Beaver Says Good-Bye - Remarkable Acting by Rusty!

Rusty displays remarkable acting in the episode Beaver Says Good-Bye.

Ward is fixing a teapot, and Beaver & June annoy him for a couple of minutes while he does that.

Then Rusty enters, and walks right up into Ward's face, without Ward seeing him.

Ward gets startled and yells suddenly, while Rusty is right next to him.

Rusty doesn't react at all. To him, it's as if nothing happened! I bet very few other child actors could pull that off! I realize Rusty knew it was going to happen...but even so, a normal person or a lesser actor still would have automatically flinched because of instinct. Rusty didn't flinch one iota.

Rusty proceeds to embellish this great feat by having a casual conversation with Ward as if Ward is his everyday pal just like Beaver.

Rusty even directly contradicts Ward. Ward says, "We're not moving." Rusty walks right up into Ward's face again and says, "Sure you are!"

I find that fascinating because somehow Rusty completely ignores the facts of Beaumont's age, experience, authority, etc. To Rusty, none of that matters: he talks to Beaumont as if they are both absolute equals. I've hardly ever seen a child actor who could do that kind of thing. Mathers certainly doesn't ever talk to Ward like that (although that could because Mathers was not directed to do so).

In addition to all of that, Rusty also displays several emotions in the same scene. First he shows a curious interest in what Ward is doing and in how Beaver likes his present. Then he shows surprise at Ward's declaration that they are not moving. Then he shows sadness when he realizes Beaver has deceived him.

Rusty deserves major respect for his acting talent. IMO he is right up there as one of the greatest child actors of all-time.