It's been 80 years, but in my opinion, nobody has equalled this dance number by the incomparable Nicholas Brothers.

@rebeccalipps23

Жыл бұрын

Absofriggenlutely! It should be noted that they did this entire thing in 3 takes. This film was a study for both my Music Appreciation & Broadcasting college classes. I love Big Band & Cab's was extraordinary; the addition of the Nicholas Brothers makes this a special treat.

@biff9999

Жыл бұрын

Well, a guy named Fred Astaire agrees with you - he said this dance number "was the finest dance scene ever put on film".

@timmcgrath676

Жыл бұрын

The greatest the best ever No one else can do this They are the one and only

@Mike-wu7bi

Жыл бұрын

Perfection

@grahamstubbs4962

Жыл бұрын

I don't think anyone's going to take on a remake of this anytime soon.

The "scat" vocals were the old school version of a beat box. Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers were da bomb. As great as any dancers and musicians, ever!

@annother3350

Жыл бұрын

Thats where the word hip-hop came from - - Scat. Like the old 'skibeddy-bop and the hippedy hop' etc of jazz scat

@condorenvy

Жыл бұрын

What you said

@miketwomey4923

Жыл бұрын

So true, as a 63 yr old white dude I garrentee that this music and style of dance was so amazing and ahead of it's time. I was so lucky and blessed to have been able to see Cab Calloway perform on NYE in SF with my dad as a young teenager. It was just iconic to have been able to do the Mimnie the Moocher shout back with the master. I still get goosebumps just thinking about it...

@carolhayar3037

2 ай бұрын

The female master of scat was Ella Fitzgerald which she did a lot of.

i don't care who you are, if your foot ain't tapping to this you're not alive! my grandmother saw him perform live and she said at the dance halls people would dance all night long. truly, the greatest generation.

@denysmace3874

Жыл бұрын

Sadly, not doing too much tapping at the mo with a broken leg, but my mouth is grinning and my fingers tapping, and laugh out loud at some of those moves!

@TheDivayenta

Жыл бұрын

My dad did too!

This was done in a single take. Fred Astair called it the greatest dance sequence ever put on film.

@jaygatz4335

Жыл бұрын

I saw a few cuts in there.

@Glittersword

Жыл бұрын

Yes, multiple cameras were used but they were all filming the same take.

@Braktooth

Жыл бұрын

I think Fred's right.

@joelspringman523

8 ай бұрын

Fred was right.

Cab was the first Black musician to sell 1 million records of a song. You should check out his performance of "Minnie the Moocher" (his signature song) in "The Blues Brothers" movie.

@1950Grendel

Жыл бұрын

And watch the Betty Boop Cartoon "Snow White" where Cab sings St. James Infirmary Blues and dances to a rotoscoped Koko the Clown.

The athleticism of the Nicholas Brothers is insane! Best dancers of all time.

If you watch them really closely on those splits, they placed their hands on the floor on either side of their crotch so they didn't smash their "jewels" on the floor as they came down in the split. The moves of theirs that always impress me are how they go down in a split and come right back up out of it to fully standing up without pushing themselves off the floor. This is true talent, hard work, and skill; entertainers of today don't have a clue!

Calloway was an excellent entertainer. He always delivered and the Nicholas Brothers were superhuman.

Next chance you get, watch the original Blues Brothers. Cab Calloway plays the custodian at the Catholic church where Jake and Elwood went to school. Near the end of the movie he sings Minnie the Moocher, it's fantastic.

@Robert-un7br

Жыл бұрын

Plus it’s full of icons in the blues genre. Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, James Brown and several others. Most of them have passed now.

@allenburney5652

Жыл бұрын

Ray Charles wielding a gun was hilarious.

@thomast8539

Жыл бұрын

Cab was also the gambler named Yeller in The Cincinnati Kid (1965) with Steve McQueen (the actor).

@BulldogMack700rs

Жыл бұрын

From what i remember the ovation he received at the end of the song was completely unplanned, he just blew everyone away with his greatness.

@TheDivayenta

Жыл бұрын

@@BulldogMack700rs and they had to talk him into doing it- he thought it was too corny! My dad saw him in Harlem snd never stopped raving about him!

The Nicholas Brothers were two of the greatest tap dancers that ever lived!

The drummer seen at the beginning (0:17) is J. C. Heard. I spoke to him a few times on the telephone back in the mid-1980s when I was an announcer at a jazz radio station in Trenton, NJ. He was a really nice guy and was excited that my station was playing his records. (He was leading his own big band out of Detroit at this point.) I first saw this dance clip when I was taking swing dance lessons in the mid-1990s. The Nicholas Brothers aren't only incredible dancers but outstanding athletes as well. They knew how to both control their muscles and take care of them, too. Nobody does stuff like that without getting injured unless they knew proper stretching, warm-ups, etc. This dance is a marker by which all other dances need to be measured.

Nicholas Brothers ... REAL Talent ... Not just a bunch of bootie-bumpin' !

This dance routine is said to be the greatest dancing ever seen on film. Not only that, but the routine was unrehearsed and what you see was the first take.

The big band era was something special. True entertainers and musicians.

Looking through the comment section, I am surprise no one mentioned the "moonwalk", which was actually an old tap dancing move called the back slide, which Cab Calloway brought in, in the 40s. Micheal Jackson is credited with the 'moonwalk", which was the back slide, which Jeffery Daniel of Shalamar taught to MJ before the Motown 25 special 1983.

@carolhayar3037

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for mentioning Jeffrey Daniel regarding the moonwalk. No one seems to know anything about it or how it all started, there's full info on the internet about how it all started.

My dad saw Cab Calloway perform back in the day and he would talk about the amount of energy he put into his performance. Cab's last appearance was in Janet Jackson video Alright along with both Nicholas Brothers.

Cab Calloway and the Nicolas Brothers were the rage in the day, still a thrill watching them. The brothers did this number in one take. Absolute professionals.

@melissagerber7231

8 ай бұрын

One theatrical cartoon that parodied the stars of the day cast Cab Calloway as a little, black rooster.

This is a scene from the 1943 musical “Stormy Weather” which has more dancing and vocal numbers, definitely worth watching! 🎶

@biff9999

Жыл бұрын

It's interesting; the movie itself is not that good, but some of the musical performances and the dance sequences in the movie are extraordinary. You just have to pick your pleasures, that's all.

May be the greatest dance routine ever caught on film.

@TonyM1961

11 ай бұрын

MAYBE? When you can do this routine in ONE take then have Fred Astaire call it the best ever? I would say it's got the bona fides, eh?

@areguapiri

8 ай бұрын

Agreed.

Cab Calloway came from a musical family -- his sister, Blanche Calloway, is not well known today, but when he was starting his career, she was arguably more famous than he was. She was a singer and the first woman to lead a big band. You should check her out too if you like big band era swing and blues music.

Scatting was a way for the vocalist to improvise as if he was a musician in the band. Ella Fitzgerald was also well known for her highly original scatting. Cab and The Nicholas Brothers were absolutely amazing and obviously will continue to impress and inspire for many years to come.

@Eyes-of-Horus

Жыл бұрын

Ella Fitzgerald, in an interview said she began scatting when she forgot the words to a song. The audience went nuts so she kept it in her performances.

@TonyM1961

11 ай бұрын

And we also need to include "Scatman" Caruthers. Not nearly as famous as these two and mostly known as an actor, but he got that nickname for good reason

Wow!!! This would b hard to repeat today. I mean that is complete talent. Great music and dancing. Wow!!!

Greatest band leader and dance team . So incredible .

Nicholas Brothers were crazy good. It wasn't just the splits but the tap dancing and endurance - exceptional. I remember my mom talking about Cab Calloway being very popular in the 40's along with the Big Band sounds of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and others.

@750count

Жыл бұрын

Yes. An absolutely unrivaled routine

@leonardshevlin7260

Жыл бұрын

Probably not heavy smokers 😊.

This is the highest level of excellence in a choreographed musical performance I have ever seen. The physical conditioning required to finish the number with such flawless precision is extraordinary!

I saw a documentary on the Nicholas Brothers not too long ago. They did things that I have not seen anyone else do. And this is what -- 70 to 80 years ago? Astounding. Thanks for this video. Famous dancers, including Fred Astaire and Mikhail Baryshnikov, have said that this dance is the greatest dance routine ever done. I can believe that.

Exactly 80 (eighty) years ago, on JULY 21, 1943, a film "STORMY WEATHER" appeared on the cinema screens at that time. There are many songs on the soundtrack of this film, the most famous being "Jumping Jive" performed by Cab Calloway (you can also see it in the famous film "The Blues Brothers" from 1980) and his "Cotton Club" orchestra. . . . there was a time when the singer came to the filming with his own VOICE (NOT processed in the studio and recorded on tape), and the members of the orchestra knew their instruments perfectly (NOT processed electronically on the computer). But this movie "Stormy Weather" remained forever in the history of cinema for the incomparable dance performed by "The Nicholas Brothers". . . . and the sequence with the dance of the NICHOLAS brothers being considered by many dancers and choreographers to be in the first 3 places in the entire history of films of this kind. If you were impressed by the dance of the NICHOLAS brothers. . . give LIKE and then SHARE to other friends.

The look on Brad's face is priceless. Right there with you bro. I love watching Lex watch these videos. It's so much pure joy on her face. Only thing I'm left wondering is when is that overdue little bugger gonna come out and see the world? We're all waiting to see that beautiful boy. We will all understand that it's gonna be awhile after he's born because all of y'all need to rest, recuperate and get to know each other before you expand his social circle, but you can't blame us for wanting to meet him either.

@richardgale4827

Жыл бұрын

Brad looks like his eyes are watering a little at the end there!

@harriotteworthington3147

11 ай бұрын

Ya! I knew that the stairs were coming up, and the anticipation for Brad’s reaction had me smiling and giggling. I just love this cli; I’m so glad you’ve experienced it. I guarantee, this won’t be the only time you watch it…

The Nicholas Brothers were stunt tap dancers. No one else has ever been able to equal them.

Greetings from Germany! Afro-american dancers only are able to perform such an awesome artistic singing and dancing. Absolutely magnificent!

The greatest dance number of all time. I can't imagine anyone ever topping this.

Wow! Just amazing. Talent amazing. Two bad ass men tearing it up. This is talent. We don't have this anymore. This is greatness.

The look of horror on Brad's face when they were jumping down the stairs and doing the splits is priceless.

These brothers and the old-school dancers and musicians had what people today don't have. DESIRE, PATIENCE, and a HARDWORK ETHIC.

I think every guy's face watching them do leaping splits is the same grimace as Brad's. And the women usually look like Lex.

Cab was a master scatman

The Nicholas Brothers were AMAZING. Love them.

Story goes that this was done in one take, One and done.Supposedly the director didn't have to do any Pick-Up shots either. The Nicholas brothers were the best duo/individual dancers ever.

The look on Brad's face when they came down the stairs priceless

@1950Grendel

Жыл бұрын

And FYI, they both fathered children.

Cab Calloway was the first African American to have a number one hit!!!!!😮😊

This dance routine is considered by some to be the greatest ever put to film.

Cab the legend. If you ever watch "The Blues Brothers" movie, you get to see him in action as well. What you hear and see here is talent combined to entertain everyone. This era would influence generations to come.

Best dancers EVER the Nicholas Brothers.

They didn't use any gimmick harnesses or wires. They just had incredibly strong leg muscles from practicing all day every day since they were children. The younger brother was a featured performer at the cotton club when he was 11

They did this all in one take with planning. Both brothers knew each other so well that they did not need to plan-- they just went out and danced.

@montalbans

Жыл бұрын

This was a carefully choreographed routine. The interaction between the dancers and the orchestra is complex and perfect. They were awesome dancers for sure, but this routine was carefully choreographed and rehearsed before taking it in front of the cameras. One take, yes, but that doesn't mean without careful planning.

This is class. I miss talent like this. It used to be all over the television in the 50s when I was a child.

3:58 The look that you give each other! That is how I feel about this whole performance!! The band leader! The dancers! The band members! There are a lot of TALENTED PEOPLE on that stage! The Nicholas Brothers will never cease to amaze me! Absolutely fabulous and beautiful in the athletic power they demonstrate. Human beings are created to be amazing!!

80 years ago there was an incredible pool of talent. All of the big bands were out of this world. The time of Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers (who did everything Fred Astaire did but backwards and in high heels), and the list goes on. Then there are the many unbelievable vocal talents. Talent of that stature is a rare gift. Amongst modern vocalists, check out Morgan James. She trained at and graduated from Julliard School of Music as an opera singer but she has the soul of Bessie Smith.

This is one of the coolest things I have ever seen, the great singing and playing of instruments can you imagine dancing like that, they are great, they put people to shame today, can you imagine the strength that took in thier legs and jumping up those steps I would had to climb up them LOL

The Nicholas Brothers traveled the world with dance routines like this, they were really famous in France.

@jeanhiebert3425

8 ай бұрын

France was more open-minded about black people 80 years ago. Our loss

Pure fun. Pure talent, and pure entertainment.

Not only is the music top level the dancing is just incredible. Like watching acrobats.

I love Big Band music, the horns just resonate with me

Cab Calloway was a huge artist in his day. If you ever watch the movie The Blue Brothers, he's in it throughout the movie. As far as the Nicholas Brothers, they were absolutely amazing and unmatched.

Nicolas Brothers, greatest dancers ever! Cab Calloway is a legend!

Damn! I tore both my hamstrings and blew out my medial meniscus in both knees watching that! And how the hell do they get back up from a split so quickly without using their hands? This was a clip from a movie, but Cab Calloway was the king of entertainment in Harlem for a while. I would give anything to be able to go back and see one of those live shows at his Club in Harlem back in that day. Wow.

About 35 years ago I took my three girls to a spring training ballgame in Tucson, and "Minnie the Moocher" came on over the sound system. My youngest daughter, who was only four at the time, exclaimed "that's Cab Calloway". I couldn't have been more proud. I later learned that she knew the song from Sesame Street.

Great reaction! If you seen "The Blues Brothers" movie with Dan Aykroyd and John Baluchi, you've seen Cab Calloway. If not, you should definitely check it out!

Never been a better dance duo, and Cab Calloway was no slouch either. Good on you for covering this.

I saw this over 60 years ago when I was 5. My brother and I started jumping all around after watching it until I accidentally did the splits (which I couldn't do) and limped around for over a week. My dad was a Cab Calloway fan so we knew the music.

There’s nothing like Big Band music. So classy.

This was from "Stormy Weather", a movie musical about a group of friends who go out to watch a stage musical. So Lex's observation about musical theater was accurate. (Yes the movie was about much more than that, but you get the picture.)

My daddy loved them. He was alive then and in the army. He told me he had never seen anything like them

This is still an AMAZING dance number!!!

There has been much better music than what we have today...this is amazing...

Cab Calloway was amazing, but the Nicholas Brothers were magic. Unreal. That routine is otherworldly.

I never get tired of watching reactions to this! The faces!! Lol!

People back then had real talent. You may not like this style, but you have to admit it's impressive.

The Nicholas Brothers have that effect, Brads face was the definition of a first time look at this video.

Cab Calloway and his contemporaries remain so amazing - and so much of their music can be arranged to fit today's sounds. We perform about a dozen of his pieces in our folksy-blues band and they never fail to get people up on their feet and dancing!

If Cab Callaway was the cake, the Nicholas Brothers were definitely the icing on that cake!

Absolute phenomenal dancing and apart from the splits I could imagine that MJ may have been inspired by a few of their moves. Fantastic!

The Nicholas brothers taught master classes in dance at Howard University and Radcliffe. Some of their students were Debbie Allen, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson and more.Mar 17, 2011

The jump over splits are my favorite reaction

Cab Callaway is one of the original blues Brothers in the blues Brothers movie

Cab Calloway was the man, and the Nicholas Brothers...nobody couldn't do what they did. this is one of my favorite clips. they did it in one take. what class.

Best dance routine ever filmed.

Brads face when they were jumping over each other on the steps then a split landing 😂😂😂

Cab Calloway was a master. This film is beautiful. Scat is when you use your VOICE as a MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. And that's not CGI. That musical, vocal, instrumental and athletic dance excellence, is live. There was NO technology back then. There were just big-bands, instruments, dancers, singers; ...and the black and white analogue movie cameras were the most pioneering, cutting-edge technology of the time. *And don't miss Cab Calloway singing Mini the Moocher in The Blues Brothers.* The 1st and 2nd World Wars hadn't long finished. So people were physically stronger and more capable. People didn't have mobile phones to bury their heads in, and wither away.

Lex's face: Wow! Brad's face: Pain!

Absolutely fabulous dancing. I've never seen it so good. thank you!

The Nicholas Brothers were self taught! 😳 AMAZING!

Legend has it this dance routine was done in one take. Nailed it.

Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers are legends,and rightfully so.This is from the movie Stormy Weather,and Lena Horne-another legend-also stars.

What a performance! I watched it for the first time with you. I knew Cab from many other sources and songs but this was incredible. Thanks

This was from the movie, "Stormy Weather" (1943). The Nicholas Brothers were great. Cab Calloway was also a great entertainer. He was famous for a song called "Minnie The Moocher". He was also in "The Blues Brothers" (1980).

Fred Astaire said this was the greatest movie dance performance ever. The Cab Calloway song is Minnie the Moocher. He even did it in 1980 in the "Blues Brothers" movie. "Heidi Heidi Heidi Ho!"

Nicholas Brothers- What is possible when you take talent and DEDICATION to it’s absolute limit. They paid for it later in life but they will never be forgotten.

This was all done in one take. As many of these kind of numbers were back then. Such talent. Amazing. Cheers.

From the film Stormy Weather early 40's. Cab's band is amazing; they were the house band at the famous Cotton Club in Harlem.

Back in 1990, I made Cab Calloway dessert, at a restaurant where I worked. The waiter came back to our kitchen and said the order was for Cab Calloway. Being a huge Cab Calloway fan since the age of 9, when I first saw the movie ‘The Blues Brothers’ (which I was obsessed with; and which is still one of my favorite movies), I was so stoked. I wish I could remember what he ordered.

Brad & Lex, you'll love his "Blues In The Night"(cover) and "The Honeydripper"(cover) !!! Saw him in a barber shop late in his life. Didn't recognize him till the barber called "Cab"!!

Two things you should notice: 1) They were tap dancing in tune with the music, and, 2) That whole sequence was done in a single take. No cuts, no edit points. Definitely look into more of Cab Calloway.

This was filmed in one take - incredible

Practice! Practice, Practice! Plus pure talent!

That's what you call natural talent mixed with lots of desire and tons of practice. Three things in limited supply today.

Cab Calloway was on of the greatest entertainers back in those days. This clip is a scene from a movie.

Pure craft and talent! Chef’s kiss!

I'll put these dudes up against any duet in American cinema/television since. Flat out amazing talent.

And the brothers did this ENTIRE number in ONE TAKE! BLOWS your MIND!!!🤯🤯🤯 And Lex, this is from a musical, but I forget which one, but it's a classic!