Everytime I see this clip from Stormy Weather, it makes me wonder if the art of real entertainment has died. Cab Calloway has influenced countless artists including Prince and Michael Jackson. There are clips available where it is very clear to see his influence on both of the aforementioned artists whether they actually knew it or not. I think this clip is the best clip as far as "all in one" entertainment is concerned. You have your big band, your vocalist, and your dancers. The Nicholas Brothers were in a league of their own.

Cab Calloway was a great entertainer.

I personally feel that Prince was trying 2 emulate Cab Calloway and The Nicholas Brothers in the Musicology video!!! If thats the case, then he did a kick-ass job!!!!

Hands down!! Thee BEST dance performance captured on film ever

Love the whole film, despite the hokey storyline,,,,every performance is a TOP NOTCH esp Nicholas Bros' and the Katherine Dunham company

Harlepolis said:

Hands down!! Thee BEST dance performance captured on film ever

Love the whole film, despite the hokey storyline,,,,every performance is a TOP NOTCH esp Nicholas Bros' and the Katherine Dunham company

My sentiments exactly! You do know that Puff Daddy ATTEMPTED to duplicate that stairs performance back in the 90's with Savion (spelling)Glover at one of those award shows. I think Savion is a pretty ok dancer, but he should have pulled Puffy by the collar and said a big fat NO when Puffy came up with that idea. That perfomance was so dumbed down for Puffy, it was just plain sad.

Said it before on here and I'll say it again

Nobody can touch The Nicholas Brothers....NO-BOD-DEEEE!!!!

Michael Jackson and The Nicholas Brothers 1977.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ppLgX87v7Y

[Edited 6/6/10 18:13pm]

dreamfactory313 said:

Michael Jackson and The Nicholas Brothers 1977.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ppLgX87v7Y

[Edited 6/6/10 18:13pm]

Wow, I did'nt know that Michael could tap dance. This is the first time I've seen this. You know that Harold (the younger of the two brothers) was married to Dorthy Dandridge.

Reel said:

dreamfactory313 said:

Michael Jackson and The Nicholas Brothers 1977.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ppLgX87v7Y

[Edited 6/6/10 18:13pm]

Wow, I did'nt know that Michael could tap dance. This is the first time I've seen this. You know that Harold (the younger of the two brothers) was married to Dorthy Dandridge.

And he apparently was a fucking jerk to her.

He could dance his ass off, though.

I have seen this before. Very impressive I will say. I hard one of them was in excruciating pain after this, and to think that they did this all in one take!!!!

[Edited 6/6/10 20:38pm]

My memory fails me .... either Great Perfomances and/or PBS supported documentary about the Nicholas Brothers. The brother's were in a movie ( The Pirate, 1948) with Gene Kelly. Mr Kelly was big on practicing and rehearsing. The brothers said, they were at a point in their careers, they didn't need to rehearse dance steps, show them once and they had it. Neither Harold or Fayard showed up for rehearsals after the choreographer showed them all the steps. First day of shooting they said, Kelly was angry that they hadn't been coming to rehearsals. Harold told Kelly to relax they knew the steps, shoot the scenes. Kelly didn't believe them and insisted the brothers do the dance steps right then. After they nailed them Fayard said, Kelly stormed off the set.

TD3 said:

My memory fails me .... either Great Perfomances and/or PBS supported documentary about the Nicholas Brothers. The brother's were in a movie ( The Pirate, 1948) with Gene Kelly. Mr Kelly was big on practicing and rehearsing. The brothers said, they were at a point in their careers, they didn't need to rehearse dance steps, show them once and they had it. Neither Harold or Fayard showed up for rehearsals after the choreographer showed them all the steps. First day of shooting they said, Kelly was angry that they hadn't been coming to rehearsals. Harold told Kelly to relax they knew the steps, shoot the scenes. Kelly didn't believe them and insisted the brothers do the dance steps right then. After they nailed them Fayard said, Kelly stormed off the set.

I like Gene Kelly, but wow, what a baby! J/K

NastradumasKid said:

TD3 said:

My memory fails me .... either Great Perfomances and/or PBS supported documentary about the Nicholas Brothers. The brother's were in a movie ( The Pirate, 1948) with Gene Kelly. Mr Kelly was big on practicing and rehearsing. The brothers said, they were at a point in their careers, they didn't need to rehearse dance steps, show them once and they had it. Neither Harold or Fayard showed up for rehearsals after the choreographer showed them all the steps. First day of shooting they said, Kelly was angry that they hadn't been coming to rehearsals. Harold told Kelly to relax they knew the steps, shoot the scenes. Kelly didn't believe them and insisted the brothers do the dance steps right then. After they nailed them Fayard said, Kelly stormed off the set.

I like Gene Kelly, but wow, what a baby! J/K

He was and I'm not kidding

TD3 said:

My memory fails me .... either Great Perfomances and/or PBS supported documentary about the Nicholas Brothers. The brother's were in a movie ( The Pirate, 1948) with Gene Kelly. Mr Kelly was big on practicing and rehearsing. The brothers said, they were at a point in their careers, they didn't need to rehearse dance steps, show them once and they had it. Neither Harold or Fayard showed up for rehearsals after the choreographer showed them all the steps. First day of shooting they said, Kelly was angry that they hadn't been coming to rehearsals. Harold told Kelly to relax they knew the steps, shoot the scenes. Kelly didn't believe them and insisted the brothers do the dance steps right then. After they nailed them Fayard said, Kelly stormed off the set.

See they are what we call THE TRUTH!

He and Fred Astaire couldn't touch those cats

TD3 said:

My memory fails me .... either Great Perfomances and/or PBS supported documentary about the Nicholas Brothers. The brother's were in a movie ( The Pirate, 1948) with Gene Kelly. Mr Kelly was big on practicing and rehearsing. The brothers said, they were at a point in their careers, they didn't need to rehearse dance steps, show them once and they had it. Neither Harold or Fayard showed up for rehearsals after the choreographer showed them all the steps. First day of shooting they said, Kelly was angry that they hadn't been coming to rehearsals. Harold told Kelly to relax they knew the steps, shoot the scenes. Kelly didn't believe them and insisted the brothers do the dance steps right then. After they nailed them Fayard said, Kelly stormed off the set.

Upstaging him in his own movie now that gotta be some bullshit.

Aside from that, the movie was FULL of backstage drama, I mean they practically put Judy Garland(who was starring along eith Kelly) under strict surveillance because those perscriped pills that the studios "authorized" were visibly taking a toll on her.

Harlepolis said:

TD3 said:

My memory fails me .... either Great Perfomances and/or PBS supported documentary about the Nicholas Brothers. The brother's were in a movie ( The Pirate, 1948) with Gene Kelly. Mr Kelly was big on practicing and rehearsing. The brothers said, they were at a point in their careers, they didn't need to rehearse dance steps, show them once and they had it. Neither Harold or Fayard showed up for rehearsals after the choreographer showed them all the steps. First day of shooting they said, Kelly was angry that they hadn't been coming to rehearsals. Harold told Kelly to relax they knew the steps, shoot the scenes. Kelly didn't believe them and insisted the brothers do the dance steps right then. After they nailed them Fayard said, Kelly stormed off the set.

Upstaging him in his own movie now that gotta be some bullshit.

Aside from that, the movie was FULL of backstage drama, I mean they practically put Judy Garland(who was starring along eith Kelly) under strict surveillance because those perscriped pills that the studios "authorized" were visibly taking a toll on her.

Where did you guys hear about this? Is there some sort of a documentary out there about this. I would like to see it. Oh nevermind, I see that it's on PBS....I'll have to hunt for it.

[Edited 6/7/10 1:34am]

dreamfactory313 said:

Michael Jackson and The Nicholas Brothers 1977.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ppLgX87v7Y

[Edited 6/6/10 18:13pm]

Why does it say Michael Jackson when the whole family is there? From what I saw, Janet and Marlon kicked up some pretty good dust too.

funkpill said:

Said it before on here and I'll say it again

Nobody can touch The Nicholas Brothers....NO-BOD-DEEEE!!!!

Best Dance scene ever!!! I love this movie, I've watched this so many times it's ridiculous....

Of course, who could forget Harold Nicholas as Little Seymour from 'Uptown Saturday Night':

Thanks for posting... Some Legends in Music and Dance aren't often remembered

[youtube](http://www.youtube.com/wa..._Bs9egsS4)[/youtube]

Speaking of dance.... Love the Lindy Hop 1941

and Cab Calloway 1932- "Kickin the Gong"

[youtube](http://www.youtube.com/wa...OvG_vGzRc)[/youtube]

luv4ever said:

Thanks for posting... Some Legends in Music and Dance aren't often remembered

[youtube](http://www.youtube.com/wa..._Bs9egsS4)[/youtube]

Speaking of dance.... Love the Lindy Hop 1941

and Cab Calloway 1932- "Kickin the Gong"

[youtube](http://www.youtube.com/wa...OvG_vGzRc)[/youtube]

I liked that Lindy Hop skit, especially when ole girl picks up that dude. Wow.

Cab Calloway used to sing about some serious drugs. "Kicking the gong around" aka doing Opium....and he straight up talks about coke. He also has a song called the "reefer man". When Cab recorded many of those songs in the 1930's and 40's many of those narcotics had not been made illegal at that time. He spoke about more dope than current day rappers. LOL

uPtoWnNY said:

Of course, who could forget Harold Nicholas as Little Seymour from 'Uptown Saturday Night':

Uptown Saturday Night was a cool flick. I didn't realize that was Harold Nicholas at the time.

Reel said:

one of the greats!!!! Mr. Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers as well.

The mods might as well close all the other dance threads now. My heroes....THE KINGS OF DANCE

all this thread needs is James, Michael, Sammy, Fred and Gene. Hell let's throw Gregory Hines up in here!

Harlepolis said:

Hands down!! Thee BEST dance performance captured on film ever

Love the whole film, despite the hokey storyline,,,,every performance is a TOP NOTCH esp Nicholas Bros' and the Katherine Dunham company

I'm really starting to believe we're related because our minds are TOO much alike :hugs:

bboy87 said:

The mods might as well close all the other dance threads now. My heroes....THE KINGS OF DANCE

all this thread needs is James, Michael, Sammy, Fred and Gene. Hell let's throw Gregory Hines up in here!

Yep Yep!

Reel said:

dreamfactory313 said:

Michael Jackson and The Nicholas Brothers 1977.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ppLgX87v7Y

[Edited 6/6/10 18:13pm]

Wow, I did'nt know that Michael could tap dance. This is the first time I've seen this. You know that Harold (the younger of the two brothers) was married to Dorthy Dandridge.

Yeah, the Nicholas Brothers taught him. You should check out The Jacksons TV show from '76. Mike and the other siblings brought it during the dance routines