a release date for Season 2. But Sklenar vows that when it does,"Guns will blaze. Hopefully soon."

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